The Insight200M bottle scanner for liquids, aerosols and gels is seamlessly integrated as part of the standard airport security process. See in this video how the Insight systems are used at more than 70 European airports – including 8 of the top ten hubs – and increasingly at airports in Asia and Australasia. Learn more at: //bit.ly/2H3RE3Y
You’ve got to check your bags, then go through the necessary security and ID checks, and you’re usually waiting in line for most of them.
The emergence of artificial intelligence may speed that whole process by eliminating at least one of those types of queues. Researchers have discovered one way to effortlessly and passively identify a person with increased accuracy. Unfortunately, the system can also be used for spying on people.
Found by Gizmodo, the IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence paper reveals that AI can be used to identify individuals by the way they walk.
“Each human has approximately 24 different factors and movements when walking, resulting in every individual person having a unique, singular walking pattern,” lead author of the study Omar Costilla Reyes said in a statement.
AI is so good at analyzing the data that it can spot people who’re faking their walking. The method is less invasive than other behavioral biometric verification systems and could be deployed inside airports and other areas to check the identity of people passing by instantly.
The system was nearly 100% accurate in identifying individuals, with an error rate of just 0.7%.
As I said, this makes it a great tool for spying, but it requires two essential elements to work. For starters, the system requires high-resolution cameras and unique flooring with sensors embedded into it to measure variables related to a user’s walking behavior. It also needs a database of information so that it can compare its findings against saved records. Therefore, mass-surveillance operations that could identify a large number of people by the way they walk seem highly unlikely for the time being.
But such systems may very well be used to speed up airport checks for frequent flyers who would not mind having their walking habits recorded in a database the first time they go through it. Their walking fingerprint could then be shared with other airports who would deploy the same kind of technology.
source : BGR.com
Another amendment to the Air Navigation Order 2016, through which the new rules are being carried, will require the pilots of drones weighing more than 250 grams to register and take a test – or face a £1,000 fine.
TROUBLE MAKER: Governments the world over are working on how to integrate drones into existing regulatory frameworks
New laws will make it illegal for drones to fly above 400 feet and within 1 kilometre of airport boundaries in the UK from this summer.
The change in legislation, which will come into effect on July 30, follows year-on-year increases in the number of reported incidents involving drones and aircraft – 89 in 2017, up from 71 in 2016.
Further laws expected to come into force on November 30 next year have also been tabled. These will require owners of drones weighing 250 grams or more to register with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and for drone pilots to take an online safety test. Users who fail to register or sit the competency tests could face fines of up to £1,000.
The CAA and airports will have the power to make exceptions to these restrictions in specific circumstances.
Baroness Liz Sugg, the UK’s Aviation Minister, said: “We are seeing fast growth in the numbers of drones being used, both commercially and for fun.
“Whilst we want this industry to innovate and grow, we need to protect planes, helicopters and their passengers from the increasing numbers of drones in our skies.
“These new laws will help ensure drones are used safely and responsibly.”
In addition to these measures a draft Drones Bill will be published this summer, which will give police more tailored powers to intervene on the spot if drones are being used inappropriately.
According to the Department for Transport, drone operators will also eventually be required to use apps – so they can access the information needed to make sure any planned flight can be made safely and legally.
Interest in drones and their potential uses outside of leisure has been surging in recent years, with PwC predicting the industry could be worth £42 billion in the UK by 2030. However, this surge has not been without its controversies. Last summer, a drone passed directly over the wing of an Airbus 319 as it approached London Gatwick Airport (LGW) in an incident that, it was said, could have cost more than 100 lives.
Chris Woodroofe, Chief Operating Officer, Gatwick Airport, said: “We welcome the clarity that today’s announcement provides as it leaves no doubt that anyone flying a drone must stay well away from aircraft, airports and airfields.
“Drones open up some exciting possibilities but must be used responsibly. These clear regulations, combined with new surveillance technology, will help the police apprehend and prosecute anyone endangering the travelling public.”
The Chief Executive of the Airport Operators Association, Karen Dee, said: “Drones are a great new technology that are expected to bring many benefits to aviation and the UK as a whole. To achieve these benefits, we must ensure drones are operated safely and pose no risk to aviation.
“The new laws introduced today are an important step in the right direction. As partners in the Drone Code, the AOA will support efforts to educate the public on these new rules.
“An important way to ensure people do not inadvertently break the law is through introducing mandatory geo-fencing technology as soon as possible. This would safeguard critical airspace around airports from accidental drone incursions. We believe this is the most effective way to ensure that unsafe drone use does not have major consequences.”
source : International Airport Review
It’s offering them access to a private terminal.
Business-class travelers will have access to the Private Suite, a new private terminal in Los Angeles International Airport, avoiding the masses in one of the busiest air hubs in the country. Those premium-class passengers will be driven from the terminal to the tarmac to their planes in a BMW 7-Series sedan. A staff of eight is assigned to each booking, United said.
The partnership is United’s latest attempt to fill the front of its planes as it works to revamp the business-class product it now calls Polaris. At the same time, global airlines are either building more luxurious business-class cabins or offering over-the-top suites for first-class travelers.
United and other competitors such as American Airlines and Alaska Airlines are also building plusher lounges for these top-paying customers in hubs around the country.
“I think this is a very smart move on United’s part to compete,” said Henry Harteveldt, founder of travel-industry consulting firm Atmosphere Research Group. Because it’s in Los Angeles, the airline may be going after VIP travelers in the entertainment industry, who value privacy, Harteveldt added.
United is offering high-paying customers their own airport terminal from CNBC.
The Private Suite includes dedicated security and customs screening away from the hoards in the main terminals, as well as individual suites.
Access to the Private Suite will be included in some business-class fares, United said, and on routes to or from LAX, to Newark, Aspen, Hawaii, London’s Heathrow, Singapore, Tokyo Narita and Sydney, among other destinations.
An annual membership at the Private Terminal normally goes for $4,500, but access will be included in some tickets, United said.
WATCH: Why United is in pet transporting business
Why United Airlines is in the pet transporting business from CNBC.
source : CNBC
This week saw an impressive turnout at the Dubai Airport Show as airports representatives and operators attended to address some of the pressures they are facing to adopt new airport technologies and systems to cope with rising passenger demand and increasing mandatory security measures.
Farnborough International News Network’s Alan Peaford took a tour of the show, which housed 300 exhibitors from 60 countries showcasing the latest innovations in:
Rockwell Collins’ Global Products Manager, Robin Springer, caught up with Alan Peaford, FINN’s editor-in-chief, to talk about the company’s SelfDrop baggage handling solution and to demonstrate its biometric facial recognition technology.
‘Rockwell Collins is working towards providing a biometric solution for the end-to-end journey for the passenger through the airport,’ said Springer, ‘all the way from BagDrop to security and then to boarding.’
Rockwell Collins’ ARINC SelfDrop is the world’s first contactless, self-service bag drop with biometric validation, offering airport operators a chance to increase passenger experience, while seamlessly maintaining security and increasing passenger flow.
Using the one- or two-step technology, passengers are given greater control, and are able to check-in and handle their own luggage, at a comprehensive self-service kiosk that will enable them to scan boarding passes and attach their own tags, enrol a biometric identity and drop off the baggage in one process.
Springer demonstrated the innovative use of biometric facial recognition technology:
With options for both dedicated and common-use, Self Bag Drop is delivering true, next-generation bag drop technology to enhance revenue and lower costs for airports and airlines.
Source : airportknowledge.com/talking-airports
Envisioned under Vistara’s Innovation initiative, Rada has been conceived, designed and engineered by team of technology experts from Tata Innovation Lab with support from students of reputed institutions.
‘Rada’ has been built on a chassis of four wheels that enables 360 degree rotation. It has three inbuilt cameras for cognitive interaction and an effective voice technology.
In a statement, the Gurugram headquartered airline said that the robot can scan boarding passes, provide information on the terminal, departure gates, weather conditions of destination city, real time flight status, and about Vistara’s products and services.
The robot is designed such that it can greet customers and interact with them using basic hand movements. It is also capable of moving around on predefined pathways and engage kids or adults alike by playing games and other multimedia content such as songs and videos.
Commenting on the introduction of ‘Rada’, Vistara’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Leslie Thng said, “Innovation is one of the core values engrained in the DNA of Vistara’s culture, which we have fostered within the organization in many ways. Rada is a manifestation of this endeavour…. With Rada, we aim to change the way people interact and fly with an airline. We will be developing ‘Rada’ based on customer feedback and equipping it with the most effective features in the time to come. Our steadfast focus remains to be on delighting customers across all touchpoints, and we’re confident that ‘Rada’ will help us take the ‘new feeling’ to the next level.”
to retain luggage inspectors due to low wages and long hours, leaving authorities concerned about anti-terrorism efforts ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
With the number of foreign visitors to Japan expected to continue its trend of record annual rises, in line with government policy and the expansion of low-cost carriers, Japanese airports have been planning further physical expansions.
Besides the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020, Japan will also host the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
But the country’s aviation workforce, which plays a crucial role in preventing attacks, is not immune to the labor shortages caused by the declining working population.
“We are facing a serious issue, where 20 to 30 percent of safety officers who are working on the front line of airport security are leaving,” said Makoto Natsume, president and chief executive officer of Narita International Airport Corp.
“Ahead of 2020, how to secure the labor force in terms of both quality and quantity is a serious issue,” Natsume told a recent conference of Asian airport operators. He stressed that the cargo sector is also experiencing a labor shortage.
Designating tourism as a key growth area, the government aims to attract 40 million visitors from overseas a year by 2020, and 60 million by 2030.
A record 28.69 million non-Japanese visited the country in 2017, up 19.3 percent from the previous year and the sixth-straight yearly rise. The number is expected to top 30 million this year.
Meanwhile, of around 940 staff who worked as safety inspectors at Narita International Airport, Japan’s main gateway to the world, as of April 2016, more than a quarter — or some 240 — have left the job, according to Narita International Airport Corp.
Data from the transport ministry also show that while airport users rose by around 40 percent to 184 million in the five years through 2016, the number of airport workers has not risen, staying at around 40,000.
For fiscal 2017, job availability for the security sector was 6.27, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry said, meaning a ratio of 627 job openings for every 100 workers.
The ministry, citing hearings with nine airline companies, said harsh labor conditions and low wages are behind the unpopularity of security inspector roles at airports.
According to a monthly survey released by the labor ministry, in a security-related workplace of at least 30 employees, including security inspectors, monthly wages averaged ¥235,000 in fiscal 2016, around ¥127,000 lower than the average across all industrial sectors.
Monthly labor time was some 168 hours, over 19 hours more than the average.
One reason wages are kept low is that airline operators outsource recruitment to inspector companies. As competition to win airport orders is severe, companies bid low, analysts said.
“I want to reduce the number who quit the job by improving their labor conditions, but we cannot do it by one company alone. The airports as a whole need to recognize the importance of inspectors,” said a senior official at an inspector company.
Narita has taken steps to address the high attrition rate, such as enlarging the child-care facility within the airport to entice female workers to stay, while contests to improve security inspection skills have been held to boost motivation.
“Advances in technology and robotics may make up for labor shortages, but in the end it is the power of people who can offer customers safe and comfortable services,” Natsume said.
The number of landings at Japanese airports reached 1.19 million in fiscal 2015, an increase of nearly 20 percent from 2011, according to data from the transport ministry.
The labor-intensive nature of the airport sector — with 24/7 operations — makes employment there less attractive, but with airports enlarging facilities and air travel set to rise further, many are calling for revamped efforts to retain labor.
“We have to be more dynamic … we have to sell aviation and that’s to the benefit of air traffic controllers, pilots, airlines and airports all across the globe. We have to be more effective in going out and getting people,” said Andrew Herdman, director-general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines.
In Hong Kong, they have attracted talent by setting up training facilities that offer an aviation-related curriculum designed to nurture professionals in airport management, security and aviation services, said Vivian Cheung, president of the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy.
The academy was started in April 2017 to attract local people to work for Hong Kong International Airport, which is expanding, including the construction of a 3,800-meter third runway. The project is expected to add more than 120,000 jobs to its current workforce of about 73,000, according to an official with the airport.
source : Japan Times
The first medium-altitude UAV long duration flight
Italian engineering company Piaggio in conjunction with the service company aerospace equipment Telespazio conducted a successful test of control system of unmanned aerial vehicles for satellite communication. It is reported by Defense News.
The tests were conducted on the apparatus of the Piaggio P. 1HH. It is the first medium-altitude UAV long duration flight, which was created in Europe.
Part of the modern UAV is controlled by radio, the maximum range which is limited to a few hundred kilometers. Sometimes this range may not be enough. Satellite system control the drones allow you to remove the limitation range of vehicles imposed by radio communications.
“For example, using drones controlled via satellite link, by operators which are in one country can lead the exploration in the other. So, driving via satellite drones MQ-1C Gray Eagle the U.S. air force operators in the United States, can conduct reconnaissance and to strike blows to positions of fighters in Afghanistan or Syria,” – said in the message.
Testing of the European system of satellite control drones took place in Sicily Trapani airport. To send commands Drona P. 1HH and receive data from the device used satellite Athena-Fidus, constructed and displayed on the orbit together with the French company Thales in 2014.
In the future, the Italians plan to make the system of satellite control of the future pan-European Supervisory system for drones. It will allow devices to safely perform flights in uniform air space. It is projected that by 2035, Europe will fly about 400 thousand commercial drones.
source : Koztime
Découvrez le relooking d’Alain Occelli, membre platinium du Club Airport Premier.
Du 11 au 31 mai 2018, l’Aéroport Nice Côte d’Azur s’est transformé en temple de la mode, l’occasion de faire gagner 2 séances de relooking à ses passagers fréquents. Après quelques essayages, ils ont pu repartir avec une tenue complète grâce aux conseils des experts mode du magazine Grand Sud. Le témoignage d’Alain est ici : https://goo.gl/Eqd9H4