New technology to cut turnaround times at Halifax Stanfield

Assaia is confident that the deployment of its turnaround control solution at Halifax Stanfield International Airport will ensure the more efficient use of the Canadian gateway’s existing infrastructure, improve the on-time performance of its airlines and enhance safety.

The solution, a combination of Artificial Intelligence and computer vision, will monitor aircraft turnarounds and will also be deployed at the de-icing pad in a bid to reduce delays and even cancellations, particularly as aircraft queue for treatment.

The technology compiles data from the gates and the de-icing pad, incorporating weather information and flight planning data. The result is that pilots receive push-back clearance only when there is adequate space for them to go to the de-icing pad without causing blockages.

Max Diez, CEO of Assaia, said: “Our technology provides the single source of truth to optimise turnaround times. We examine the tiniest detail of what’s going on at the turnaround to find efficiencies.

“The temperature in Halifax consistently drops below zero for around four months of the year, so de-icing is a major part of the airport operations. It’s also necessarily a slow process, meaning any efficiency increases can have a significant positive impact.”

The airport’s director of technology and innovation, Craig Paul, said: “The real-time and historical insights that can inform both airport and airline operations make this solution a clear winner for everyone.

“Monitoring and measuring every aspect of the turnaround in real-time enables opportunities to make the process more efficient, contributes to maximising the utilisation of our assets, and reduces the time each turnaround takes, which is good for the airlines and their passengers.”