Connectivity: a catalyst for digital transformation in aviation
The air sector has historically been a leader in technological development, and today digital transformation is not unrelated to the air industry that seeks to cover three areas: technologies for the automation of operations, technologies for the integration of operations and technologies related to sustainability.
May 17, 2022
Cartagena, May 17, 2022 – The air sector has historically been a leader in technological development, and today digital transformation is not unrelated to the air industry that seeks to cover three areas: technologies for the automation of operations, technologies for the integration of operations and technologies related to sustainability.
During the ALTA CCMA & MRO Conference, Ian Galloway, Director of Commercial Aviation Americas and Connected Aviation Solutions at Collins Aerospace, presented “Connectivity: a catalyst for digital transformation in aviation” where he addressed connectivity, understood as the interconnection capacity between different systems that acts as a catalyst and starts digital transformation in air carriers.
“To ensure safe activity and predictive management, a strategy of connectivity is required, as information is available at all points of the plane and at various times of the flight. The problem is that we still have a lot of manual data and that’s an opportunity for failures. What we’ve seen is that aircraft manufacturers have come together to create models of digital transformation and that’s very important to the industry. Our recommendation to operators is to work with their teams to have data in a safer and more efficient environment, “says Ian Galloway.
Galloway approached the topic from three perspectives: connectivity within the aircraft, to the aircraft, and to the aircraft for ground control. Because of these connectivity needs, an airline needs to integrate very different systems and applications across multiple platforms and protocols to make its operations more efficient and secure.
“Achieving digital transformation is an effort across the value chain. The necessary ground and air infrastructure is needed and the systems are integrated. Governments have a key role to extend their application throughout air transport, “says José Ricardo Botelho, Executive Director & CEO ALTA.
An important point brought by the specialist is cybersecurity in the capture, applications and data transfer, something critical for aviation. “In our experience we always say that data should be transferred safely. The complexity is behind so many applications and transformations that are necessary for this, so operators need to have a clear strategy that ensures the right people handling this data, “warns Ian Galloway.
According to data released in an IDB report, 40% of public transport agencies in Latin America are pending to develop a digital transformation strategy. In the private sector this figure is 27%. The key is to understand that digital transformation is not about acquiring standardized technological solutions, but that every airline in the airline industry meets particular needs and objectives.