It is clear one of the big topics facing the aviation industry right now is the ability to be more “green” and have better fuel efficiency as we face what many see as a climate emergency. However, while airlines are looking at more sustainability issues, one of the questions that naturally arises is how a “connected aircraft” can help with such efforts. Here, we talk to key people in the industry about how airlines can use connectivity to make the industry more sustainable.
While most modern aircraft are built with connectivity factored in, as we fight for a more sustainable future, it is clear that there is work to be done with older aircraft—a large number of them will still be operating for many years yet. So, as the drive to become more “sustainable” amplifies, we look at how industry and the commercial airline industry can work together to “smarten” the industry to not only increase profit but also to make the industry overall more sustainable.
Technology is moving at quite a pace. Most airlines have one eye on the future as the industry will undergo a revolution over the next few years. The demand and drive for sustainability will be vital. But, how will the likes of Boeing and Airbus respond to this evolution? What will be the future tech that we will see in these aircraft? Here we take a peek into the future and find out how manufacturers are changing their processes to build the aircraft of the future?
5G is here. Discussions are even starting to happen about 6G. However, as the world consumes more and more bandwidth, how could this impact the commercial airline industry? While there is a lot of hype around 5G, it is clear there are issues and challenges for airlines. There is the interference issue, for one. There are also challenges with how airlines can actually use 5G and whether it creates the types of solutions it needs going forward. Here, we look at the latest developments in 5G and whether as an industry we have understated the challenges of operating in a 5G environment.
It is clear that airlines are using connectivity more and more to impact their operations as well as to boost the passenger experience. From better maintenance and fuel efficiency to better communication between staff, the benefits are all-encompassing. However, as more bandwidth becomes available, and more software and apps are developed, what is the next stage for this? Here we talk about apps, predictive maintenance, and how the “connected” operation of an aircraft may look in the future.
The focus of today has been on sustainability, improved efficiency, and better operations. We invite some of the speakers back for a closing session to discuss the big talking points of the day, lessons learned, and where the industry goes next.
While Day One of CAI focused on issues of sustainability and better efficiency, it is clear that for airlines to justify these huge investments in connectivity, they will have to find innovative approaches on the customer side to make the ROI work. If they move to the “free” model, where passengers no longer have to pay for connectivity, where can they make a return? What are the economics of this, and can they still charge if a number of airlines move for free? This panel will talk about the economics of making passenger connectivity work.
In a new panel for CAI 2023, we get a series of analysts from major firms to talk about their insights and forecasts for the market, what trends they see developing, and whether they are optimistic/pessimistic for the future of this market. We get together some key influencers and see whether their vision matches what we have heard from airlines.
Another year passes, and another year where satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) become the mainstream. At SATELLITE 2023, we heard exclusively from Amazon and its plans for ‘Project Kuiper’ and others are also keen to get more involved. The economics of LEO on paper look compelling. Here, we examine the latest in LEO and its impact on Aviation.
The satellite industry is more than just LEO. There are questions over the overall costs, terminals, software, integration between satellite and cloud, as well as other orbits other than LEO. Many satellite players see aviation as one of their key markets and airlines are keen to work with players here. But, as players consolidate (Intelsat/Gogo, Viasat/Inmarsat) what can satellite players offer in the future beyond just connectivity.
The Seamless Air Alliance plays a vital role in fostering communications and dialogue between the airlines and the industry. After a successful panel in 2022, we welcome them back to talk about the key issues of the day and what the Alliance can do to help airlines be successful in these areas.
Bizjet operators are a key part of the “connected ecosystem.” They have high wealth customers who expect connectivity. However, do their approaches differ from commercial airlines? This panel looks at this part of the market and their drive to sustainability as well as whether their approaches to connectivity and sustainability differ from their commercial counterparts.
In November 2022, Jeppesen experienced a ‘cyber incident’ which saw the accuracy of its flight planning products and services compromised. It was a sharp reminder that cyber attacks in aviation are on the increase and can have a dramatic effect. By September 2022, it will be around 10 months since this has been reported. We look at the implications for this attack, what happened, the effect it had, and most worryingly of all, what could happen next if a similar attack was successful.
In a first for Connected Aviation Intelligence, we get some key cyber experts to talk about the major trends they are seeing on the threat landscape. As we end Connected Aviation Intelligence, we talk about the threat vectors and aviation data security, and how the landscape is shifting and changing, and what trends in the cyber world, the aviation industry should be looking out for.