Airport ground operations demand innovative solutions beyond traditional camera-based systems. It is imperative to effectively cover the dynamic airfield environment in its entirety and address multiple challenges simultaneously. Moonware’s HALO presents a game-changing approach, addressing the limitations of the existing methods.

 

Limitations of airport operations with cameras

Camera-based systems are not only costly and time consuming to plan, install and maintain, but they can also be disruptive to airport operations during planning and implementation. Following installation, the effectiveness of these monitoring solutions is often constrained by several factors:

  1. Restricted field of view: a primary concern with camera-based monitoring systems is their limited field of view, which constrains their ability to provide comprehensive coverage of airport activities. Despite deploying numerous cameras across the airport premises, there remains a significant gap in surveillance beyond the immediate vicinity of the gates. Consequently, events occurring outside the camera’s scope often escape detection, necessitating manual intervention by airport personnel to ensure comprehensive monitoring.
  2. Missed events: the inherent limitations of camera technology result in the inadvertent omission of critical events, further compromising the efficacy of surveillance efforts. Due to their fixed perspective and limited angle of view, cameras may fail to capture every airside operation occurring underneath the wing or aft of the aircraft. As a consequence, many activities taking place at the rear of the aircraft may go unnoticed, leading to inaccuracies in monitoring and potential security vulnerabilities.
  3. Incomplete solution: while cameras offer valuable insights into gate activities, they present only a partial solution to the myriad operational challenges faced by airport authorities. Questions regarding the whereabouts of essential resources such as fuel trucks or the reasons behind operational delays cannot be adequately addressed through camera surveillance alone. Such inquiries necessitate a holistic approach to monitoring that integrates real-time data analytics, proactive communication channels, and human oversight.

 

Global control and visibility with HALO

HALO, Moonware’s flagship product, transcends gate-level monitoring, offering a more holistic view of the entire airport environment. This comprehensive approach enhances operational efficiency and improves airside decision-making.

The state-of-the-art Ground Traffic Control platform is accessible through a mobile or web app, independent of legacy systems, software integrations and airport infrastructure. Its design as a standalone system allows for rapid and cost-efficient implementation in as quickly as 1 week. Furthermore, thanks to Moonware’s integrated telematics and interface with the ramp operations user base, HALO does not require installation of additional airport infrastructure.

Key features include automating crew dispatching, task assignment, equipment allocation, airside navigation, asset localization, and team communication. By leveraging real-time flight data, HALO orchestrates ground personnel and equipment efficiently, considering factors like urgency and compatibility.

Furthermore, the app integrates text messaging, calls, and voice transcriptions, all in one platform. By eliminating walkie-talkies, unnecessary group chats, and burdensome emails, Moonware envisions a cohesive ecosystem for all ground crew. This solution goes beyond traditional camera-based monitoring, ensuring dynamic resource management.

 

Moonware’s HALO Ground Traffic Control platform. Courtesy of Moonware.

 

The Moonware difference

HALO is revolutionizing ground operations with its advanced capabilities. By algorithmically-orchestrating ground activities, the platform’s value lies in enabling faster turnarounds, reduced block times, and minimized delays. This also allows operators to better meet their on-time performance targets, maintaining high flight throughput and alleviating congestion around the airfield.

Precisely thanks to this, the ultimate benefit of adopting HALO translates to an increase in aircraft utility, where at a hub-network level, minutes saved across hundreds of flights compound into hours worth of potential openings in an operator’s schedule. This yields a significant revenue increase with no extra CapEx in assets.

HALO emerges as the most robust and efficient solution to modernize airfield ground operations. Designed to seamlessly integrate with an operator’s existing resources and teams, Moonware’s solution naturally becomes the optimal choice for operators seeking to enhance their capabilities with minimal disruption and cost.

Ground operations have historically been slow to evolve, where existing innovations fail to comprehensively address the root of present issues. Moonware has developed technology that holistically serves the airfield ecosystem, as opposed to piecemealing certain aspects of the airside. It is time for 21st Century ground operations to match the sophistication of the aircraft they support, and Moonware is excited to partner with forward thinking companies to lay the digital foundations for a new generation of airfields.