Tech Bytes

Nov. 23, 2009

Energy Efficiency

• Serverless Computing. Pivot3, a provider of high-definition storage, has announced that it has been selected by Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for a project that transitioned its surveillance environment from analog to digital while preserving the existing investment in analog cameras. The company says the airport was able to save 40 percent in power and cooling by deploying virtual network video recorders (NVRs) on the Pivot3 Serverless Computing platform in place of physical servers. Virtual NVRs eliminate the need for standalone physical servers and reduce the cost, power, and space and failover benefits of surveillance installations, says the company; www.pivot3.com

Environment

• Carbon Offset Kiosks. San Francisco International Airport has announced its new Climate Passport program which offers travelers a way to calculate and reduce the carbon footprint of their air travel by supporting carbon offset projects based in San Francisco and California. The first program of its kind in the nation’s airports, the new climate passport kiosks are now available post-security on both sides of the International Terminal and Terminal 3. Carbon offsets allow individuals and businesses to balance carbon dioxide emissions produced in one place by making sure equivalent CO2 reductions happen through specially-designed projects, according to a press release; www.3degreesinc.com

• Electric GSE. The Massachusetts Port Authority Board has approved a $3 million loan to Delta Airlines for the purchase of battery-powered baggage cart tugs and battery-powered baggage conveyor belt vehicles for use at Boston Logan International Airport. Delta will purchase 50 electric baggage cart tugs, 25 electric baggage conveyor belt vehicles, and charging stations for each. Delta will be the first airline at Logan to have a fleet of alternative fueled ground service equipment. Massport welcomes similar green financing opportunities for other tenant airlines as part of its effort to reduce airport emissions, according to a press release; www.massport.com

Tracking Technology

• Training Tracking. MTI Business Solutions introduces Advanced Reporting Solutions (ARS) for aircraft repair stations. ARS is a comprehensive training tracking system designed to meet the tracking and reporting requirements of aircraft repair stations and maintenance facilities. ARS can be customized for station and carrier-specific requirements, making it possible to easily keep up with FAA and vendor training requirements, make staffing decisions, and identify employee training deficiencies and recertification needs; www.advancedreportingsolution.com

• Wireless Tracking. Ascent Aviation Group, Inc., provider of fuel technology solutions to airport service companies, has deployed FleetConnect at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport for ASIG’s ground support operations. FleetConnect, a fuel management system, wirelessly tracks gallons dispensed, customer name, product type, and quantity for each piece of ground support equipment. Customers realize savings by identifying under utilized equipment, separating on-road and off-road fuel for tax purposes, eliminating handwritten fuel tickets, and preventing misfueling, says the company; www.ascent.com

Websites

• Deicing. Kilfrost, a deicing and anti-icing fluid manufacturer and supply company, has completely redesigned its website to reflect a ‘refreshed’ brand identity. The new site boasts a news section which features advisory articles and company updates, an e-shop, and an environmental page; www.kilfrost.com

• Max-Trax. GlobalAir.com has launched new functionality for its Max-Trax route planning Web-based application to help pilots gain the best fuel prices throughout their trip and determine the most effective flight path. Max-Trax now features a corridor search option in the trip options section of the service which lets users search fuel prices within up to 100 nautical miles of a planned route. The service is also now capable of searching for airports available by approach type; www.globalair.com

• CharterMatrix. AirplaneManager.com, a Web-based flight scheduling and management solution, launched an updated version of the system at the National Business Aviation Association’s annual meeting and convention. The latest expansion allows users to quickly compare a flight’s passenger list in AirplaneManager.com against the most current TSA no-fly list at any point in the scheduling process. The online service now also offers a new fuel-finder tool that searches a database of contract fuel providers and FBOs for requested departing and arriving airports. This functionality allows users to contact any vendor at the destination airfield and request fuel pricing quotes; www.airplanemanager.com.