London Gatwick trialling innovative new Smart Stand technology
- The Smart Stand technology allows aircraft turns to be performed from a central control room, including safe entry onto stand, jet bridge operations, door control and turn event monitoring.
- By enabling more efficient turn times, the Smart Stand is designed to enhance safety procedures, improve stand utilisation, maintain punctuality, and improve passenger experience.
- The trial will run until next summer.
London Gatwick is trialling new Smart Stand technology, which could revolutionise the way aircraft turns are managed at the airport.
The ambitious, first-of-its-kind trial which is being run with London Gatwick’s largest airline easyJet, enables a Turn Coordinator (TCO) to manage an aircraft turn from a control room, record turn events automatically and apply AI to predict when the plane is ready to leave.
It is hoped the new Smart Stand technology could enhance safety procedures and improve stand utilisation and efficiencies of the airport’s day-to-day operations.
By allowing jet bridge operators to manage aircraft turns without needing to attend every arriving aircraft, the Smart Stand has the potential to enable consistently fast turn arounds and help maintain punctuality.
The technology also has the potential to enhance the staff experience, with TCOs being able to more efficiently and effectively manage passenger arrivals from one central location and automating processes with easier to use reporting tools.
Anti-collision control technology could also further reduce the risk of potential damage to an aircraft from possible jet-bridge impact.
The first live trial took place on 6 May and is expected to run until next summer.
Abhi Chacko, Head of Innovation, London Gatwick said: “London Gatwick is the world’s most efficient single-runway airport. We handle up to 55 movements an hour, and aircraft turnaround is the most important activity for maintaining on-time performance. Currently, activities are measured manually and have to be performed by staff on the ground, going from stand to stand.
“Smart Stand has the potential to significantly improve the aircraft turn process, bringing a range of benefits to airlines, ground handlers, the airport and most importantly, passengers. For example, once this innovation is approved for regular operations, it will enable aircraft to enter the Smart Stand and let passengers out, without anyone having to physically go the stand. This trial highlights our commitment to finding innovative solutions and we are excited to review the results.”
Hugh McConnellogue, Director of Gatwick, easyJet said: “As London Gatwick’s largest airline with 22 million of our customers travelling through the airport each year, we are pleased to support the trial of initiatives like Smart Stand to help enhance airport resilience and passenger experience and we look forward to seeing the outcome of the trial.”
The innovation is part of VINCI Airports’ strategy to improve airport infrastructure and management, including the dissemination of innovative ideas across its network of more than 70 airports in 13 countries.
London Gatwick is an Innovation Centre of Excellence for VINCI Airports, and Smart Stand is the latest in several innovative solutions pioneered by the airport. Others are now used in airports across the VINCI network, including the Airport Community App.
London Gatwick also recently hosted its inaugural Innovation Summit at its specialist, on-site STEM centre.
NOTES
- The trial has been agreed with the Unions of DHL – easyJet's appointed ground handler at London Gatwick.
With 41 million annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top ten airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5 billion GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15 million people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2 billion sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. Vinci Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
The world’s leading private airport operator, VINCI Airports operates more than 70 airports in 14 countries. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds and manages airports by providing its investment capacity and its know-how in optimizing operational performance, modernizing infrastructure and managing their operations and environmental transition. VINCI Airports is the first airport operator to have committed to an international environmental strategy in 2016, to achieve the goal of net zero emissions across its entire network by 2050.
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Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is a leading infrastructure investor that specializes in investing in, owning and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure and water and waste management sectors. With decarbonization central to our investment thesis, we are well positioned to support the global energy transition. Headquartered in New York, GIP has offices in Brisbane, Dallas, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Mumbai, Singapore, Stamford and Sydney.
GIP has approximately $115 billion in assets under management. Our portfolio companies have combined annual revenues of approximately $71 billion and employ over 116,000 people. We believe that our focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with our deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational expertise, enables us to be responsible stewards of our investors' capital and to create positive economic impact for communities. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.
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London, UK, 27 September 2024
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