Airworthiness: Technical Innovations and Systems Developments

This report explores the technical innovations revolutionizing aviation safety. It delves into the impact of blockchain technology on operational efficiency and security, highlighting its role in streamlining passenger data and tokenizing frequent flyer miles. The report also examines the use of robotics in various airline tasks, such as baggage handling and customer management, and the integration of biometrics to enhance passenger experience. Furthermore, it discusses the adoption of wearable technology, like smartwatches and augmented reality, to improve training and provide real-time updates. The report then shifts to systems developments, focusing on proceduralized operations, crew resource management, and their significance in maintaining aircraft safety. It concludes by emphasizing the transformative potential of digital technologies in making air travel safer, more personalized, and technologically advanced.

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The technical innovations in aviation safety
Blockchain Technology: Blockchain technology has enhanced the operational efficiency,
customer experiences as well as security systems in the airline through the following ways:
 Elimination of the need of depending on proofs using physical identification cards
through having the data of the passengers maintained with a virtual decentralized
database that is easily accessible by the relevant people
 It may aid in changing flying miles into an asset that is more valuable that may be used in
offering additional benefits to the clients through tokenising such points as well as
offering them an opportunity to accrue the points1
Robotics: The airline industry is making use of robotics in aiding the different tasks including
baggage handling, car parking as well as customer management among other tasks. A lot of buzz
was generated by the introduction of socially-aware Spencer Robot of KLM. The robot is fitted
with the ability to handle social circumstance between people and is able to ‘see’ and evaluate
people around it using the sensors
Biometrics: Making air travel more comfortable and delightful experience remains the focus of
the airline industry to the customers2. Biometrics are being used in in the revolution of the
experience of the clients for example the launch of biometric-enabled bag drop by the Air New
Zealand in facilitating check-in process
1 Charles, Billings Aviation automation: The search for a human-centered approach. (CRC Press, 2018)
2 Reece, Clothier and Rodney Walker. "Safety risk management of unmanned aircraft systems." Handbook of
unmanned aerial vehicles (2015), 2229-2275

Wearable technology: Airlines have begun using wearable technology in different ways to
enhance the experience of customers on flights. Among the instances of airlines that have
adopted wearable technology include:
 Creation of the Apple Watch by EasyJet and British Airways that allow passengers to
keep boarding passing as well as received real-times updates from their wrist
 The use of Microsoft’s HoloLens in the training of new engineers and crew members by
Japan Airlines. The use of HoloLens enables training of the mechanic regarding engine
mechanics akin to experience they would be having when working on the real plane
Systems developments used to improve aviation safety
Effective safety of the aircraft is very significant when it comes to the protection of the lives as
well as preservation of the valuable assets. In a bid to set the national standards that are usable in
aviation safety, the Interagency Committee for Aviation Policy as well as GSA pioneer attempts
to elaborate and come up with the best practices for aviation safety3. Among the systems
developed include:
Flying the book: In this system all the aircrafts are operated in a manner that is highly
proceduralized with standard operating procedures and checklists being the order of the day with
the aircraft are flown using a monitor and cross-monitor as well as challenge and respond basis
Crew resource management: Crew resource management training has turned out to be a
compulsory exercise for every commercial flight crew4. Early crew resource management
3 Rhona, Flin and Paul O'Connor. Safety at the sharp end: a guide to non-technical skills. (CRC Press, 2017)

approaches were forecasted to be aiding in the avoidance of error as well as concentrating on the
enhancement of the management style alongside interpersonal skills used in the flight deck.
Conclusion
Digital technical and various system developments are fasting altering the nature of each
industry and the digital revolution being experienced in the airline industry has just started but
associated with numerous changes in the industry. In the coming times, it is anticipated that the
experiences of airline travel will be more valuable, personalized as well as technologically
advanced making airline travelling safer and more memorable.
References
Billings, Charles E. Aviation automation: The search for a human-centered approach. CRC
Press, 2018
4 Douglas, Wiegmann and Scott. A human error approach to aviation accident analysis: The human factors analysis
and classification system. (Routledge, 2017)

Clothier, Reece A., and Rodney A. Walker. "Safety risk management of unmanned aircraft
systems." Handbook of unmanned aerial vehicles (2015): 2229-2275
Flin, Rhona, and Paul O'Connor. Safety at the sharp end: a guide to non-technical skills. CRC
Press, 2017
Wiegmann, Douglas A., and Scott A. Shappell. A human error approach to aviation accident
analysis: The human factors analysis and classification system. Routledge, 2017