AAS · Integrated Airport Apron Safety Fleet Management

One of the main challenges in the apron area is that due to many different companies operating on an airport apron, each company brings in the vehicles and equipment it requires to sustain operation. This causes high levels of congestion in ramp areas, which increases the accident rate and the chances of vehicles and equipment being misused. By gaining telematic data on the running times of the various vehicle categories, detailed real-time statistics can be created. This allows advanced fleet management and effective maintenance planning in “off peak periods” helping to reduce the number of vehicles and equipment which is considered necessary to maintain a high level of service. Actual reports on running times allow a good long term budget planning, by showing how many vehicles or pieces of equipment are actually needed to support daily operations. By monitoring the vehicles unnecessary running times can be avoided, reducing costs and environmental impact. This type of information can lead to considerable savings in investment and daily operational costs, and a reduction in vehicles and equipment required, reducing congestion and enhancing safety in apron areas.Therefore, the proposed project AAS will develop, implement and investigate the implications of a cost and safety beneficial high-tech system for comprehensive monitoring and controlling of all GSE vehicles (GSE = Ground Service Equipment), movements at the apron area. Main aims are: - to identify the user needs by a high level airport expert group - to deliver an advanced fleet management concept by maximising the utilization of GSE vehicles - to enhance techniques for cost efficient passenger and luggage flow and efficiency by automatically passing information from GSE-vehicles into the RMS - to improve airport operations by reducing the number of accidents and GSE/aircraft damage repair costs - to deliver integrated knowledge for maintenance and investment planning to apron operating companies