AIMS Suite – software dedicated to aeronautics

Today there are great technological advances that provide a great opportunity to introduce important changes in the aviation industry and, that not only affect the manufacture of newer aircraft.

But rather the airport management processes, the administration of resources, and the possibility of offering a more efficient service that can benefit the airport itself and of course the airlines and their passengers.

Imagine the enormous amount of data that an airport handles: the number of passengers transiting through its facilities, routes, number of airlines, contracts, concessions, and employees, of the airport and each airline. This is one of the main reasons why it is important to have specialized software developed to satisfy a specific market niche.

We already know that data management, and analysis can mean the success or failure of a business and in the case of airports specifically helps to optimize processes better. Manage their resources, and even collection platforms, which undoubtedly becomes a better service for passengers. And of course greater benefits for employees, while decreasing their losses.

GP Nauticals is one of these software development companies dedicated to the management of ports and airports, creating a series of products that allow airports to perform a digital transformation with virtually no impact on the airport’s daily activities.

GP Nauticals presented the AIMS Suite, a range of products that can be used together to create a large port management software.

Also, can used individually to meet the needs of a specific niche that requires attention and among all, it can offer the following software.

AERO AIMS: is a software that allows you to collect, manage and process aeronautical operations data, such as radio aids, gates, handling, fuel, permits, visual flights or handle non-aeronautical operations such as contracts, concessions, leases, fixed and variable commissions and taxes.

PAX AIMS: this software allows the airport to have a passenger audit tool, providing real-time information on the number of passengers accessing the airport, and deploying checkpoints to scan boarding passes where concessionaires can validate with their records to proceed to manage check-in.

FUEL AIMS: This software dedicated to the sale of aviation fuel, allows guaranteeing the service while reducing the processing times between suppliers, dealers, and customers, offering a digital platform for the processing and approval of service requests.

ANALYTICS AIMS: last but not least, this software developed by GP Nauticals, offers the opportunity to track, compare and analyze all operational variables. Related to passengers or the different actors operating within the institution such as concessionaires and workers to obtain a risk ratio of what happens in the terminal in real-time.

PAY AIMS: serves to complement any other of the AIMS Suite, GP Nauticals offers airports to have their payment platform, streamlining the processes of generating payment notes, invoicing, and charging in real-time, allowing them to optimize the approval processes.

The American software development company GP Nauticals has dedicated all its efforts in the last decade to creating tools that facilitate and optimize airport processes, allowing a technological transformation of the sector with low-cost investments.

If you want to know in detail what they have to offer, visit their web page https://gpnauticals.com/products/

How does airport management work?

The stay at an airport can be an experience, the excitement at the beginning of a vacation or a business trip will have positive or negative consequences, depending on the case. 

However, behind what we can see, countless processes play a fundamental role in the functioning of an airport.

We see that airports today operate autonomously, thanks to new technologies such as the use of Big Data, IA, and automated software are essential for development today. 

Now, it should be noted that the airport is autonomous, there is no external interference in decisions. That is why airlines work directly with it.

When there is a new alliance with an airline, all aspects are worked under a contract, making clear the terms and conditions between the airport and the airline.

If there is a case in which an airline has accumulated a large debt with the airport, the agreements and, the stipulations of the contract previously made are studied. 

If no agreement is reached between both parties, a higher authority or institution may be notified, to terminate the concession or reach a mutual agreement. 

On the way to automation

Nowadays, large airports manage their administration automatically, the processes of passenger control and check-in, boarding, and much more.

These are handled with specialized software that minimizes the burden and human error, helping to optimize time and support human capital. 

That is why GP Nauticals provides specialized software for each of the parts that make up the administration of an airport.

AERO AIMS is capable of managing aeronautical and non-aeronautical operations such as tax calculation, or centralized digital records and contracts for concessions and stores. 

AERO AIMS is ideal for collecting and processing data from airport operations, as well as effectively managing analytics to minimize errors and highlight the airport’s performance. 

This software can be integrated with other SUITE products such as PAY AIMS, which provides you with payment and airport check-in management options. 

 

If you want to know more about GP Nauticals SUITE, continue reading our blog

 

Technology and Big Data improve the experience at airports around the world

These are times of great changes and with them, we have to adapt and do things differently. However, I would dare to say that the airport sector has rethought from many angles the way it had been operating and providing its services. Now we can find “super modern” airports where the priority is to provide a positive travel experience by making passenger traffic more efficient, but how did they achieve this?

The development of specific technology for the industry, and big data have been a fundamental key to having more efficient airport management. Since the analysis of this data allows them to predict and measure the movement of passengers, determine schedules, routes, and travelers’ crowds to manage resources more optimally.

Airport technology trends aimed at improving the experience and satisfaction of travelers are leveraged on mobile devices supported by the cloud, which allows modernizing the operational and logistical environment of airport facilities.

A good example of this type of technology is Seeking, implemented in Barajas T4 and El Prat T1. Which allows the airport to know how passengers move around its facilities, even if they visit the Duty-Free and VIP lounges if they connect to the airport WI-FI and even send relevant information. In this way, they provide an anonymous digital identity and track each of their actions, being able to analyze the behavior of their passengers and detect new business niches.

The operational evolution of airports with the analysis of this data in real-time allows greater planning in terms of infrastructure management, which translates into greater convenience for the traveler. 

If a flight arrives at the airport and has a later connection, it could be more easily planned to provide a nearby gate to avoid travelers from transit long distances. Thus shortening the waiting time of the plane on the ground optimizing the service and providing a better user experience and this can only be achieved with data collection and analysis.

Currently and as mentioned above, much-specialized software is being developed for the aviation industry, as is the case of GP Nauticals Suite, which focuses mainly on optimizing airport management and facilitating the collection and analysis of information in each of its areas and with minimal investment. 

If you want to learn more about GP Nauticals and see all the products available, you can do so by visiting their website or contacting a specialist in the area.

A new moment for America

Facing the new times has undoubtedly been a great challenge for the aviation sector. Worldwide, recovery is expected to be imminent this year. 

So far this year, restrictions have been lifted, sanitary processes remain, but freedom to travel is becoming more common. People are gradually returning to “normal” life, and airports are looking for new strategies to attract traffic in the sector. 

The recovery has been somewhat delayed due to conflicts in Europe, recent variants of the virus in China, and inflationary pressure. This has led to further restrictions in Europe and Asia. 

North America takes off

The new horizons are clear for the American continent, as air traffic increases exponentially, and it is estimated that, in the case of North America, it will be the region with the greatest recovery worldwide, with 97.79% of demand compared to 2019, according to Bain & Company. 

Like the United States, Mexico is the other country that will see early aeronautical recovery. This is because domestic and international flight operations were maintained and did not restrict air traffic. 

This allowed the impact on tourism to take off considerably after one season. It is estimated that other countries in recovery are Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. 

In the rest of the world, according to Bain & Company statistics, it is estimated that pre pandemic traffic figures will be seen again by the second quarter of 2025. In 2022 it is expected that “the recovery will be 65% and 73% of traffic at pre-pandemic levels”.

New technologies 

Despite the long wait, airports worldwide are committed to improving and embracing new technologies. For the aeronautical sector, finding new ways to adapt has been fundamental in its recovery. 

Part of this is the automation of administrative processes to improve the user and customer experience. This is where GP Nauticals, joins the automation of processes with a SUITE of products dedicated to the aeronautical and maritime sector. 

PAX AIMS is one of our main products which will allow you to audit the number of passengers that circulate in an airport. Cumbersome processes are avoided and waiting times are optimized. This product can be easily integrated with other AIMS SUITE products.

 

If you want to know more, please visit the products section

 

The future of passenger traffic

The operation and development of an airport are paramount to avoid delays and inconveniences in air traffic. The communication between airlines and airports must be effective to minimize mishaps. 

The participation of both plays a fundamental role to respect the regulations stipulated for air transportation. And keep the management and transit of passengers as impeccable as possible. 

Behind good management and development, there is an infinite amount of paperwork, permits, invoices, contracts, and transactions that the passenger does not perceive.

Goodbye to paper

Nowadays, almost all processes are automated. However, some processes are always left aside, and are fundamental for payment management processes.  

Have you ever wondered how many people pass through an airport daily or perhaps how many flights take place worldwide? Keeping track manually is not entirely feasible due to the number of boarding passes or paperwork you see daily.

At GP Nauticals AIMS SUITE we have created PAX AIMS, the passenger control system that will allow both the airport and the airlines to have accurate control of the number of people transiting through the airport. 

In addition, to carry out a database that allows both the airport and the airline to be able to audit effectively and make the invoices for the collection of fees and services, in less time and automatically. Without the need to make a paper count with paper and then filter the information. 

Finally, time is reduced, there is better control of passenger data, and invoices are issued in an optimized way. 

How do PAX AIMS work?

PAX AIMS technology is software that is implemented through an optical reader device, mobile or fixed that must have an internet connection. This gives you the facility to adapt at various points of the airport to keep track of passengers entering the airport.

This device is subject to the IATA protocol, where you can make use of a barcode or QR code to scan the boarding pass and obtain accurate data. 

For the passenger, there will be no extra control. For the airport and airlines, it will be easier to keep track of incoming passengers. 

Once the scan is done, that information goes directly to the airline and the airport to avoid cumbersome processes. 

It should be noted that with PAX AIMS when the service is implemented, there is a training manual for customers. In this way, there is no need for an external provider. Everything is done quickly and easily. 

Want to know more about PAX AIMS? Visit the products section and see what we have to offer.

Automated airport management

Understanding innovation is not an easy task, the transformation from manual to digital can be complicated, just because it is unfamiliar. 

However, many dare to leap automation, because it is simpler and minimizes human errors. In addition, once integrated into your daily routine, you see everything more clearly, something that has undoubtedly happened to all of us. 

In the case of the aviation sector, technological innovations are at the mercy of the day-to-day. Airports compete to provide the best service and create commercial alliances to stand out from the others. 

At the same time, airlines are increasingly concerned about providing better service to passengers.

But what’s behind it for airports and airlines? The administrative factor plays a fundamental role in the transit and development of the smooth operation of airports and airlines. 

That is why overlooking an error can generate great economic losses, distrust in commercial alliances, delays, and poor performance. 

Because of the above, the aviation sector is starting to look for new tools to minimize errors and optimize time, all simply and effectively. 

The beginning is not always easy

We have already talked about GP Nauticals and mentioned some of the products that SUITE AIMS. Despite the conditions we have had to go through for two years, the implementation of our AERO and PAY AIMS products has not stopped. 

In the beginning, facing a change from manual to automatic was not easy. The administrative conditions for airports and airlines have their own needs and the work methodology is not always the same, each one has its conditions. 

However, through our AIMS SUITE, we were able to integrate automated software, respecting the needs of each client. What was difficult at the beginning, later became a star product. 

The collection of payments, fees, overflights, and more, went from being a paper to becoming a digital payment management system. 

At first, it started as a mobile app, and then, thanks to the success and commercial alliances with airlines and airports, it became a solid web administrator, with data validation and a way to optimize check-in times. 

Each of our products works independently to address a specific need. However, several AIMS SUITE products can be integrated to manage and create a robust airport management system.

Each of these products requires training and ultimately integration, which is easy to manage and adapt. Our products don’t require an external provider, everything is integrated to avoid delays and mishaps. 

Want to know more about GP Nauticals? Visit our products section and contact us. 

High-tech airport checkpoints

The Transportation Security Administration, better known as TSA, has focused its efforts in recent decades on the implementation of new technological tools.

That allows airports to have safer and more efficient passenger checkpoints, incorporating innovations such as: digital identification, facial recognition, and even computerized tomography.

For this reason, in today’s article, we will inform you about the latest innovations in airport checkpoint systems that have been introduced in the sector.

Computerized tomography for baggage scanning

These machines were created for medical purposes. They are now being used in the airport industry as a security device.

Providing rotating, color-coded, and three-dimensional images of all baggage entering the facilities.

All are supported by new computer programs with automatic learning that allow checkpoints to study the contents of a suitcase more quickly and accurately.

High Definition Body Scanning

High-definition imaging technology (HD-AIT) systems are currently under development to enhance existing body scanning devices.

Which would allow for a detailed view of each passenger without them having to hold their arms above their head, remove their shoes or coats.

These devices are designed to detect a greater number of prohibited items, thus reducing inspections and making passenger scanning more efficient.

Facial recognition technology

Facial recognition technology is currently tested at several international airports, to verify the identity of passengers passing through their facilities.

New stations known as “Innovation Checkpoint” will be installed at airports for the use of this type of technology. Where identification software compares a photo taken at the checkpoint with the identification presented by the passenger.

Checkpoints

Manual passenger verification is a thing of the past. Passenger check-in and boarding list audits are being handled by software. That allows real-time measurement of passenger traffic, whether in the immigration area or for control in the boarding area.

This type of technology allows for the early completion of passenger lists, verification of flight occupancy, and even calculation and verification of airport taxes.

They don’t require major investment by airports since they can be integrated with the systems currently used, such as the software known as PAX AIMS, developed by the company GP Nauticals.

Automatic processes and Artificial Intelligence

Nowadays, talking about Artificial Intelligence is more common than it seems. However, for many, implementing the use of Artificial Intelligence can be a challenge. 

Indeed, the use of Artificial Intelligence today is imminent. The process of automation and the new era of industrialization does not seem to stop, and the facts speak for themselves. 

For example, the airport sector makes use of artificial intelligence in aircraft, thanks to various systems that allow increasing the level of flight safety thanks to the management of an artificial vision. 

Another example of the use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence is Check-in processes or systems to avoid long lines and crowds. Bots that answer messages are another of the many examples seen today in large airports worldwide.  

Artificial Intelligence to avoid large processes 

At the logistics level, artificial intelligence is a convenient ally for data collection, management, and security of the information provided. 

Despite the above, the application and uses of Big Data in the logistics field are still a bit precarious, because many fear the ‘security’ that the technology can provide. In addition to the high costs, new departments, and levels of difficulty that could come along the way. 

Another of the great fears about the implementation of Artificial Intelligence is based on the fact that the technology could completely supplant human capital. However, this is not feasible, since human capital is needed to help manage and optimize the various technological fields and resources. 

Undoubtedly, the implementation of artificial intelligence in the logistics field will be effective in simplifying and mitigating errors. It allows us to reduce cumbersome processes and bring them to automation, allowing us to optimize time and costs. 

A good strategy will be profitable and effective to improve processes at all levels. In the case of our SUITE, automated software allows us to carry out strategies to take a step forward to the imminent digitization that everyone talks about, but does not know how to implement. 

GP NAUTICALS and automated processes

In the case of GP NAUTICALS SUITE products, they are able to automatically manage the collection and invoicing processes at airports and seaports. Thanks to the PAY AIMS product, which manages to adapt to the company’s standards and requirements. 

In addition, thanks to AERO AIMS, airport logistics processes such as boarding gates, permits, flights, and more, will benefit from the optimization of processes. With AERO AIMS you will be able to obtain an analysis of the airport’s administrative operation. 

At the same time, it is worth mentioning that the AIMS SUITE products are integrated to achieve better control strategies and manageability of operations. 

FBO, innovative airport services

A Fixed Base Operator or FBO, as it is commonly known, is a company that may or may not operate independently from state airports and its main function is to offer services related to air transportation.

These operators operate through concessions and among the variety of services they can offer are aircraft rental, hangar, fuel, parking, and even the necessary comfort services to ensure the best possible welfare, both while waiting for a flight and in the air.

Most of the FBOs operate in airports with high to moderate traffic and are intended to serve the private commercial aviation sector. This industry has been growing in recent years, despite the pandemic, and represents a great opportunity for modernization.

Now, when we talk about modernization, we are not only referring to the luxurious facilities offered to their customers, but rather to the technological innovations that can allow operators to better manage resources, such as managing payments, controlling documentation, inspecting passenger traffic, and even managing fuel sales. 

To achieve these objectives, the ideal is to have state-of-the-art programs and applications that allow integration, secure data management, connection to the cloud to generate reports and histories in real-time, and, most importantly, information analysis for decision making, improvements, and optimization of resources.

Although the implementation of this type of tool implies an investment of time and money, both in personnel training and equipment, the main idea is to reduce operating costs in the short term, as well as to centralize information and avoid human error as much as possible. 

When we talk about technological products for the aeronautical sector, we do not find a great variety of options, although the market has been increasing since the technological transformation is imminent. However, there are very complete products such as those of the AIMS Suite, belonging to the company GP Nauticals, which has a diversity of systems that used individually can help complement a specific service or be used together to provide innovative operational and financial management. 

In the specific case of FBOs, the main product that this GP Nauticals Suite can offer would be Aero AIMS, intended to centralize the financial management of airport facilities. Pay AIMS, a payment platform that facilitates the invoicing, collection, and follow-up of your customers’ financial obligations. And finally, Fuel AIMS, allows you to guarantee fuel service and reduce processing times by connecting suppliers, merchants, and customers on one platform.

Best of all, it is a low investment cost option, efficient, and requires minimal training for its use as it is very user-friendly and dynamic.

If you want to learn more about these products and services, we invite you to visit the website https://gpnauticals.com or contact some of their advisors to get detailed information about the advantages of working with them.

 

Positive outlook for Latin American aviation

The years of uncertainty for the aviation sector seem to be in the past after two years of threats and recovery, the outlook for airlines and airports looks favorable. 

Many were on red alert due to the Omicron variant, but it did not impede the favorable recovery of the airport sector, it only remained a moment of alarm. 

However, it can be observed that airlines are once again investing in their fleets. Flights that had been suspended are being resumed and, at the same time, new routes are being opened. 

Airports continue to seek comfort for users and are constantly searching for new alternatives to protect travelers. 

In the case of Latin America, José Ricardo Botelho, CEO and executive director of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) reported that the airport sector in Latin America and the Caribbean “is 30% below 2019 levels and 50% above 2020 levels,” according to a November 2021 passenger traffic report

Increase in passenger traffic…

Colombia exceeded the goal of 30 million passengers during 2021, where the airports that mobilized the most passengers were Bogota Airport with 22,091,102 passengers, Rionegro with 7,916,646 passengers, and Cali with 5,211,765 passengers. 

At the same time, Civil Aeronautics authorized 97 new routes connecting different destinations nationwide. Internationally connections were authorized from other airports to 90 outbound destinations from the United States, Chile, Brazil, and other countries in Central America, South America, and North America. 

In Panama, the opening flow is 85% above countries such as Peru, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. Thanks to the progress of vaccination, Panama’s tourism is favored. Likewise, José Ricardo Botelho affirms: “We are working to bring back the flow of passengers and reactivate tourism in Panama. The country has great potential with its geography, history, and natural attractions. 

On the road to automation… 

Although the recovery of airports in Latin America is favorable, there are challenges that no one can expect. With the opening of new routes and the increase in passenger traffic, sanitation and contagions are becoming a challenge. 

However, thanks to the automated processes of GP Nauticals’ SUITE, PAX AIMS becomes a low-touch solution for boarding ticket validation, thanks to the checkpoints, ticket scanning will avoid crowds and virus contagions.

It also helps to lay the groundwork for the automation of processes for advance migration lists and the financial control of airport passenger fees. 

Automated processes are undoubtedly a competitive advantage, which can overcome such challenges at the level of controls and administrative processes. 

That is why GP Nauticals’ SUITE allows you to centralize and automate the airport’s invoice control and collection processes. To create strategic and consolidated alliances for the constant improvement of the airport sector.