PRESS RELEASE. ADB SAFEGATE is unveiling two new capabilities as part of its Digital Apron initiative, at inter airport Europe 2019. Together, these capabilities offer a fully automated and tightly integrated approach to apron management, increase operational collaboration and heighten situational awareness, efficiency and safety.  Safedock X A-VDGS and the new SAM and mobile operator panel are commercially available in 2020.

The company’s latest web-based SafeControl Apron Management solution includes intuitive features for better apron performance and predictability. Also new in apron management is the mobile operator panel for Safedock A-VDGS that will improve turnaround time and ramp efficiency. The company’s recently launched Safedock X A-VDGS is also on display at the event. Together, these capabilities offer a fully automated and tightly integrated approach to apron management, increase operational collaboration and heighten situational awareness, efficiency and safety.

“Airports can handle far greater traffic volumes and improve performance if they can reduce turnaround times by even just a few minutes. The apron, where the airside and landside meet, is where the action is,” said Christian Onselaere, CEO, ADB SAFEGATE. “Our ultimate goal is to fully automate and connect nearly every task in the aircraft turnaround process to create the Digital Apron. With the latest improvements to the Safedock family and the SafeControl Apron Management platform, airports and airlines will benefit substantially.”

ADB SAFEGATE SafeControl Apron Management has a new web-based and mobile-friendly user interface, which runs smoothly on a browser and on any mobile device. SAM can now handle up to 1,000 gates and more than 100 web clients across smartphone, tablets and workstations, an exponential increase in flight data capabilities. ADB SAFEGATE’s integration between SAM, the A-VDGS and the airport’s Advanced Surface Movement Guidance and Control System (A-SMGCS) allows SAM to show the aircraft position in real time. Ground crew get real time notifications when the plane arrives at the gate, enabling better situational awareness and predictability at the apron.

The company’s Safedock X is a new generation A-VDGS which supports rapid and safe docking in all-weather conditions, and improves apron capacity. Integrated with the A-SMGCS, it heightens situational awareness and safety by:
(1) supporting just-in-time docking to eliminate the risk of pilots docking at the wrong gate
(2) eliminating black spots and improving A-SMGCS coverage on the apron area
(3) preventing tail collisions by directly displaying information or sending alerts to the A-SMGCS surveillance system when a docking aircraft obstructs the taxiway and hinders safe movement of passing aircraft
(4) detecting aircraft movements and sending alerts in case of unauthorized movements. The Safedock display can automatically warn the pilot and pushback driver in case of unauthorized pushbacks, or confirm that pushback clearance has been given.

ADB SAFEGATE’s latest generation Safedock A-VDGS products now include a mobile operator panel. This acts like a turn manager, tracking all activities of the aircraft turn. It creates timestamps for the start and completion of each activity and sends this data automatically to other airport systems, via sensors, video and image recognition, or manual entry via the HMI. Relevant stakeholders for e.g. ramp agents, ground handlers, marshallers, maintenance crew, and operators, get real-time updates on the turn status depending on their roles.

The mobile operator improves situational awareness at the apron, predictability of the turnaround process, increases ramp flexibility, and reduces delays. It supports Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) by tracking A-CDM milestones. The Safedock X display also supports turn management, presenting the status of turn activities.

Read the full press release  about ADB SAFEGATE’s new apron management capabilities improve situational awareness, safety and turnaround time on the web under press releases .

ADB SAFEGATE’s Safedock X A-VDGS, the new SAM and mobile operator panel are commercially available in 2020.

ADB SAFEGATE is a leading provider of solutions that boost efficiency, improve safety and environmental sustainability and reduce operational costs for airports, airlines and ANSP’s. The company works with customers to identify performance bottlenecks and jointly solve them through integrated solutions that improve airport and airline performance. These solutions address every aspect from approach to departure – airport traffic handling and guidance, airfield lighting, tower-based traffic control systems, intelligent gate and docking automation, services and advanced analytics. ADB SAFEGATE has more than 1,100 employees across 45 nationalities in 25 countries, and operates in more than 175 countries, serving more than 2,500 airports globally.