Aviation Case Study

Access Control for Ground Support Equipment (GSE)

Approved GSE operators only.

Overview

Blackhawk’s client is an international airline headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region. In its home market, the airline operates its own GSE. The airline’s GSE fleet is distributed across 10+ airports, and comprises 5,000+ assets, of which ~1,200 assets are motorised.

The Problem

Blackhawk’s client faced many issues in efficiently and safely operating its motorised GSE fleet. All issues ultimately arose from a single characteristic of its GSE. The root cause: Blackhawk’s client operated motorised GSE fleet with key ignitions.

Because of the volume of assets at each airport, it was not practical for operators to carry keys for each asset they may use. Nor was it practical to use key-boxes. With Turnaround Time (TAT) paramount, the decision was made to permanently leave or even spot weld keys into the ignitions of all GSE. This meant any piece of motorised GSE could be immediately started and operated whenever necessary.

From its decision to leave keys in all powered GSE, multiple issues arose.

Unqualified Operators

There was no barrier to stop unqualified operators from using GSE.

  • This increased the likelihood that an unqualified operator would use GSE incorrectly, and damage an aircraft.
  • The cost of ground damage is already substantial, with IATA estimating it costs the aviation industry more than US$5B p.a., mostly through the indirect costs of having aircraft out of service while repairs are completed.
  • With the increasing use of composite materials, what would have been minor damage, is now becoming major, as composite material are less easily repaired, and often need complete replacement.
  • This systematically higher exposure to increased Aircraft On Ground (AOG) risk, worked against efforts to maintain and improve Turnaround Time (TAT).
  • It was also detrimental to efforts to control insurance costs.

There was no barrier to stop other ground-handles from using the airline’s powered GSE.

  • Turnaround Time (TAT) is important across the aviation industry, and with easy access to its GSE, it was common for other ground handlers to co-opt the airline’s GSE.
  • Operationally, this created problems as GSE that should have been available to our airline client was not, making it harder to achieve Turnaround Time (TAT) targets.
  • Financially, this meant that the GSE fleet was larger than necessary because of unauthorised use by other ground handlers. It also meant that operating costs for GSE were higher, because no costs could be attributed to other ground handlers.
  • Risk-wise, this created undesirable complexity. Who would bear responsibility for ground damage if GSE was operated by another ground handler without authorisation? How could damage caused its GSE be attributed to an operator?

There was no way to track which operator was using GSE.

  • When our client received fines associated with its GSE, it had only informal means to determine which operator was responsible.
  • This prevented our client from acting to address unsafe behaviour and/or work practices in line with its market-leading approach to occupational safety and health policies.
  • It also prevented our client from acting to address inefficient work practices likely to resulted in fines for impeding other ground handlers.

Faced with these issues, it was clear to our client that they could realise significant value if they were solved. They engaged Blackhawk, with its deep knowledge of the aviation sector, breadth of knowledge in IoT, and extensive SaaS platform to provide a solution.

The Solution

Following detailed discovery with the client, Blackhawk designed a solution to address each of the three issues faced. The Blackhawk’s solution consisted of three principal components.

IoT devices operating on 4G to control powered GSE
  • IoT devices with Near Field Communication (NFC) card readers are installed to allow for the isolation of the ignition / starter mechanism.
  • The IoT device provides the means to prevent a powered GSE asset from being started.
  • The NFC card reader provides the means to confirm the identity of an operator, and whether they have approval to operate each GSE asset.
  • To start a powered GSE asset, an operator must present their personal NFC card to the reader.
  • If the operator holds the appropriate approval the IoT device will allow the ignition / starter mechanism to activate the GSE.
The Access Control module of Blackhawk’s proprietary SaaS platform
  • The Access Control module provides the means to control each IoT device, and administer the powered GSE usage rights of each operator.
  • Within the Access Control module, operators’ personal NFC cards are associated with their rights to operate different classes of GSE equipment.
  • As usage rights data is updated within the Access Control module, it is automatically mirrored over-the-air to each IoT device, where it is also held locally. This ensures powered GSE outside 4G coverage can still be started.
A phased implementation plan for a smoother roll-out
  • To mitigate implementation risk, and utilise the client’s skilled labour force, Blackhawk provided the resources to allow the client to implement Blackhawk’s solution in a phase approached.
  • Blackhawk provided the necessary training to the client’s technicians, to allow the installation of IoT devices and NFC card readers to be completed by the client.
  • Blackhawk provided the guidance necessary to facilitate a phase implementation of its Access Control solution, whether across GSE classes, geographic locations, or a combination of the two.

The Results

Our client’s phased rollout of Blackhawk’s Access Control solution continues, as the number of asset-classes our client has applied it to grows. Both technically and functionality, it has proven an effective solution to our client’s problems, with positive outcomes realised.

Better occupational safety and health outcomes
  • Our client’s risk exposure arising from the use of powered GSE equipment by unapproved operators has materially reduced.
  • Our client’s operators’ behaviour has noticeably improved with the ability to link operators with damage and fines from their operation of powered GSE.
Reduced risk of ground damage, injury and accidents
  • Operators can only start powered GSE of a class that they are approved to use.
  • This has materially reduced our client’s risk from untrained and unqualified operators causing ground damage to aircraft, to airport infrastructure, and to other GSE.
Reduced costs from unauthorised use of powered GSE by other ground handlers
  • Our client has experienced an observable reduction in costs, which it views as attributable to eliminating unauthorised use by other ground handlers.

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