Once bastions of technology, airports were among the most affected by last year’s CrowdStrike faulty update. Looking back, that error could have been mitigated with trained personnel or better fallback systems. Yet for many, it didn’t. Processes like checking in and verifying IDs, along with additional steps that offer no real benefit, could trigger a domino effect if any of them fail to do their job. To improve the system, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a special agency under the UN, created a new proposal.
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See you in three years
The proposal seeks to fix the fragmented system in the commercial flight industry. Passengers will need to download an app to their phones after booking a flight. This pass not only replaces old verification steps, such as boarding passes and passports, which can be lost, with digital documents and biometric identification. But it also automatically updates travelers about delays due to missed connections, potential gate shifts, cancellations, and other changes. Knowing that flights are often delayed or canceled at the last minute can certainly help.
The ICAO estimates that these changes will come into effect within three years. A possible roadblock for this plan is the need for substantial infrastructure upgrades. In an interview with The Times, industry expert Valérie Viale comments on how this would be the biggest change in 50 years. She also addresses the concerns, such as privacy, and notes that they are being addressed, with the system being continually worked on to become more dynamic.
Technology on air
In addition to the proposal, ICAO is also working on implementing technologies outside the airport. These new standards will include advanced satellite navigation monitoring, used to provide support in areas with limited accessibility and optimize costs and emissions on routes. They also plan to optimize air-ground communication, become more cyber-resilient, and be more cost-effective. Additionally, there will be a shift to wireless technology within aircraft, replacing old wiring and reducing weight significantly.
The current way air transport works has indeed been proven, and it is hard to change things that have been working for so long. But with time, everything needs to change. Last year’s CrowdStrike error proved that the old system wasn’t ready to adapt or be fixed. Airports and air transport in general were once bastions of technology.
YouTube: New technology could reduce the need for boarding passes at airports
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Photo credit: The featured image is symbolic and has been taken by Connor Danylenko.
Sources: Ben Clatworthy (The Times) / International Civil Aviation Organization
