CELL PHONE TECHNOLOGY
- Paperless Boarding. Air Canada recently released an application compatible with the iPhone and iPod Touch which makes it possible for travelers to receive mobile phone bar-coded boarding passes (BCBP) as well as access real-time flight information, according to an International Air Transport Association (IATA) press release; www.iata.org
- Smart-phone Application. Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has partnered with Sabre Travel Studios to provide passengers with the TripCase App, a cross-platform smart-phone application that delivers travel, retail, and restaurant information to iPhone and BlackBerry users. The smart-phone software allows passengers to track airline, hotel, and car rental information and receive updates automatically while on the road, reports DFW. Airport passengers will also get updates on gate and bag claim changes as well as information on retail and restaurant services offered within the airport terminals; www.dfwairport.com
COMMON USE
- CUPPS. Air-Transport IT Services Inc., a provider of diversified information technology products and services to the air transportation industry, announces the installation of its EASE common use infrastructure platform solution for Asheville Regional Airport in Asheville, NC, and Jacksonville International Airport in Jacksonville, FL. The technology will help the airports attract new airlines and grow air service organically from existing carriers, says a company press release. AirIT’s common use check-in system, EASE (Extended Airline System Environment), allows any equipped ticket counter or gate podium to be utilized by any airline operating on the system, shifting the burden of IT infrastructure deployment from the airline to the airport; www.airit.com
AirIT recently partnered with IBS Software Services, provider and developer of IT solutions for travel, transportation, and logistics, to develop and implement the CUPPS solution with the EASE platform. The addition of the new CUPPS functionality means that airports and airlines will now have three choices of operation with EASE: airlines can now utilize their own proprietary operating environments, a legacy common use application, or a new developed CUPPS-based application; www.ibsplc.com
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- Passenger Services. AMR Corporation, parent company of American Airlines and American Eagle, announced recently it has signed a letter of intent with HP, a technology company, to develop the next-generation Passenger Service System (PSS). The new PSS, referred to as Jetstream, will serve as the foundation to deliver innovative online and mobile travel tools for its customers, according to a press release. American’s PSS supports many key functions for airline operation, including reservations, pricing and ticketing, inventory, flight information, and check-in. The company says the Jetstream system will empower airline employees to provide faster, up-to-date information at more access points, such as mobile or handheld devices; www.aa.com
SECURITY
- Cargo Inspection. American Science and Engineering Inc. (AS&E), supplier of X-ray detection solutions, introduces the Sentry Portal – a high throughput, high-penetration, drive-through cargo inspection system. The system is designed to quickly and safely scan trucks, cargo containers, and tanker trucks for threatening materials, weapons, or contraband. The Sentry Portal uses a high-energy X-ray transmission source and features an advanced cargo sensing subsystem to maintain a low-scattered radiation dose; www.as-e.com
- Scanning Device. Analogic Corporation, manufacturer of imaging equipment, has received funding from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for an upgraded scanner system to check baggage for explosives and other threats at small and medium-sized airports. Analogic’s OnGuard CT system will provide advanced threat detection at checkpoints and with checked-baggage and carry-on applications. In checkpoint mode, the system will be configured to scan up to 450 bags and process more than 250 passengers per hour; in checked-baggage mode, it will be configured to scan up to 350 bags per hour, according to a company press release; www.analogic.com
WEB SOLUTIONS
- Aviation Employment. JSfirm, provider of online employment and resume search tools for aviation professionals, has announced integration of its website with Twitter.com and other social networking websites. Aviation company job posts are now automatically sent to Twitter while also networking with MySpace, Facebook, and LinkedIn, as well as various search engines, says the company. Prospective candidates are led back to JSfirm’s website which includes access to job postings, networking tools, and multiple-user capabilities; www.jsfirm.com
- YouTube.com. The Digital Signage Expo (DSE), an international tradeshow and conference dedicated to digital signage, interactive technology, and out-of-home networks, now provides a YouTube channel which offers a variety of video interviews and information captured from the show floor; www.digitalsignageexpo.net
