New Technology Revolutionising the Aviation Industry

Over the last year we have seen impressive advances regarding technology and every time it is more embedded in our daily routines. As we go into 2018 the future of technology appears more thrilling’ however, perturbing for some because technology advances faster than other industries or we can keep up. At Brookfield we are passionate about the aviation industry and all related to it and we think that these new trends are worth analysing.

One of the latest developments of technology has been Virtual Reality (VR), but its acceptation has been slow (at least for those of my age) and its application to other areas apart from video games is still under development. However, on the other hand Augmented Reality (AR) seems to fit more into our daily routines, interaction with the environment and especially with the aviation industry.

AR could be said to be the merger between real life and virtual reality and the more relevant fact is that it can be integrated into apps. For instance, app developers can generate images that will pop up on the app that integrate with contents in your surroundings allowing the users a digital experience in the real world.

Its implementation in airports as well seems very promising as well. The introduction of augmented reality is intended to improve our customers experience while we are traveling, give us statistics and even a broader range of choices by being better informed.

However, its applicability is already taking shape on the training and maintenance side of the industry. Even researchers from the university of Bologna argued that the implementation of this technology could enormously help the transportation safety. Current statistics in the aviation industry outline more and more the human errors when performing tasks. These errors according to them could be addressed by technology. Firstly, by making the life of operators easier, and secondly to keep track and visualise all of the procedures by software that does not get tired or forget things. In a work environment an engineer for example can wear the headset that would perform as a holographic processor permitting the user to get instant information about items, field work and design.

Moreover, big names in the industry have started to test and implement this technology. Companies such as Air New Zealand (customer service), Airbus, Boeing, Japan Airlines (maintenance and training) among five other companies to find this technology revolutionary and a new way of embracing the future to harness the endless possibilities that technology brings with it.

Although google has suggested that there will very soon be such technology in the mass market, it is difficult to know when we will start incorporating this into our lives and start embracing this new technology. However, the benefits that it can bring to the training and maintenance side are promising and for sure will revolutionise the industry.