Jun 4, 2015 | By Simon
Although we’ve seen how various technologies ranging from connected devices to on-demand manufacturing have been making our lives easier, there are still industries that many would say having fallen far behind - particularly air travel. While the user experience of air travel has never really been known for being ‘innovative’, there are still small things that airlines can do to make the experience just a little more enjoyable.
More recently, easyJet, a British low-cost airline company based at the London Luton Airport, has announced that they will be unveiling some exciting new changes to the way they do things that use various new technologies to help speed up waiting times and make the rider experience overall more enjoyable.
Included in their upcoming changes are an all-new app that will make it easier than ever for customers to book a flight in under a minute as well as manage their flights in real-time with the ability to check-in and locate a flight’s specified gate.
While the smartphone app - which will also include the ability to store passport information as well as use GPS to help users navigate within airports - will certainly be a welcome addition to the flying experience for some of easyJet’s most loyal customers, perhaps the most significant update will be the company’s release of an Apple Watch app as well. Launching later this month, the updated easyJet app will be available for Apple devices as well as Androids and the decision to extend the app to wearable tech is without a doubt a step in the right direction for ensuring that users are always updated with their flight information without feeling the need to take out their smartphone every five minutes.
But while the updated app and integration into the Apple Watch for real-time notifications will certainly improve the overall easyJet user experience, the company has also announced some changes that - while the customers may not directly interact with the technologies - will be benefitting greatly from them nonetheless.
Among others that were announced by the company include the decision to incorporate 3D printing technologies at airports to create replacement parts for aircraft on-demand.
All airlines - easyJet included - regularly undergo check-ups where part inventories are performed for both the interior and exterior of the passenger aircrafts. Depending on what needs to be replaced or fixed, this process can keep planes grounded for much longer than anticipated and ultimately create travel problems due to there being less aircrafts in the air. By incorporating 3D printing into this process, easyJet will be speeding up the part creation turnaround time to ensure that their entire fleet can be up and operating with the least amount of delays possible.
And while the incorporation of 3D printing into the inspection and part replacement process is surely a huge step, easyJet has taken this process even further with the announcement that they will be employing the use of drones to inspect the aircraft more quickly and efficiently than existing methods.
"easyJet has always been pioneering. We revolutionised travel in Europe enabling people to fly to more places more cheaply than before,” said easyJet Chief Exectuive Carolyn McCall.
"We have made great strides on our work with drone technology having successfully tested automated drone inspections of our aircraft and we have agreed a new collaboration with Airbus for an inflight prognosis tool … both of these support our aim of eliminating technical related delays."
Combined with check-in kiosks and vending machines, could this be the beginning of fully-autonomous and self-sufficient airports that we commonly see in science fiction movies and books? If these recent developments are any indication, it’s starting to look like it.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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We live in the new age and this is awesome! 3d printing, drones and so on. This makes a new base for research and inspires people to explore the world more and more. I had to write my research papers using http://www.trustmypaper.com on really boring topics when being a student, now everything is changing.
Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd wrote at 6/5/2015 9:33:36 AM:
Good morning. We are Blue Bear Systems Ltd, the company who design and create the drones (RISER) above to carry out safety inspections on easyJet aircraft. If you would like to find out more information or request any photos/film of this new technology please get in touch via www.bbsr.co.uk. Thank you.
Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd wrote at 6/4/2015 11:11:15 PM:
Good evening. We are Blue Bear Systems Ltd, the company who design and create the drones (RISER) above to carry out safety inspections on easyJet aircraft. If you would like to find out more information or request any photos/film of this new technology please get in touch via www.bbsr.co.uk. Thank you.
Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd wrote at 6/4/2015 11:09:42 PM:
Good evening. We are Blue Bear Systems Ltd, the company who design and create the drones (RISER) above to carry out safety inspections on easyJet aircraft. If you would like to find out more information or request any photos/film of this new technology please get in touch via www.bbsr.co.uk. Thank you.
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