Korean Air is embracing technology with world-leading developments that will help with aircraft inspections on one hand while streamlining passenger and shipper processes with e-Documents.
With its extensive experience in manned and unmanned aerial vehicle development, Korean Air developed a technology that can inspect aircraft using drone swarms.
Drone aircraft inspection will transform maintenance norms and is being introduced by airlines around the world.
Whereas maintenance specialists previously had to perform a visual check of the aircraft fuselage from heights of up to 20 meters, drone inspections improve workplace safety and allow for increased accuracy and speed.
Korean Air’s aircraft inspection technology is the first in the world to deploy multiple drones simultaneously, shortening maintenance time and dramatically increasing operational stability.
The airline has developed a drone with a one-meter width and height, weighing 5.5 kg. The aircraft fuselage can be inspected using four of these drones simultaneously.
Korean Air has also developed an operations program that allows the four drones to be programmed to take photos of pre-planned areas. If one of the drones fails to operate, the system is configured to automatically complete the mission using the remaining drones.
When four drones are operated simultaneously, the usual visual inspection time of about 10 hours can be reduced to about four hours, a 60 percent decrease in time, and this will help to improve on-time flight operations.
And what is more, the drones, which are equipped with high-performance cameras, can identify objects up to 1 mm in size, allowing for the detection of micro defects that cannot be seen from above with the naked eye.
To ensure maximum safety the airline has also included a collision-avoidance system and geo-fencing in the drones to maintain safe distances from surrounding facilities and prevent break-aways from the mission area.
And in another first harnessing, the latest technology Korean Air has launched a full-scale digitalization of travel documents by introducing an e-Document system (e-DOC), becoming the first airline in the world to implement such an electronic document system.
Customers will be able to fill out 23 types of documents, including pet transportation declaration, unaccompanied minor, and health condition declaration forms, on their digital devices. In addition, information gathered upon reservation, such as email address, contact information, and frequent flyer number will automatically be reflected on the documents, further facilitating the document fill-out process.
Rapid information processing will significantly reduce customer wait time, and the security of personal information will be strengthened as documents are automatically stored and deleted in a managed server.
Korean Air said the introduction of the e-DOC system is the result of Korean Air’s efforts to enhance customer-centered services as a leading global airline.
The company also pledged to actively engage in ESG management and further improve customer convenience by providing innovative solutions.
These efforts and many others are being recognized globally with Korean Air picking up a number of key awards and ratings including; Air Transport World’s 2021 Airline of the Year, Skytrax 5-star COVID-19 safety rating; 5-star global airline rating from the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX) and a 7-star rating for COVID-19, Product, and Safety from AirlineRatings.com.
