AIRSIDE REPORT AUTHOR Joe Petrie The Intelligent Apron Becomes REALITY DFW trial proves digitization of ramp operations can enhance operations and improve turnaround time of aircraft. DIGITIZED APRON operations are ready to take a big leap forward in North America as the technology has proven itself effective in operation at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). The Intelligent Apron trial was conducted by the AAAE Airport Consortium on Consumer Trust (ACT) from September to November at DFW Gate 9A. The gate is used exclusively by American Airlines, providing a feasible test location between the parties. Stakeholders included ADB Safegate, Synaptic Aviation, DFW and American Airlines. The connected gate concept is designed to reduce delays by ensuring ground crews are ready when arriving aircraft are nearing the airport. It prothey must prepare the apron for arrival. " This initiative has huge value in the current airport conditions because it can leverage existing assets, " Carlye Airport Group Chief Strategy Officer Ginger Evans said. " It makes better use of those existing assets and it supports a more efficient and safe ramp operation with fewer employees. " ADB Safegate deployed a Safedock FleX unit on A9 as vides information to stakeholders prior to the aircraft's arrival at the gate and real-time information on how soon well as a shadow SAM system in AWS. This allowed for collection of realtime operational performance data without affecting operational systems other than overnight replacement of the physical docking system. The unit offers a color display and separate scanning unit with wider scanning area. The display itself is more brilliant and multicolored, so it can be read from wide angles and from longer distances with much more granular detail. It utilizes a laser with a wider scanning angle that scans at rapid speeds to provide pilots a clearer view of what's occurring right in front of the aircraft. This creates high visibility of information for ground crews and pilots, while artificial intelligence captures operational timestamps to build benchmarks to turn around aircraft. Video AI is connected to the passenger boarding bridge to monitor parking and movement of the unit to ensure safety and time to connect to an aircraft. It also measures ground power unit (GPU) and pre-conditioned air (PCA) connections to the aircraft to monitor the time and length of connection by ground handlers. During the trial and demonstration, the predictive functions of the Video AI were used to Both above and below wing operations were monitored using AI to gauge the efficiency of operations at Gate A9. AAAE/PHILIP BENA 16 \ AIRPORT BUSINESS / MARCH/APRIL 2023