Software To Enhance Aviation Safety Introduced
Atechnology software meant to enhance aviation safety by providing real-time tracking performance and predicting incident-occurrence on aircraft has been introduced to stakeholders in the country’s aviation space.
Known as the In-Flight Safety Monitoring System (Star-ISMS), the technology when installed would enable an airline to enhance its commitment to high standards of safety for passengers on board.
The Star-ISMS holds the capability to extract big data from an aircraft’s database, and use data analytics as well as artificial intelligence technology to produce incident/accident predictive and preventative measures.
It is designed by Star Navigation Systems Group Limited, a Canadian firm that focuses on providing aerospace solutions that assist aviation operators worldwide.
The technology was made known to some key stakeholders in the aviation sector at the first Aviation Accident Prevention and Airline Performance Optimisation Conference in Accra on November 15.
They include the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB) and airline operators.
Human factors vs technology
On the theme: “Human factors vs technology,” the conference showcased the latest stateof-art technology in global aviation safety, airlines operational integrity and the impact this new technology will have on Ghana’s aviation industry.
It was hosted by Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation and Prevention Bureau (AIB Ghana) in partnership with Star Navigation Systems and Flight Path International Canada.
Critical for airlines
A Senior Director of Investor Relations at Star Navigation, Harmeet Gill, said the technology was critical for airlines to modernise their fleets in the interest of accident prevention and operational optimisation.
He said the Star-ISMS was an advanced technology in the interest of air safety, efficiency and green operations.
“The Star-ISMS is a superior unique technology available and we’re bringing it to Africa to improve the aviation industry,” he added.
Institutional relationship
The Commissioner of AIB, Akwasi Prempeh, said despite the extreme challenges posed by the ongoing crisis, the institutional relationship in the aviation industry remains strong and it was important to the bureau.
“Major hurdles remain, but these have also made some positive strides since the beginning of the operations of the AIB.
It is good to come together at this consequential time as we strive to get our people and commerce moving again after the ravaging consequences of COVID-19. I know there’s hard work ahead, but I also know that we are the most innovative when we are challenged and history is our proof,” he said.
According to him, today’s conference is a chance to revolutionise the traditional investigation and prevention techniques to a more modern technological approach that will ultimately alter the practice of aircraft safety from a reactive enterprise to a proactive endeavor.
This, he said, would allow aircraft investigation agencies to be more efficient and accurate in finding the set of contributing and causal factors to an aircraft mishap.
“Aircraft investigation still remains a process of gathering factual evidence and analysing them to unfold the set of factors which contributed to the cause of an aircraft accident or incident.
“Safety recommendations are then published to prevent such failures from recurring. This process is anchored on the philosophy of aviation investigation,” he said.
Topmost priority
The Deputy Director General of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Daniel Acquah, said safety was the topmost priority in the aviation industry.
“Safety has been the basic guiding principle with which we conduct our business operations.
Globally the aviation sector is projected to be growing steadily in a constant and diversified manner,” he added.