March-April 2023 - 29

TECHNOLOGY TALK
iOPS is monitoring, tracking and diagnostic
software.
IMAGES BY JBT
next flight, and the PBB will not
move because someone pressed an
E-stop. Something so simple could
be fixed in seconds and could stop a
flight from being delayed 30 minutes
or more. "
iOPS can be used to ensure the
gate and boarding bridge are ready
for the aircraft turn, monitor how
the boarding bridge is being operated,
how long the docking process is taking,
and if there are any safety or training
concerns. Using the technology to
manage personnel, fleet and operations,
Thompson said the goal is to
improve operations, reduce equipment
downtime and save money.
Customers who use iOPS with
boarding bridges include airlines,
airports (Thompson said maintenance
departments love the ability to
remotely monitor their equipment.)
and third-party maintenance providers,
as well as ground handlers, cargo
handlers and military.
To use iOPS with a boarding
bridge, the boarding bridge doesn't
have to be new. Thompson said
passenger boarding bridges can be
upgraded to take advantage of new
technologies to help improve performance
and operations.
Customers who use iOPS for
boarding bridges also use the technology
to monitor the GSE, including
ground power units (GPUs) and
pre-conditioned air units (PCAs), that
attach to the boarding bridge. Mobile
GSE commonly used with iOPS
includes push-back tractors, deicers
and other mobile equipment, along
with rooftop units and visual docking
guidance systems.
To use iOPS with a passenger
boarding bridge, iOPS can be
installed and monitored through cell
service or hardwired - if the boarding
bridge has communication lines back
to the building.
" Either way, the installation is
simple and can be accomplished
between flights on an active gate, "
Thompson said.
What can be monitored?
" Basically, we monitor every point
that is gathered into the PLC (programmable
logic controllers) of the
PBB, " he said.
According to Thompson, this could
be hundreds of points monitored and
displayed - to only a few including
the PBB docking status and preconditioned
air unit (PCA) on/off status.
Also monitored are site-specific
alarms based on customer needs.
IOPS CAN BE
VERY CUSTOM
AND SITE SPECIFIC. "
" We can set up any alerts of end-users
and display them how they choose, "
he said. " iOPS can be very custom
and site specific. A good example of a
custom alert build is one we call 'PCA
not meeting performance.' This is a
notification that the PCA is operational,
but not meeting design condition. "
iOPS also can be used to monitor
how long the docking process is
taking, and an add-on feature that uses
cameras and stores video footage for
seven days can be used to identify and
point out training or safety concerns.
" With the iOPS AI Vision systems,
we are able to detect when safety items
are not being used, which could cost
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
damage, " Thompson said.
Lastly, iOPS can also be used to
contact JBT for equipment parts and
service. 
iOPS provides real-time systems and performance information.
Using iOPS, assets and operations can be remotely managed.
MARCH/APRIL 2023 \ AVIATIONPROS.COM / 29
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March-April 2023

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