Cloud Computing Propels Future of the Airline Industry

On July 19, 2024, cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike issued a flawed software update, taking down the operations of several major airlines using Microsoft Windows, including Delta, American, and United. It was an eye-opening example of how the airline industry uses cloud computing across its operations — and how being unprepared leads to significant impacts.

The “Blue Screen of Death” update came out on a Friday. By the end of the weekend, nearly 10,000 flights had been canceled, with tens of thousands more delayed. 

“We are using the lessons learned from this incident to better serve our customers,” CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz wrote in a statement. “To this end, we have already taken decisive steps to help prevent this situation from repeating, and to help ensure that we — and you — become even more resilient.” 

Kurtz noted the incident wasn’t a security issue, though his comments highlight some interesting airline industry trends and wrinkles that we don’t always see.

The weather commonly causes flight days, but this particular occasion revealed how critical data technologies are to the air travel industry. While storm clouds in the sky can lead to turbulence, cloud computing in airline industry operations can give forward-thinking companies and industry regulators the means to communicate better, operate more smoothly, and use real-time data to scale resources dynamically and meet changing needs.

How the FAA Uses Cloud Computing

In 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signed a 10-year, $108 million contract to partner with leading cloud computing service providers. Since then, it’s been rolling out cloud technologies like software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and other solutions to increase innovation and efficiency.

This year, the FAA also launched its second “Data Challenge,” inviting young minds to focus on evolving the National Airspace System into a more information-centric entity.

“I think one of the challenges that we work through on a regular basis is improving access to data,” FAA acting chief data officer Marseta Dill told Federal News Network in May 2024. 

A cloud platform collects tremendous amounts of data from aircraft and ground sources, factoring in information about FAA operations from partner agencies and the industry.

Airlines take that data and leverage next-generation capabilities like predictive analytics. Through AI and machine learning, they can quickly identify dangerous patterns or potential maintenance issues and then intervene to prevent delays.

“Using social media data, [a] Duke University team used AI to optimize airport surface congestion and minimize taxi time,” Dill said. “Students use data, advanced analytic techniques, and their curiosity to innovate and explore.”

The FAA’s current cloud computing contract expires next year. It’s already looking to expand its scope with a new deal and is taking requests from potential partners — which may soon include some of these Data Challenge students.

Smarter Flight Planning With the Cloud

During widespread cancellation events, misinterpretation and miscommunication of data often exacerbate problems. The multibillion-dollar National Airspace System modernization program — the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen), which will create growth opportunities for cloud computing in the aviation industry — is the FAA’s answer.

One example: SmartSky Networks, GE Aviation, and Mosaic ATM have developed a cloud-based, digital-twin flight management system (FMS) that’s designed to reduce inconsistencies among the ground-based automation systems that support flight operations and air traffic control. Called True-Course, it has a modular architecture that will allow GE to scale capabilities up or down for different aircraft models — including drones — while saving costs with standardized software.

Gary Goz, senior director of product management for GE Aviation Systems, stressed that flight deck computing power quickly becomes outdated. Moving offboard any tasks that aren’t critical to safety can increase flight efficiency, he said.

“The connected solution between the air and the ground is very important, and it can solve a lot of problems,” Goz told Aviation Week. 

“The cloud FMS concept we’re proving out is really part of a larger ecosystem we envision at GE.”

Having already proven itself as a functioning digital-twin FMS in the cloud, the True-Course team is now setting its sights on trajectory-based operations (TBO), which uses the 4D trajectory of in-service aircraft — encompassing latitude, longitude, altitude, and time — to manage air traffic in a way that’s safer, more efficient, and more predictable.

The FMS in the cloud utilizes data that can benefit reroutes or flights at different altitudes, including historical and real-time turbulence information or higher-resolution weather data. Along with other planned updates — such as automated, time-based flight trajectories — this data keeps everyone more informed. 

Aircraft can proactively avoid obstacles that might cause issues for airlines and customers. The data also alerts pilots, who need the right information at the right time to operate safely and efficiently.

“Our airplanes can get clearances and instructions electronically,” said pilot Chris Wiggin, first officer, United Airlines. 

“Europe has been using this for a while, but the USA is behind. It's like the controller texts the pilot, reducing radio congestion and efficiency.”

Building IT Resilience for Airlines

Southwest avoided the same BSoD problems as other airlines because it’s still running Windows 3.1 for some of its operations. However, using technology that hasn’t been supported for over two decades isn’t the best strategy.

The CrowdStrike issue highlighted areas of focus across different coding and testing stages. Something like Test-Driven Development or stronger review processes during coding could identify potential vulnerabilities.

During software testing, an automated integration test environment could have found the BSOD before the software updated. This event is a reminder for IT teams to ensure their processes are sound and complete.

There’s also room for more gradual rollouts of releases and updates. Running a smaller test of 5-10% of users and monitoring performance before going global could catch a potentially devastating problem and check that the proper fast backup and recovery solutions are in place.

Additionally, better communication and improved technology adoption make it easier for pilots to do their jobs.

Consider Jeppesen, which offers end-to-end commercial aviation solutions to help with navigational information, operations and flight planning, and software. According to Delta Airbus A220 Capt. William Ricci, flight crews and airlines can request routes up to 330 days in advance. Operations teams then work with Jeppesen’s cloud-based programs to create the routes that make the most sense.

“The airline uses [Jeppesen] trip construction software to do a task no human could do at the scale we do it at,” Ricci said. “It takes the network team’s requests and builds trips for the pilots and flight attendants assigned to all the different fleets in all the different crew bases, takes into consideration the legal rest requirements and duty limits, and spits out the finished product almost instantly.”

The finished product, called a “bid package,” is how airlines ensure that every flight safely delivers customers to their destination.

“It’s essentially the only reason our airplanes fly to where they go, when they go, and with the crews on them,” Ricci said of bid packages.

Aircraft maintenance must be thorough and efficient to safely fly across the skies. Operations teams use the cloud for several key tasks. Robotics capabilities in warehouses can more quickly find spare parts, expanding aircraft availability while reducing operating costs. Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, machine learning, and other technologies allow airlines to track aircraft performance in real time, enhancing ongoing maintenance routines. Connecting mobile devices with cloud storage services boosts visibility into logs and manuals, increasing access to additional parts at the gate and hangar while minimizing the likelihood of cancellations and delays for non-weather reasons.

Proprietary airline apps are an important piece of the puzzle, too. Customers use them to check reservations or message chatbots, while flight crews use them to travel more efficiently.

“Everything is at our fingertips with apps,” Wiggin said. “We can pull up the weather, see our crew, find any issues with the aircraft, see the hotels we are staying at, find food options around the hotel, and more.”

One other lesson to learn from CrowdStrike? Remember to breathe. During the outage, malicious actors launched phishing emails, phone scams, and fake security advice, hoping to take advantage of people’s panic.

Something like this will happen again in the future. Even with improved technology, humans must react with clear heads to avoid more damage in stressful situations. Tuhina Goel, director of product marketing at Nutanix, emphasized the need for consistent employee instruction.

“It's very important to prioritize employee training and awareness,” Goel said. “Because that goes hand in hand with what technology can do.”

How Cloud Computing Makes Air Travel More Sustainable

Automation plays a vital role during flight. Ricci noted how autopilot assists with fatigue reduction, likening the process to a driver using cruise control on a highway.

“While on airways at high altitudes — 29,000 to 41,000 feet — it’s a requirement to use the autopilot,” Ricci said. “We are flying with such precision around other aircraft on those same airways that minor deviations could result in major safety consequences.”

Keeping a steady speed with autopilot burns less fuel, another benefit. The data inputs from flight bid packages could also be used to plan more efficient routes as part of airlines’ sustainability efforts.

Airlines are using the cloud for forecast planning, looking at weather and flight conditions to optimize initial and in-flight strategies. In doing so, they reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Nearly half of airports currently have a step-by-step sustainability plan in place. A survey from Amadeus found the majority are moving passenger processing (88%) and airport operational systems (86%) to cloud computing, which is more energy efficient than on-site servers.

Additionally, airport leaders are investing in optimizing the allocation of airport resources like gates and check-in kiosks, and monitoring CO2 emissions via IoT sensors. They’re also looking at better harnessing data insights to make smarter decisions. 

From new FMSes to more intelligent autopilot systems, it’s clear that the aviation sector sees cloud computing and related technologies as critical enablers to keep it flying high. There’s a lot of data to handle. Strong IT infrastructure will help ensure stakeholders can make the most of it, all while keeping cybersecurity and sustainability goals in sight.

“I don’t think a single airline could operate at the complexity and size they do without cloud services,” concluded Ricci.

This is an update version of the article originally published on March 22, 2023. 

Joey Held is a writer and podcaster based in Austin, TX, the founder of Fun Fact Friyay, and the author of Kind, But Kind of Weird: Short Stories on Life’s Relationships. Connect with him on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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