New technology is revolutionizing air travel across the globe, making flights more efficient, eco-friendly, and secure. From improving flight planning and operations to enhancing the passenger experience, technology is transforming the aviation industry.
In this post, we’ll explore current technologies driving positive change and glimpse into future innovations that could make air travel even more attractive.
1. The Potential of Blockchain in Airline Operations
Perhaps the biggest technological buzz in the air travel industry is centred on Blockchain technology, the system that powers the secure, virtual currency Bitcoin. Described as a ‘secure digital ledger of transactions and agreements’, Blockchain offers tamper-proof data that can be managed and shared via authorised access.
Blockchain could be a game changer for flight operators, which can use it to transform their maintenance and safety regimes. Data entered into the blockchain would allow companies to track where every part on a plane came from and exactly who had handled it, and when – bringing security and safety to new levels.
For passengers, blockchain offers seamless travel experiences by integrating biometric ID verification with check-in, baggage handling, and passport control—eliminating counterfeiting risks and reducing processing times.
2. Wearable Technology in Aviation for Enhanced Efficiencies
Wearable technology trials have already been undertaken by some airlines, both for cabin crew and engineers. Uniforms of the former include LEDs to provide additional lighting in an emergency and to display important information like flight numbers. Similar lighting in ground staff jacket cuffs can be used to help with aircraft movement.
Engineers can benefit from LEDs in jacket hoods to illuminate work areas and leave both of their hands free for inspection and maintenance. In-built cameras and microphones allow remotely based colleagues to help troubleshoot technical issues, while air quality sensors allow wearers to monitor their work environment. While relatively simple innovations, the net result is to improve safety and make maintenance and repairs faster – delivering efficiencies to the flight operator.
3. Maintenance Drones for Faster Inspections
Some airlines are deploying maintenance drones to speed up aircraft inspections and improve efficiency. These drones:
- Assess lightning-strike damage in under 30 minutes (compared to manual inspections taking 4–6 hours).
- Scan aircraft fuselages for wear and tear, reducing downtime.
- Some analysts predict drone images of aircraft sections could be compared with online image databases, allowing defects to be detected automatically.
- Could soon be used to deliver spare parts, accelerating repairs and minimizing delays.
4. More Efficient and Sustainable Flight Routes
Flight operators now make use of new technology to optimize their routes and cut their emissions. For example, on a range of services Emirates is using technology that optimises routes for the prevailing weather, saving fuel and emissions – not to mention getting passengers to their destination quicker.
Future developments are even more exciting, with a solar-powered plane already successfully completing a round-the-world flight. It’s a big step towards reducing airlines’ reliance on fossil fuels, but it is likely to be many years before we see the world’s first solar-powered commercial aircraft.
5. Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) and Document Management
Pilots began to use mobile devices as electronic flight bags in 2011, meaning they could access e-documents rather than relying on the hard copies of the charts, flight manuals and other information they used before, Electronic devices quickly helped pilots to become more productive and reduced aircraft weight by a significant degree.
That said, airlines can still find it expensive, time-consuming and difficult to manage the huge number of documents that pilots and cabin crew need (and are required by regulators to have). Even if an airline has invested in document management software, they still have to spend huge amounts of time each year managing electronic document libraries and making sure that all information is correct. For example, aircraft manuals may change every 2-3 months, and because qualified pilots have to spend time making sure they are correct it takes them away from more productive and profitable duties.
Today this problem is frequently solved by outsourcing. Solutions such as the DocuNet airline document management system (now used by more than 140 airlines worldwide) helps streamline compliance by:
- Providing pilots and cabin crews with instant access to up-to-date operational documents.
- Ensuring compliance-checked updates reach all users simultaneously.
- Reducing costs—airlines save an average of £500K per year for fleets of 100+ aircraft by transitioning to digital document management.
The Future of Aviation and Technology
Technology in aviation continues to evolve, offering new efficiencies, improved safety, and enhanced passenger experiences. Airlines that embrace innovations such as blockchain, AI-driven flight optimization, and advanced document management will lead the industry into a more secure, efficient, and sustainable future.
