Meet the Simulation Team – Ian MacKinnon

Ian MacKinnon, Technical Director, was part of the founding team of AiQ Consulting, using his unique skills of project management, computer aided design and data analysis, as well as his game design background, to create TransvisionAiR™ our bespoke modeling tool. In this Meet the Team blog we find out more about what projects he’s found challenging, his background and what the future holds for the company.

What was your background before joining AiQ? Read More »

Does Your Airport Comply with Hold Baggage Screening Standard 3?

Time is running out for airports to comply with Hold Baggage Screening Standard 3, which comes into force September this year in the United Kingdom. In Europe the deadline for compliance is September 2020.

The EU regulation No. 1087/2011 calls for compliance to the framework, defined and regulated by the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), that sets the minimum required levels of detection. ECAC Standard 3 level of Hold Baggage Screening applies to hold baggage screening systems (HBS) explosive detection systems (EDS), liquid explosive detection systems (LEDS) and security scanners. It requires airports to achieve detection levels only provided by CAT (Computed Axial Tomography) type detectors.

The upgrades to hold baggage screening equipment are seen to be most difficult and costly challenges to be faced by airports in recent years. This equipment is not only expensive, but also large, adding increased stress on existing airport capacity. It may mean a complete re-build of baggage halls and facilities for many airports.

How can you upgrade to ECAC Standard 3 without a negative impact on your airport? Read More »

How can you improve your Baggage Handling Process?

Baggage Handling Systems (BHS) present a multitude of challenges to airports and their stakeholders. Whether you are a hub airport or not, the impact on baggage flow and passenger experience means that challenges in BHS must be tackled to maximise efficiency and capacity.

Increasing passenger numbers, as well as the passenger’s desire for greater control around baggage and check-in services also means a rise in self-service solutions, such as kiosks and bag-drops, now sitting alongside existing systems. As well as increasing capacity in-line with demand and offering passengers a better experience, they also provide challenges and opportunities for Baggage Handling Systems.

What is a Baggage Handling Process?

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Passenger Experience – Why is it Important for Airports?

With record-breaking passenger numbers moving through airports and high expectations from today’s passengers, their journey experience is a very important development area for AiQ Consulting’s work with airports throughout the world.

As global experts in constrained and saturated airports, we place immense focus on passenger experience in airports. When we approach operational efficiency and capacity planning, we do so with not only a scientific approach to big data and innovation, but also a strong emphasis on the passenger journey.

IATA Standards

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Support The AiQ Consulting Team at the Vitality London 10,000!

A group of runners from AiQ Consulting are running the Vitality 10,000 in aid of Bliss – the charity for babies born premature or sick.

Our runners – Marina, Rachel, Matt, Nicola and Olivia – are looking forward to raising funds for this worthwhile charity. It may be a new challenge to some of the team who haven’t run a 10k before, but for our experienced runners it will be a chance to raise money for Bliss, and take in the London sights in a very different way!

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Our approach to Big Data and what it means for your airport

AiQ - Airport Consultancy

AiQ finds the most effective methodology to solve problems in the quick-moving and reactive Aviation industry, particularly around Operations, Resilience, Future Demand and Capacity. We model or simulate at the level of detail that Big Data can support, and aim to provide appropriate analysis and forecasts based on realistic assumptions and processes.

Our method

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Real Time VR successfully tested at AiQ

AiQ VR Testing

AiQ are global experts in creating capacity and operational efficiency, solving complex problems and introducing new technologies. We have currently been developing Real Time Virtual Reality to offer significant benefits to clients and stakeholders, taking the decision-making process to the next level.

We will soon be able to offer clients the ability to become a passenger and follow the check-in processes, using the self-service kiosk and bag drop system as it is proposed to be!

As specialists in constrained and saturated airports worldwide, this innovation will allow the airports we work with to not only understand the impact of decisions and new technology, but also to communicate this with their stakeholders, staff and suppliers with ease.

The ability of the tool to engage the user as a passenger helps them understand the efficiency of the layout and way finding, enhancing passenger flow. It also gives clients the opportunity to understand the spatial offering to passengers for new airports and terminals in concept development, as well as other areas of infrastructure development in existing airports.

Last week the AiQ team were able to walk around a simulation of Terminal 3 Heathrow, based on future self-service check-in arrangements with passengers from a busy day in summer 2017. This test was a simulation based on a recent project we have completed for Heathrow.

The next step is for our clients to be immersed into the Real Time outcomes of decisions regarding their new investments in check-in, baggage and processes throughout their terminals, as if they themselves were the passenger.

If you want to innovate your future airport, AiQ can help you understand different approaches with the use of this innovative technology. Contact us today to talk about the impact of Real Time VR on your airport.

How new technology is creating smart airports – Part one

Airports are investing more and more into new technologies that enhance and improve the passenger journey, and for good reason. Not only do these new technologies increase efficiency, but passengers also have now come to expect these types of tech, from the Internet of Things (IoT) to biometrics to drones, as part of their daily lives. Read More »

Prepare for your future airport with unique airport intelligence

Solving complex problems at constrained and saturated airports is the core of our business. Our unique, multi-disciplinary team works in partnership with you to provide a scientific approach to innovating your future airport. We are global experts in creating capacity and operational efficiency, solving complex problems and introducing new technologies.

We focus on the AiQ – the airport intelligence. We work with clients around the world to create smart airports,  turning big data into scientific approaches for decision making.

Why AiQ?

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What impact have the B787 and A350 aircraft had on regional airports?

The impact of the B787 and A350 aircraft on regional airports

As regional airports continue to face challenges related to their growth and success, what impact have new aircraft had on their operating model?

There is a massive increasing demand for regional airports from passengers. The convenience of having an airport closer to home, as well as the attractive pricing of low budget airlines and the expansion of routes, have allowed regional airports to increase their market share worldwide. But what’s next for regional airports, and how has the new aircraft being introduced affected them?

New, efficient, long range Aircraft Read More »

Building Smart Airports with our New Capacity Planning Tools

Multi step check-in capacity analysis

The AiQ team has been improving the services we offer to airports worldwide.

We have been developing new tools to add to our portfolio, allowing us to help airports understand different approaches to capacity and operational efficiency, as well as increasing their resilience to future demands by accurately forecasting future traffic.

Both of our new tools apply a scientific approach to common airport scenarios, taking into account the advances made in automation and the constant innovation in the aviation industry and ensuring that our clients have all the data they need to make intelligent and effective decisions.

Multi-Step Check-In Capacity Analysis  Read More »