JULY 2018 49
But does slower Wi-Fi adoption mean
Australia is behind the curve?
But how is Australia’s aviation
industry measuring up? Airlines in
the South West Pacific are lagging
far behind their North American
counterparts in particular when it
comes to getting their aircraft online
with inflight internet connectivity, and
some of the benefits of the Internet of
Things require, well, internet.
The good news for local airlines is
that “Rockwell Collins does not see the
strong adoption of inflight internet in
North America driving high numbers
of IoT applications into those airlines,”
says Joel Otto from the company’s
Information Management Services
division.
“The longer lead items in IoT are,
firstly, connecting the device if it is not
connected, and, secondly, determining
how “smart” an aircraft certified
device needs to be and updating those
devices on the aircraft.”
SITAONAIR’s Pierre-Yves Belain
concurs. “So far, inflight internet
has been driven by the passenger
entertainment segment. We do not
perceive a strong relation with IoT
today, although this may change in the
future.”
With long lead times for selection,
testing, provision, installation and
entry into service of inflight internet
systems, however, airlines are
planning for IoT benefits once the
planes are online.
“Virgin Australia plans to have
all of our B777 aircraft and the
majority of our B737 aircraft fitted
with Wi-Fi by the end of 2018, with
A330 installation to follow in 2019,”
Stone explains. “As guests become
more accustomed to using Wi-Fi
inflight, the opportunities to provide
new products and services to guests
that may or may not utilise IoT will
increase dramatically. Early planning
for these products and services is
already underway.”
Coming up next, says Stone, “new
aircraft types, such as the Boeing 737
MAX, are arriving with a growing
array of sensors designed to increase
safety and deliver greater operational
efficiencies to the airline.”
Moreover, “the use of IoT to
enhance wayfinding and personal
communications in the airport is
something that is currently underway.
We expect to be utilising this, combined
with augmented reality solutions by
early 2019, on our new app.”
In addition, Stone says, “We have
several asset tracking initiatives that
utilise IoT elements also underway,
for example with our wheelchairs,
and a number of programs to look
at improved baggage tagging and
tracking.”
Key suppliers, too, are bullish on
the future for the IoT. From the Rolls-
Royce perspective, says the company’s
Bill O’Sullivan, “the increase in digital
capability is continually increasing –
our Airline Aircraft Availability Centre
in Derby, UK will soon be receiving
more than 70 trillion data points
from our large engine fleet every yearand our R2 Data Labs organisation
then uses advanced data analytics,
industrial artificial intelligence and
machine learning techniques to
translate that data into new service
propositions for customers.”
SITAONAIR’s Benain also remains
positive. “As SITA’s connected aircraft
experts, we are exploring innovation
in a number of areas where the IoT
will bring clear value onboard aircraft- from monitoring transported goods
and assets inflight and sensing the
aircraft environment, to keeping
tabs on an aircraft’s condition. As
a priority, we are collaborating
with airlines’ OEMs and IoT
vendors to identify where enabling
IoT capabilities will make a real
difference.”
It’s clear that the Internet of Things
is maturing, but while it has moved
beyond the bleeding edge the edge is
still sharp and often results in a “wait
for it” from prospective customers.
Just as not every household is
clamouring to talk to Alexa, not every
operator, manufacturer or supplier
wants every part of their operations
online.
If, after nearly three years of study,
the Internet of Things were getting
its report card, it might read: “A
promising future, but must make new
friends and apply itself better.”
Clearly, there is more to do, there
are more people to persuade, and
there are more benefits to show – but
it feels like the aviation industry is
getting there.
Virgin Australia plans to have
all of its 777 aircraft and the
majority of 737 aircraft fitted
with Wi-Fi by the end of 2018.
ROB FINLAYSON‘New aircraft
types, such
as the Boeing
737 MAX, are
arriving with
a growing
array of
sensors.’
CAMERON STONEThings to come