Information technology in civil aviation Digital transformation of the aviation industry

2024

S7 switches to ACARS Russian aircraft-to-ground data transmission system

The largest private air carrier in Russia, S7, has entered into an agreement on the commercial operation of the domestic service ACARS (Aircraft Communications Addressing and Reporting System). This became known on October 8, 2024. Read more here

Ministry of Digital Development: Airports are transferred to Russian software

In early August 2024, it became known that all Russian airports would be transferred to domestic software. Large-scale work is carried out within the framework of import substitution in the field of critical information infrastructure (CII).

According to TASS, Russian airports have begun to switch to domestic software since the introduction of blocking sanctions. As of August 2024, baggage and passenger registration systems were partially imported. According to the Minister of Digital Development of the Russian Federation (Ministry of Digital Development) Maksut Shadayev, after the adoption of the draft law on CII, each industry department will develop plans to establish the timing of the implementation of "each standard solution depending on the level of its readiness."

source = Domodedovo Airport

It is assumed that the introduction of Russian software will help improve the safety and stability of air harbors. So, in July 2024, there was a large-scale malfunction, Microsoft Windows due to which the flights of the largest airlines, including, were suspended American Airlines. United Airlines And Delta a number of airports in, To Europe including, and, Spain Britain GERMANY reported flight delays.

At the same time, the State Duma previously adopted a bill on additional powers of the Government of the Russian Federation to transfer significant objects of CII to the use of Russian software and equipment. In accordance with the document, the authorities will be able to establish requirements for software and equipment used at CII facilities, as well as cases and procedure for coordinating the use of relevant foreign-made solutions. In addition, the government will have the right to set the deadlines for the transfer of KII facilities to the predominant use of Russian software and domestic electronic products.^[1]

31 electronic public services, certification of one document. The head of the Federal Air Transport Agency spoke about the digitalization of the department

The Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) provides more than 70% of services in digital format. On August 1, 2024, the head of the department Dmitry Yadrov reported to the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin. Read more here.

Rosaviatsia creates GIS Aviasert to certify the design of aviation equipment

In July 2024, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) announced the creation of the Aviasert state information system (GIS) for certification of a typical design of aviation equipment. The new system is designed to automate and optimize certification processes in the field of civil aviation in Russia. Read more here

When developing engines for SuperJet, some of the real tests are replaced by mathematical modeling

On May 24, 2024, the Salyut production complex of the United Engine Corporation (UEC, part of the Rostec state corporation) announced the introduction of a specialized program that allows reducing the volume of field tests. This system makes it possible to replace some of the real tests in the development of engines for SuperJet aircraft with mathematical modeling. Read more here.

Pulkovo Airport has introduced Russian devices for automatic verification of documents before boarding

Pulkovo Airport has introduced Russian devices for automatic verification of documents before boarding. The press service of the St. Petersburg air harbor announced this on February 22, 2024. Read more here.

How digitalization and customer experience are changing airports. Trends, estimates, cases

On February 8, 2024, Reksoft Consulting, a division of the Reksoft multidisciplinary technology group responsible for transformational and strategic consulting, announced that it had identified the most promising trends in the digital development of airports for 2024-2025.

source = "Reksoft Consulting"

As reported, the global aviation industry continues to gradually recover from the pandemic. According to data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), as of November 2023, the volume of air transportation in 2023 continued to grow in annual terms and was only 0.9% below the level of pre-pandemic 2019. Accordingly, along with the growth of air transportation, passenger traffic at airports is also recovering. A similar process is underway in Russia. According to statistics from the Federal Air Transport Agency, domestic airlines in the first eight months of 2023 increased passenger transportation on international airlines by 33% year-on-year to 14.6 million people. This is the maximum figure for the period since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Passenger traffic grew at a faster pace in non-CIS countries - by 46% year-on-year, and transportation to the CIS countries increased by 23%.

source = "Reksoft Consulting"

Airports for January 2024 are not just preparing for a return to the pre-lockdown level and changes in route logistics. Participants realize that passengers, based on their customer experience in other industries (banks, retail, etc.), expect airports to improve the level of service, which will correspond to the rapid development of modern technologies that have occurred in recent years. notes Kirill Malyshev, Director of Growth and Sales Strategy Practice at Reksoft Consulting

That is why, until 2025, the priority areas for investment for the vast majority of the largest airports will be digitalization of customer interaction processes, security and. analytics According to world forecasts, non-aviation revenues of airports by 2028 will increase by almost one and a half times. They make up more than a third of the total earnings of air hubs. The main drivers of non-aviation activities are the commission for the sale food and drinks (bars, etc.), restaurants income from renting space, as well as from rental cars and parking lots.

source = "Reksoft Consulting"

Customer satisfaction with the service in the departure area is below average from the airport as a whole. According to a survey published in 2023 by Airport Dimensions, 71% of passengers were satisfied with how they spent time before flying. At the same time, in the departure zones where people make the most purchases (for example, in cafes, shops and lounge areas), the satisfaction rate is lower - only 67%.

There is also a difference in the behavior of passengers from different generations. As expected, representatives of generation Z are more active and more often than other age groups spend time in shops and cafes. On average, Generation Z spends about 13% of the time in stores and as much in cafes and restaurants of the total time spent at the airport. This is especially important in light of the data that 35-43% of passengers make impulse purchases before the flight. For example, 43% of travelers spontaneously decide on access to the lounge area, about parking - 42%, about wellness services - 41%, about visiting gaming centers/rooms - 35%.

Passenger satisfaction is one of the key drivers of non-aviation revenue growth. Passengers with positive airport experience spent an average of one and a half times more at the airport than those with negative experience, according to a 2023 study by J.D. Power.

Most passengers use airport services: 71% visit cafes and restaurants, 69% shop in stores, the same number use Wi-Fi. In terms of retail, according to research by The Airport Dimensions, 71% of passengers are ready to use a single application for the entire flight. At the same time, for 83% of respondents, access to information about the status of the flight is a priority, for 80% it is more important to order food in the lounge area. 66% of passengers put the opportunity to read digital magazines and other media in the first place, online shopping at the airport - 65%.

Russian airports are also developing digital services. For example, in 2024, Domodedovo Airport launched a marketplace for airport services such as parking, visiting VIP or business halls, paying for baggage porters and other services. The annual IATA review for 2023 notes an increase in the trend for investments in automation and digitalization in order to ensure that the passenger arrives at the airport already "ready for departure," that is, with the maximum simplification of all possible formal procedures that people undergo at the airport.

source = "Reksoft Consulting"

Hub business partners and airports themselves are trying to listen to customers, so successful cases in this direction can already be highlighted. For example, TAV Technologies has developed the 360 ° Digital Airport Platform product - a single platform with which a passenger can interact through all digital channels: from an application on a smartphone and smartwatch to a desktop version of the site and information kiosks. The product implements the ability to provide passengers with updated travel information, as well as the formation of a personalized offer that encourages them to buy at the right time. For example, a flight delay is reported, a change in the gate number. The solution minimizes physical contact between customers and airport and airline employees.

{{quote 'author
= comments Kirill Malyshev, Director of Reksoft Consulting Growth and Sales Strategy Practice|Contactless customer experience is a full-fledged trend that also determines the future of airport service. So, in the world and Russian experience there are successful cases when technology helps to track priorities passengers and their behavior to shape personalized deals to buy at the right time.}}

For example, the joint project of the international airport San Francisco United Airlines was aimed at reducing the interaction between the client and staff. To do this, a technology was tested on domestic flights that SITA allows you to check in at the airport biometric using data. The experiment allowed passengers to link information about their driver's license and flight to the biometric data of the person at check-in. In Russia, starting in the summer of 2021, the airport Sheremetyevo operates an automated passport control system (ADPC) in Terminal C, which allows you to pass passport control by. biometrics Also in 2023, Reksoft completed a project to install and integrate Domodedovo updated passenger self-check-in counters into the airport baggage handling system.

One example in is retail tech stores Amazon Just Walk Out from Hudson Nonstop Dallas at Love Field Airport Chicago and Midway International Airport. Travelers can go to the store, scan, then bank card take the necessary goods and leave the store, and the funds for purchases will be automatically debited from the account later. In turn Heathrow Airport , together with, Dufry Chanel and JCDecaux implemented a project that allowed store customers to try on products using screens. augmented reality

Another special case of contactless travel, which significantly improves the passenger experience, is virtual queues. Passengers can pre-book a queue seat at inspection points and thereby save time before the flight. Back in the pandemic 2021, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (USA) tested such a system as a solution for overloaded general inspection points. After the trial, development company VHT said total wait times had been reduced to 10 minutes. Autonomous delivery robots are also becoming popular in air hubs.

source = "Reksoft Consulting"

Cincinnati/North International Airport Kentucky has launched a project to carry out food and retail delivery trade using autonomous robots directly to the location of passengers in the waiting room. To optimize the customer experience, it is important to provide a single digital ecosystem, which requires the integration of services with each other and effective control of processes within the air hub and digital flows. These changes require long-term investment in airport digital infrastructure.

Customer experience is one of the most important factors for the growth of airport revenue. To develop this indicator, as well as continue to increase the efficiency of the air hub, it is necessary to continue to invest in IT and develop digital services. After all, the airport is a complex system, to maintain the work of which it is necessary to ensure the coordination of all its elements and processes, which is impossible without the use of modern technologies. believes Kirill Malyshev, Director of Growth and Sales Strategy Practice at Reksoft Consulting

2023

RFRIT and Skolkovo allocated 2 billion rubles for import substitution of software for the development of aircraft engines

On December 7, 2023, it became known that Russian Information Technology Development Fund (RFRIT) the Foundation "" Skolkovo allocated grants in the amount of approximately 2 billion rubles for import substitution ON in the field of engine building. The need for such software has increased against the background of the current geopolitical situation, due to which foreign suppliers left the market. RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Key players in the Russian engine industry, such as the United Engine Corporation (UEC, part of Rostec), NPO Energomash, Power Machines and the Central Institute of Aviation Engine Engineering named after P.I. Baranov (TSIAP), use products from Siemens, Ansys, ESI, Numeca, MatchWorks, Autodesk, Infor, Microsoft, Oracle, etc. But because of the current situation, there was a need for Russian analogues.

RFRIT and the Skolkovo Foundation have allocated grants in the amount of approximately 2 billion rubles for import substitution of software in the field of engine building

According to CNews, domestic developers of aircraft engines require software in five categories. This is a mid-range CAD; Product lifecycle management tools software development tools for equipment with numerical program control; mathematical modeling systems and solution of engineering analysis problems for designed products; supply chain management tools. As of the end of 2023, Russian software can completely replace foreign software only in terms of CAD. In the second of these categories, the replacement level is less than 40%, in all others - from 40% to 70%.

It is reported that within the framework of the ITC "Engine Building" two particularly significant projects were selected that received state support. One of them involves import substitution of Siemens NX, Teamcenter and FiberSIM products. The key customer is UEC-Aviadvigatel (a subsidiary of UEC), and the contractor is ASCON. The project received grant support from RFRIT in the amount of 1.17 billion rubles.

The second important area is the refinement and implementation of the production and supply chain management system at engineering enterprises with internal cooperation. The customer is UEC, the contractor is SPC "1C." The Skolkovo Foundation has allocated a grant of 764 million rubles for this project.^[2]

The main trends in the digital transformation of the aviation industry are named

One of the key areas of digital transformation of the aviation industry are new methods for designing aircraft based on digital twins, as well as mathematical modeling technologies for creating, optimizing and certifying aircraft structures. Mikhail Poghosyan, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rector of the Moscow Aviation Institute, spoke about this in early December 2023.

It is noted that artificial intelligence tools play an important role in the development of the aviation industry. Such technologies help predict the behavior of various aircraft elements and systems. AI analytics makes it possible to identify possible critical situations on board in advance, which increases the level of safety and minimizes the downtime of aircraft equipment. In addition, onboard electronics and integrated avionics contribute to improving the safety, reliability and functionality of aircraft. Automation reduces the load on crew members and minimizes the number of possible errors.

Artificial intelligence tools play an important role in the development of the aviation industry

Among other trends in the digital transformation of the aviation industry are the introduction of digital product passports, the use of composite structures and additive production technologies. The development of autopilot means also continues: we are talking about both air taxi and civil aviation. The co-pilot in the cockpit of the aircraft in the future may give way to an AI assistant.

Other significant areas are the electrification of engineering systems, the creation of electric and hybrid power plants for small-sized aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles. The development of these technologies largely depends on the emergence of new energy storage devices.

All these areas will largely determine industry competitiveness, providing new opportunities in both traditional and promising aircraft markets, says Poghosyan.[3]

A digital base of operational and technical documentation for aircraft and helicopters is being created in Russia

At the end of June 2023, it became known that Aeroflot and the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK) were engaged in the creation in Russia of an electronic digital database of operational and technical documentation for aircraft and helicopters. Read more here.

Neural networks began to assess the quality of parts of aircraft engines in Russia

On April 6, 2023, it became known about the first case of using neural networks to assess the quality of aircraft engine parts. The technology was introduced at the Rybinsk enterprise "UEC-Saturn," which is part of the "United Engine Corporation" "Rostec." Read more here.

2022

42% of civil aviation enterprises have developed a strategy for digital transformation and import substitution of software

The supplier of IT solutions for civil aviation "RIVTS-Pulkovo" has prepared an overview of the state and prospects for the implementation of Russian IT developments in the aviation industry. The study involved Chief information officer, chief engineers, airport and airline system administrators. The RIVTS-Pulkovo company announced this on February 2, 2023.

In December 2022 - January 2023, RIVTS-Pulkovo JSC, with the support of the industry agency AviaPort, conducted an analytical study on the use of IT systems at civil aviation enterprises. Among the respondents are employees of airports and airlines, including: Aeroflot PJSC, Rossiya Airlines JSC, Siberia Airlines JSC and major airports: Vnukovo International Airport, Krasnodar International Airport, Ufa International Airport. Participants were asked to answer a number of questions about import substitution, as well as about the software used, both system-wide and intended for managing production processes.

According to Gleb Golovchenko, General Director of RIVC-Pulkovo, the study showed the state of the market at the end of 2022, which foreign systems are still used in civil aviation and where there are still non-automated processes.

As of February 2023 IT market , dramatic changes are taking place in civil aviation, caused by the disconnection of the information systems of Western vendors,, and sanctions. hacker In DDoS-attacks March 2022, there was a rapid withdrawal from the market of foreign IT suppliers: (), Sabre (), USA (SAP Germany Germany) Lufthansa Systems , (USA), (USA Jeppesen), Arinc IBM (USA), (Germany), (InForm ES) ACARS. SITA Based on the chronology of events, suppliers have either completely left the Russian market or stopped supporting their services.

Respondents highlighted a number of problems faced by civil aviation due to sanctions:

1. Termination of the provision of services by foreign providers, while ACARS and the company's fuel efficiency assessment service have no domestic analogues.
2. No use of specialized software (crew planning software, BRS system, CUTTS system).
3. Software failure (software, anti-virus office software,) DBMS and switching to alternatives, for example,. Linux
4. Have difficulty updating the software you are using, or you may not be able to upgrade.
5. Difficulties in purchasing equipment.

At the same time, 42% of respondents noted that their companies have developed a strategy for digital transformation and import substitution of software, and 38% are in the process of developing a strategy.

Most aviation representatives industries continue to use foreign systems. For example, operating systems it occupies a leading position among clients. MS Windows Foreign DBMS MS SQL Server Oracle and are also used by the majority of respondents.

Use of DBMS in industry companies

Compared to system-wide software, domestic special IT systems are used by the majority of respondents. Among the leaders of automated slot coordination systems, RIVTS-Pulkovo can be distinguished. Also, 39% of respondents noted that they do not use automated slot coordination systems and the interaction between airports and airlines is carried out manually.

Slot Matching Systems

Respondents noted that they prefer domestic AODB systems - the airport's operating database. Only 4% of those surveyed from airports use products from Inform Software.

AODB systems

The positive dynamics in the choice of domestic suppliers of IT solutions can be traced to airlines. So 84% of the study participants chose domestic suppliers of schedule planning systems.

Operational flight control systems

The respondents also noted that they prefer domestic suppliers of flight schedule planning systems. Only 18% of respondents use systems from foreign vendors.

Schedule Planning Systems

It is expected that foreign vendors are gradually leaving the market, this also applies to aviation software. At the same time, the process of import substitution in the field of IT in civil aviation is gradually developing, which favorably affects the safety and stability of production processes of domestic civil aviation enterprises.

Mishustin approved the requirements for the domestic air ticket booking system

In August 2022, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree approving the requirements for an automated air transportation registration information system (AIS ORP), as well as for the protection of the information contained in it. Read more here.

2021

Five critical trends in technology for air travel resulting from the pandemic

transport In 2021, the air industry was forced to adapt virtually all of its operations to meet rapidly changing travel rules and requirements. The changes affected many areas, from health checks to changes in border control rules based on the emergence of foci virus and the appearance of various strains such COVID-19 as omicron. SITA announced this on January 21, 2022.

Sebastien Fabre, CEO of SITA FOR AIRCRAFT, highlighted five critical technology trends for air travel resulting from the pandemic. They are designed to change the industry in the future, starting in 2022.

1. Automation and Digital Health Are Key to the Quasi-Recovery of the Air Transport Industry

Despite the fact that the pandemic has led to a reduction in budgets for IT solutions for airports and airlines, the cost of automating passenger data processing is growing. The industry continues to struggle with the challenges associated with the emergence of COVID-19 strains, and although there are many obstacles that need to be overcome to stimulate the resumption of global air travel, the need for contactless and effective tools is increasing. Automation and digitalization are critical to returning passengers to comfort during flights and reducing paperwork time to an acceptable level. Biometric technologies offer a suitable solution to the problem of long-term data processing, so airports around the world are investing in the development and implementation of promising technologies.

In addition to automated passenger data processing, it is necessary to standardize and digitalize health checks to ensure simpler, safer and more seamless travel.

2. Operational efficiency of airports and sustainable development will coexist harmoniously

Flexibility, scalability and operational efficiency have become crucial criteria for airport business models in a rapidly changing pandemic-driven environment. Airports will have to operate more economically, generating additional income and adapting to the constant change in passenger traffic. For this reason, cloud technology remains one of the key areas of investment. At the same time, almost all airports plan to implement business intelligence tools to gain a clearer picture of their operations, focusing on key areas such as air flight and asset management.

Due to high operational efficiency, airports can also make significant progress in the field of sustainable development. According to the ACI, 235 airports in Europe have committed to achieving net-zero SO2 emissions by 2050, and more than 90 airports intend to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030.

In addition, airports are actively interested in IT solutions that support more environmentally friendly printing methods, as well as the disposal of IT equipment at the end of its life and help reduce energy consumption. In addition to cost savings, improvements to aviation operations and infrastructure could reduce emissions by up to 10%, according to the latest industry data.

3. The aviation industry will continue to strive for sustainable development

Already in January 2022, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption and the amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere during the flight by 10%. Technology can provide pilots and dispatchers with real-time access to up-to-date weather information from multiple sources. Solutions can help pilots optimize their trajectory to maximize fuel efficiency, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and improve situational awareness for safer, more comfortable flights.

The focus is on climbing - the most fuel-intensive phase of flight - and cruising phase. Combined with the operational efficiency of the airport, such solutions can have a significant impact on reducing SO2 emissions, while alternative fuels will be developed and improved over the following decades.

4. Regional and domestic airports should prepare for a post-pandemic boom

Since domestic air travel in large markets such as the United States, India and China were the first to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, regional airports will play a huge role in the coming years.

Although the operational problems of international aviation hubs are similar, there will most likely be a lack of capacity at regional airports, as domestic travel resumes at an accelerated pace. The potential for national economic development will also depend heavily on the ability of air harbors to improve passenger service while reducing costs and managing changing health requirements through technology.

Passengers who use regional airports want the same high level of digitalization and efficiency that they receive in international centers. Adding to that are higher airline expectations, route variability, lack of seats, staff multitasking and a host of other factors. And, of course, as travel becomes more digitalized, the need for uninterrupted interaction of systems and technologies for travel is growing - not only between large and small airports, but also with other modes of transport.

Ready-to-use cloud (SaaS) airport management capabilities to optimize resources as well as support collaborative processes and decision-making will go SaaS way for these airports to improve passenger satisfaction, capacity and profitability.

As travel becomes more intermodal, the presence of unified digital systems is becoming increasingly important, making it easier for passengers to travel by land, sea and air.

5. Blockchain will become a key technology and bring even more efficiency to air travel

Blockchain can greatly empower the air transport industry through its ability to instantly, securely, and confidentially share information between dozens of stakeholders - airports, governments, airlines, and component manufacturers (OEMs).

The air transport industry spends $50 billion a year on spare parts for aircraft. However, tracking and monitoring of these spare parts during the movement process between airlines, landlords and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) is still largely manual.

There is no single understanding of how to track hundreds of millions of transaction records between entities, which increases potential risks and amounts of material costs. If there is any inconsistency between stakeholder systems, the likelihood of data duplication increases, as does the cost of solving this problem.

Also, airlines face great difficulties associated with maintenance and repair (MRO), from the lack of digital records to errors in the supply chain, inconsistency of systems and burdensome costs. SITA believes that blockchain will be vital to solving these difficulties.

As for passengers, blockchain can address many of the efficiency challenges facing the industry.

One of the priority areas for the aviation industry will be an increase in spending on digitalization and sustainable development

IT budgets in 2021 have practically not changed, while the Chief information officer of airports and airlines are focusing on the development of technologies designed to support the recovery of the industry after the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the results of the SITA Air Transport IT Insights 2021 report, by 2024, a significant increase in spending on digitalization and sustainable development will be one of the priorities. The document, published in January 2022, presents the views of more than 180 IT managers at airports and airlines in 45 countries.

Most airlines (84%) and airports (81%) expect similar or greater costs in 2022 compared to 2021, with the cost of automating passenger traffic increasing significantly. In 2021, 56% of airlines and 67% of airports planned investments in the development of automated services for tourists. For both, the guarantee of a more comfortable "digital" travel, which increases the level of convenience for passengers and their confidence in flights, is the main guideline.

The IT Insights report defines the ability to check passenger health certificates as an area that requires special attention. Throughout 2021, employees of 81% of airlines checked the original documents of tourists on paper or electronic media manually. Now, in order to ensure uninterrupted passenger traffic and regulate the congestion of air harbors, air carriers and airports are investing in the digitalization of pre-flight procedures, which is planned to be completed within three years. The majority of industry participants invest in the development of a digital health check system that can be implemented through airline mobile applications (51%) or through passenger self-service kiosks (45%).

Airline investments are increasing in areas such as self-service with mobile services, self-checkout and notification of baggage, and an accelerated automated boarding process. Contactless technologies designed to make travel more comfortable, faster and safer are in demand for investment along with biometric identification systems for travelers. Almost 74% of airports in January 2022 invest in its development to guarantee security and operational efficiency in the era of COVID-19.

Among the most priority IT areas for airlines remains sustainable development: more than half (56%) are introducing new solutions for conducting sustainable business, and a third (32%) plans to do so by 2024. Many airlines are investigating how technology can help them achieve green growth.

Participants in the aviation industry support efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions of categories 1 and 2 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. They focus on direct emissions (from sources owned or controlled by the organization) and indirect emissions (generated by the company's activities, but the sources are owned or controlled by another organization).

Another important goal in the IT field is to optimize the flight path of an aircraft based on data. This allows you to increase the efficiency of flights by reducing the volume of traditional fuel and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Initiatives in the field of sustainable development include the modernization of airport infrastructure (green spaces, the use of natural light and renewable energy sources), accessible points for separate waste collection, as well as the use of "green" technologies in the construction of air harbors.

{{quote 'author = said Sébastien Fabre, CEO of SITA FOR AIRCRAFT.|According to experts, such solutions in the aviation industry can reduce up to 10% of harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Airports and airlines can quickly achieve significant waste reduction if they research and apply effective technologies of the future, as well as provide services that meet the requirements of tomorrow, }}

As digitalization transforms the flight industry, demand for data center services is increasing. The SITA Air Transport IT Insights report shows that most airlines plan to select evaluation criteria for external data center service providers that support carbon neutrality policies or other environmental initiatives.

Digital transformation of the aviation industry: trends of the year

In early August 2021, Dmitry Popov, CEO of Integro Technologies, spoke about the trends in the digital transformation of the aviation industry. According to him, the attention to digital transformation in the aviation industry is higher than ever, especially in the context of increasing the comfort and safety of the air carrier's services, airports and lowering prices.

Digital transformation in the aviation industry concerns the production of aircraft and transportation (passenger and freight). In the latter, the work of airlines, airports, interaction with passengers, freight customers, the functioning of a single air traffic management system deserve special attention. It is also important not to forget about regulators and training in the industry. Examples in the context of current trends are discussed below.

Civil Aircraft Industry

The civilian aircraft industry is in the role of catching up with global global leaders, primarily Airbus and. In Boeing terms of technological trends, you can often hear that to computer MBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering) must be added to the design already in use. This is a methodology that analyzes the development of interconnected models for the development of a finite system. They offer an optimal way to study, update parts of the system and provide information about them to interested parties. One goal is to reduce or eliminate the use of documentation. Of course, the use of other advanced technologies is not excluded.

Among the actively developing technological trends in terms of digitalization of the industry:

• creation of aircraft digital twins for solving various tasks;
• BIM technologies (English Building Information Model or Modeling) - an approach to construction and design based on building information with all relationships and dependencies within the infrastructure;
• the use of augmented and virtual reality in the design, production and support of aircraft operation;
• industrial internet of things (IIoT).

Often MEDIA , it mentions successful examples of the application of technologies in the aircraft industry for that military-industrial complex Russia could be used as effectively in the civilian segment. For example, mathematical modeling using supercomputer technologies made it possible to significantly reduce the time of work financial and costs in the design bureau. "Sukhoi"

Air Traffic Management

In terms of air traffic management, an interesting trend is the ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast )/AZN-B (automatic dependent surveillance-broadcasting) technology. The technology, also introduced in Russia, allows both pilots in the cockpit and air traffic controllers at the ground point to observe the movement of aircraft with greater accuracy than was previously available and receive air navigation and weather information. In the future, the technology should provide autonomous air traffic control and minimize the impact of the human factor.

Customer experience

Many digital transformation trends in other components of the aviation industry are focused on interaction with the client. In any case, this approach is laid down in the fundamental industry document - the Transport Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2030, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, the main idea of ​ ​ which, according to the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov, is to turn transport into "a single, connected, customer-centric system based on the latest technologies," where the client is a "passenger and shipper." The strategy plans to provide for the "phased digitalization" of the transport complex, including for:

• creating the basis for unmanned transport management,
• transfer of transportation documents to electronic form,
• Go to Real-Time Transport Flow Modeling
• the use of Big Data technologies and artificial intelligence (AI), in particular when expanding the transport infrastructure,
• application of predictive (predictive) failure state analytics technology.

All these areas also concern the aviation industry. For example, artificial intelligence technologies are already actively used both on board (in the aircraft avionics complex) and in providing tasks when creating equipment. Analytics based on "Big Data," semantic search for large amounts of information (including unstructured information) allows, for example, Aeroflot to increase sales and increase passenger loyalty through a system of recommendations for customers, forecast of expected revenue, analysis of complaints and complaints.

Uberization of the aviation industry

The nascent trend is the uberization of the aviation industry (uberization or uberization - replacing intermediaries (people or organizations) with digital platforms; the term derived from Uber's name). At the end of January 2021, S7 Airlines launched a service for booking passenger aircraft for private events. Unfortunately, the development of the direction is much more difficult than the uberization of taxis, for reasons of a regulatory nature. But the automotive industry was also considered the most conservative. However, now electronics, including software, take up no less, and sometimes most, of the cost of the car compared to the most expensive part - the engine. According to the CEO of Integro Technologies, the same changes will occur in civil aviation, in which all participants - passengers, carriers, and everyone else - will receive completely different levels of service as a result of digitalization.

Personalisation

Very soon, the information systems of the airport and the aircraft, and then all other participants in the aviation industry, will automatically recognize the passenger, make personal offers and automatically adapt, adjust the environment to his preferences both at the airport and on board. Conscious by all participants in the industry, the "demand of today" is the continuation of the digital life of the passenger both at the airport and on board the aircraft. Solutions have already appeared and are being actively implemented to ensure the operation of Wi-Fi during the flight with the corresponding entertainment systems. The trend will only develop due to the need to reduce the cost of a ticket under the influence of a pandemic. Airlines will be able to compensate for this by selling more services at the airport and on board the plane.

Mobility

In addition to passengers, digitalization concerns carriers. To control the load of flights, the movement of passengers in many airlines, onboard tablets are already used. Managers have executive monitors. Flight attendants have tablets with information about each specific passenger on nutrition, transfers, connections, escorts and much, much more. Pilots - personal devices, on the screens of which they see electronic documentation, have access to automation of engineering and navigational calculations, image output from surveillance cameras, etc. S7 Airlines (Siberia), evaluating its similar mobile application for flight attendants - Cabin Crew Pad, in addition to the increased quality of service, announced that it had saved flight attendants from 10 kg of paper documentation.

Health safety

Transport in general, especially passenger air travel, is the most affected industry from the restrictions adopted in connection with COVID-19. This could not but have a specific impact on the development of technology in response to the crisis. The focus was on technologies that provide safe (in the context of a pandemic) automated processes that improve the quality of passenger service, protecting passengers and staff:

• fully contactless registration,
• automated access to the waiting room,
• self-planting using biometric documents and identity cards,
• personalized services for the passenger both at the airport and on board,
• development of mobile applications for passenger service,
• mobile contactless payment methods,
• mobile baggage delay reporting, real-time baggage tracking information,
• real-time notifications to the passenger's mobile phone about the luggage,
• the use of social networks in the process of providing services and many others.

Biometrics and baggage

A little more about biometrics and luggage, on which, in my opinion, the main focus. On June 3, 2021, Minister of Transport Vitaly Savelyev said that the Ministry of Transport by 2024 expects to introduce a biometric system for identifying passengers on air, railway and public transport. Earlier, in mid-February, it was reported that, according to the digital transformation program of the Ministry of Transport for 2021-2023, six airports of the Russian Federation by the end of 2023 will use biometric data to identify passengers. The introduction of biometrics is indeed going on actively and widely. One of the latest messages on the topic was the introduction of biometrics in the village of Khrabrovo (Kaliningrad), - said Dmitry Popov, CEO of Integro Technologies.

In terms of luggage, many airlines' Bag Journey solutions already allow passengers to track its location themselves. More precisely, the places of scanning the luggage tag in the direction of baggage movement. For example, Aeroflot was among the first in Russia to introduce a system that receives data from 400 airports and 500 airlines. The passenger can obtain information about the location of the baggage during check-in, boarding, during transfer and at the arrival airport. Digitalization has already almost made it possible to take luggage everywhere without the participation of airline employees. And not far from the fact that the passenger will be able to hand over and receive luggage at home.

Improved efficiency

Digital technologies are the airline's indispensable assistants in increasing average daily flight time, reducing aircraft turnover at the airport, reducing flight costs, predicting failure states and in many other processes.

At airports, digitalization is being introduced to manage engineering networks and resources by analogy with a smart home. When integrating these systems with IE, predicting arrival time, passenger flows, it is possible to optimize the operation of various airport systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, etc.) taking into account daily peak loads.

However, we must not forget that, despite all the above, digitalization is among other factors that make global aviation more vulnerable to cyber threats. And offsetting that impact could cause a higher cost of air travel.

I cannot but agree with the opinion of security experts, our partners, BI.Zone (Secure Information Zone, Bison) that active and widespread digitalization of aviation increases the difficulty of tracking the emergence of new vulnerabilities and threats. Alas, the consequences of cyberattacks in aviation are not limited only to financial losses. There is a risk of direct harm to human health, and possibly life, - said the CEO of Integro Technologies.

Therefore, another trend, the awareness of which is actively coming to the industry, is the need for constant training and development of relevant expertise for industry workers in general, increasing the efficiency of IT services in particular. Of the current trends in these areas:

• Own virtual and remote IT services that enable employees to work from home in a more flexible and efficient way
• cybersecurity,
• cloud services.

In conclusion, I repeat: transport remains an industry producing a tremendous amount of data, only a small part of which is actually used. This is a huge potential for development. And its implementation, including the above, is carried out in the most active way. It is important that this happens systematically, based on different concepts. For example, in accordance with the concept of promising transformation of business processes based on digitalization NEXTT (New Experience in Travel and Technologies), developed back in 2017 by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Airports Council (ACI), - summed up Dmitry Popov, CEO of Integro Technologies.[4]

Fully 3D Helicopter Engine Design

For the first time in Russia, the helicopter engine is designed completely in 3D. This was announced by the United Engine Corporation (UEC) "Rostec" at the end of May 2021. Read more here.

SITA: the priority of the aviation industry has become investing in contactless processing of passenger data

On February 24, 2021, SITA announced that in 2020, the volume of flights due to the pandemic decreased by 44% on an annualized basis. IATA predicts that the result of such a drop in demand will be a total annual loss of $118 billion to the aviation industry.

In such conditions, the aircraft industry faced the medical and operational requirements necessary to continue flights. Therefore, in 2020, airlines and airports had to change the structure of IT costs.

According to the SITA 2020 Air Transport IT Insights study, the industry's priority has been to accelerate investment in contactless passenger data processing using mobile technologies, as well as remote and cloud IT services that allow employees to work from home, while increasing the efficiency of communication with passengers. The introduction of technologies that process large amounts of information has brought to the fore the problem of cybersecurity.

{{quote 'author = said Sergio Colella, President of SITA Europe' A sharp slowdown in 2020 has forced the air transport industry to focus on improving economic efficiency. Airlines and airports had to quickly implement health measures, including contactless technologies and the processing of medical data (for example, PCR tests). Complicating matters are the constant changes to air travel rules that make long-term planning impossible.

To address these challenges, the industry has adjusted its investment priorities with a focus on technology. Fortunately, airlines and airports have been able to benefit from the current situation and have made significant progress in introducing new automated solutions that make the flight more comfortable and safe for passengers.}}

The move to a fully contactless check-in process is a major priority for airports and airlines for February 2021. The introduction of these technologies will protect passengers and staff, improve the quality of service and efficiency of the services provided.

The main area of ​ ​ investment is biometric technology: by 2023, 64% of airports intend to install special checkpoints that process biometric data for admission to boarding, which is three times more than in 2020. 82% of air carriers have already significantly expanded the introduction of biometric technologies and plan to double investments in the development of biometric solutions for self-travel of passengers by 2023.

Airlines also note the task of moving to a fully contactless registration process as a priority. Most of them plan to switch to using mobile services for contactless payment for the services provided. 79% of airlines are focused on integrating passenger self-departure technologies. In other words, soon all the main stages of the trip, from the moment of booking to arrival at the destination, will become contactless.

97% of airlines invest heavily in the development and improvement of mobile applications. So, by 2023, passengers and airport staff will receive notifications about the status of baggage in real time.

In response to the pandemic, most airlines and airports are investing more in remote information technologies that optimize the work of employees, including their communication with passengers. Nearly three-quarters of airline industry players plan to increase data-sharing investments, cloud services, cybersecurity and business analytics to speed up digital processes at airports. This will lead to a significant expansion of the range of services provided to passengers in mobile applications.

2019: Start using electronic boarding passes in Russia

On February 24, 2019, the order of the Ministry of Transport on the use of electronic boarding passes came into force. We are talking about online check-in for a flight.

In accordance with the innovations, the passenger can be provided with an electronic boarding pass if he independently checked in for a flight via the Internet.

At Russian airports allowed to enter the plane on electronic boarding passes

A boarding pass issued in electronic form is used when there is an information system at the airport, which includes an electronic inspection database, and a device that scans the bar code contained in the boarding pass, the text of the order says.

Such a document allows you to immediately go to the sterile zone of the airport. At the same time, it remains possible to use a paper coupon in air harbors, if a passenger needs it, for example, for a business trip report. Airlines are required to inform passengers that they may not print the document.

It should be borne in mind that these coupons will be used only at those airports that are ready for this. They should have their own system for recording pre-flight inspection, only in this case it is possible to use a boarding pass in electronic form, - Kirill Yankov, head of the Union of Passengers of Russia, told RT.

He noted that by the end of February 2019, there are many airports in the North and Far East that do not have the necessary equipment. Moreover, these airports are often unprofitable in their operation, Yankov added.

Moscow Sheremetyevo and Domodedovo reported that they were equipped with equipment to allow passengers to enter the plane via electronic boarding passes, but they did not specify when they would start offering such a service.

Among regional airports, Sochi Airport is technically ready to serve passengers on boarding passes electronically. In Ufa, about 1200 passengers used the service by February 2019.^[5]"

Maintenance and repairs

During the flight, the aircraft generates a huge amount of information about the state of various aircraft components. Thanks to Big Data technology, airlines and maintenance and repair operators are now beginning to systematize such information, said AKRAAleksander Gushchin, an expert at the corporate ratings group. As a result, long before the breakdown, the operator will be aware of the wear of a particular part, the necessary timing of its replacement.

This will contribute to an increase in the efficiency of the use of the fleet, as it reduces the downtime of the aircraft during forced repairs, explains Gushchin TAdviser.

In 2017, Aeroflot held a tender for the construction of such a system, although in the end there were no people willing to participate in it, follows from the published procurement protocol. The airline hoped that the system would allow Aeroflot to diagnose and predict the technical condition of the units and assemblies of its aircraft using Big Data tools.

As part of its IT strategy, Aeroflot introduced Digital Optimization for Fleet & Maintenance in 2016. The system, developed jointly with Sabre, assumes that information about its technical condition is automatically received from the aircraft to ground services. This allows you to quickly form a plan for the repair and maintenance of the vessel.

The issue of crew planning remains one of the most pressing for civil air travel. (Photo - Aeroflot)

Optimizing Personnel Costs

In 2018, Utair became the first Russian airline to implement the Jeppesen Crew Pairing program and the risk mitigation program during the planning of Boeing Alertness Model crews. Such a system will help optimize personnel costs - one of the key items of the airline's expenses, Alexander Gushchin cited an example in a conversation with TAdviser.

The issue of crew planning remains one of the most pressing for civil air travel. So, for example, due to a glitch in the program that compiles pilot lists, American Airlines put on leave from December 17 to 31, 2017 - one of the most stressful periods of the year - too many pilots. This was reported by RBC with reference to the NYT newspaper . Such a disruption threatened the cancellations of thousands of flights.

Accelerate business processes

There are more and more examples of the application of advanced technologies in aviation. For example, in 2017, S7 announced the launch of a blockchain-based air ticket project . On July 28, 2017, the company announced the issuance of the world's first tickets by connecting to the banking system via blockchain. The air carrier implemented the project together with Alfa-Bank. The private blockchain is built on the basis of the Ethereum protocol, in which, through smart contracts, information interaction of counterparties is provided when making payments.

The introduction of the Ethereum platform opened up opportunities for significant optimization of business processes for both the airline and its partners. The speed of settlements has increased from 14 days to 23 seconds, the airline's website says.

Then Pavel Voronin, Deputy General Director for Information Technology of S7 Group, said that blockchain technology allows you to significantly optimize business processes, automate any settlement scheme, even such a complex one as, for example, warehouse deliveries.

According to the company, the platform's counterparties are S7 Airlines and ticket agents. Payments are made through Alfa-Bank, which receives information about transactions directly from the network node included in the private blockchain. The entire cycle of transactions, from booking a ticket to debiting the account and updating the status, is carried out automatically by the system.

Thanks to this technology, the airline does not provide the agent with a deferred payment and receives revenue immediately after the ticket is issued, agents can work directly with the airline without providing additional financial guarantees. In addition, such a system reduces document flow.

Aeroflot's intelligent voice platform, developed by Nuance in 2016, optimizes the operation of the airline's contact centers. Customers can get a certificate of the status of flights in automated mode without waiting for a response from call center operators. Previously, the airline used a distributed contact center. The entry point for customer calls was an interactive voice answering machine with the distribution of calls by dialing in tone mode. As a result, the company's customers faced a lack of incoming lines, the need for a long wait for the operator's response.

Personalized approach to the passenger

In 2018, S7 plans to introduce a passenger facial recognition system at Domodedovo Airport. The technology will be introduced into the operation of the airport's business halls, the company said at the end of January 2018. According to the company's idea, software based on trained neural networks will identify S7 Airlines passengers and personalize services for business hall visitors. The project was developed in conjunction with VisionLabs.

Aeroflot is also implementing a similar project. Together with Technoserv in 2017, the company developed a system for intelligent segmentation of customers. Based on the use of big data analysis and a machine learning model, the technology allowed the airline to analyze the preferences of its audience, segment customers by their purchasing power and potential profitability, according to Technoserv.

Safety during flight

2019: Major cyber risks identified for aviation industry

The World Economic Forum (WEF) Working Group, with the participation of BI.Zone (Safe Information Zone, Bison), outlined in the report the main cyber risks for the aviation industry. This became known on February 7, 2020.

The report says that integration modern technologies, such as technology artificial intelligence and,, machine learning biometrics industrial (internet of things Industrial Internet of Things -), IIoT make companies more vulnerable to various. to cyber threats

{{quote 'In 66% of cases, cyber incidents in aviation, for compensation for the consequences of which customers applied to the insurance company, were caused by inattention or malicious activities of employees and only 18% - by an external threat. Industry participants themselves confirm that they most often face incidents in which it is not technical flaws that play a key role, but human credulity or ignorance. According to surveys conducted among industry players, phishing became the main cause of cyber incidents in aviation in 2019. Attacks using other social engineering methods, incidents with ransomware, DDoS and attacks on network infrastructure also took the top lines of the rating, the researchers note. }}

According to the data provided in the WEF study, about 96% of board members of the surveyed organizations are confident that more should be invested in cybersecurity. 87% of large company executives believe that poorly trained employees are the main risk factor for business security.

The authors of the report consider the integration of cybersecurity principles into all aspects of companies' activities, the creation of common standards, as well as the exchange of information on threats, risks and best practices as the main conditions for the successful development of the aviation industry and increasing its cyber resistance. It is the development of a single approach to protecting against cyber threats that will be the main goal of the next phase of the work of the project participants, which will begin in 2020.

In the case of aviation, cybersecurity issues should be paid special attention, because here dozens of lives can become the price of both a powerful cyber attack and a simple human error. We have been talking for a long time about how important collaboration and exchange are information for building effective protection against cyber threats. Many of our projects and initiatives are aimed at expanding such cooperation, said BI.ZONE director Dmitry Samartsev[6]

2017: Digital technology helps airlines identify potentially dangerous passengers

Digital technology helps airlines identify potentially dangerous passengers. This was announced in April 2017 by Anton Myagkov, Deputy Director of the Aeroflot Marketing Department.

Analysis of information about activity on social networks of certain users allows the airline to draw up a portrait of the client and warn the security services about the possibility of illegal actions. This technology is especially relevant during periods of mass events, for example, the World Cup in 2018.

The Digital Optimization for Flight Operations system also improves flight safety. Thanks to this system, information is constantly exchanged between the on-board computer and the Sabre Flight Explorer system (a system that allows you to track the position of the ship in real time, display the route of the aircraft). Information on loading and flight plan is automatically transmitted to the on-board computer, and location information is received from the on-board computer during the entire flight.

Support for Pilot Activities

For the past decade, pilots have been using Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) technology. This is a tablet on which navigation charts, radar (flight operation manual), radar radar (flight production manual), MEL (Minimum Equipment List), a collection of crew actions in emergency situations and other documents are loaded.

In 2007, the chief navigator of Aeroflot, Vladimir Nartov, told the Business Aviation Portal that EFB was divided into three classes. First class EFBs are stand-alone notebooks on which software is installed that provides air navigation and other information necessary for preparing for flights, with the ability to update from anywhere if there is an Internet connection or access to an internal network (intranet).

The second class of EFBs are portable tablets. They bring additional video surveillance capabilities both in the cabin and in the cockpit. The third class EFB integrates with other aircraft systems and is designed to collect and display information about the fuel, altitude, position of the vessel, as well as for calculations.

Notes