The Aviation industry has entered a golden age, sustained by highest order records and skyrocketing passenger traffic. In pursuit of these new prospects, the industry is opposed to a series of challenges that must be set out in order to withstand profitable growth. Business Intelligence (BI), more specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI), is being implemented constantly to try to bring the Aviation industry into the 21st century. AI will have a major impact in this industry in many ways, from passenger experience to flight operations.
As transportation is a logistics business, machine learning is able to generate unique insights that increase efficiency and passenger experience. The timeliness of the data collection regarding each type of transportation (taxi, bus, train, airplane, etc), which will be very close to real-time, and of each passenger, will allow a better integration of all the transport modalities. Recurring to this type of intelligence, it is getting easier to turn the daily travel into a personally tailored experience. AI can completely revolutionize the way airlines do business, as we can see by some of its applications below.
Flight-Schedule Management for Reducing Cancellations
As technology advances, people start to wonder if a human’s job can be operated by a robot or a machine. Recent regulations have established limits to pilot flight time to reduce fatigue, which alongside the current human pilot shortages, leads to massive flight cancellations. These cancellations translate into clients’ dissatisfaction and cost millions to the industry.
The very large amount of data is a resource for new business intelligence platforms that help airlines improve pilot utilization to guarantee that planes keep flying, and consequently reduce the effect of the flight cancellation crisis. The maximization of pilot and crew availability, tracking which crew members are ready for action, when, and where they are located. Furthermore, when delays occur, these platforms are able to intuitively alert crew schedulers, so that they can solve problems in order to avoid a flight cancellation.
Identification of the passengers
Passenger identification and check-in before boarding are both vital tasks for an airline that can use AI technology to do it easily. Online check-in via mobile apps and ticketing kiosks are two good examples of already applied, and efficient, information technologies. Advancements in this area can translate into Biometric Terminals, where the process of passenger identification will be much faster and easier. Simplifying all these processes makes it easier to predict and avoid interferences in airline services.
Baggage Screening
This is a major issue, especially when it comes to airport and flight security. However, AI will enable the automation of baggage screening for multiple passenger lanes, as it will help authorities to detect illegal items effectively. The AI platforms are compatible with the X-Ray security systems and the identification of possible threats is easier.
Assisting Customers (Chatbots for Improved Customer Service)
The Aviation industry is notorious for having bad customer service that can go from issues with attendants, accommodation issues and ticketing problems. AI will be used to assist customers in the airport, leading to the reduction of operational and labour costs of the airline companies. The mobile devices, combined with AI platforms, were a crucial enabler of a fast resolution of some of these issues, as the customers receive accurate information on future flights. Thus, the major advancement in client relations will be the Chatbots, as they are available 24/7, and can efficiently understand and answer basic client inquiries and search for the information they ask for.
Maintenance Prediction and 3D Printing for Better Repair and Maintenance
Airlines have the vital responsibility of keeping the maintenance on their airplanes up to date, and by using Artificial Intelligence it becomes easier to predict when these are necessary. Cloud-based data storing systems are already being used to support the fleet in the collection and recording of a very high amount of real-time data, allowing systematic analysis of when and how the aircraft maintenances are necessary.
It is also relevant to refer that these maintenances or repairs most of the time are highly dependent on the timely supply of some components or equipment. Repair-and-maintenance outsourcing causes some problems, as it is quite usual that companies have long lead times when ordering the necessary materials or manpower. 3D printing can be revealed as a promising solution for this issue, as this technology will possibly be able to create strong and lightweight airplane parts quickly and less costly. This is the technology that will allow that airplanes are repaired right at the airport gate, rather than sending them back to the hangars overseas.
Pitfalls of using AI in Aviation
The major problems in these technologies are the high investments needed for installation and maintenance. Not every company is able to have half of these AI platforms, and this would represent a hard reality for small companies. These companies have really low investment politics and this way it could be created a barrier between small and big airline companies in the future. The market becomes more competitive every day, and the big companies intend on conquering the highest possible share, leading the small airlines to face existential threats.
Conclusion
The implementation of the first and more basic AI platforms has made many tasks easier for airline and airport authorities around the globe. Starting in the passenger’s identification on to luggage screening, and still fast and efficient customer care solutions. Meanwhile, the aviation industry has risks of real-life harms that are exponentially higher than the software industry, and the delay on further implementation of AI technologies result from cautions regarding these issues. As Artificial Intelligence is an online-based platform, it could be a target of harmful attacks, for which the industry may have to install checks and balances to detect and reduce this risk. Throughout the world arise ethical dilemmas, especially in Silicon Valley, and the aviation industry has been learning from them as they transit to a smart future. Known for its rigorous safety measures and procedures, the aviation industry may even be able to better design, adopt and deploy the AI systems into live high-risk profile systems.
References:
Forbes (2018). How Artificial Intelligence Will Impact The Aviation Industry. [online] Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2018/08/07/how-artificial-intelligence-will-impact-the-aviation-industry/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2019]
Packt (2019). What can Artificial Intelligence do for the Aviation industry. [online] Available at: https://hub.packtpub.com/what-can-artificial-intelligence-do-for-the-aviation-industry/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2019]
Information Age (2017). 6 ways business intelligence can save the aviation industry. [online] Available at: https://www.information-age.com/6-ways-business-intelligence-can-save-aviation-industry-123468838/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2019]
IoT for All (2019). How AI Is Reshaping the Aviation Industry. [online] Available at: https://www.iotforall.com/how-ai-reshaping-aviation-industry/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2019]
Analytics Insight (2019). How AI is Doing Wonders in Aviation Industry. [online] Available at: https://www.analyticsinsight.net/how-ai-is-doing-wonders-in-aviation-industry/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2019]
Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research (2109). How the 4 Largest Airlines Use Artificial Intelligence. [online] Available at: https://emerj.com/ai-sector-overviews/airlines-use-artificial-intelligence/ [Accessed 11 Oct. 2019]
