PHOENIX -- A recent report from Honeywell Aerospace says the commercial aviation industry is "at the beginning of a technology investment wave" being driven by the demand for and availability of high-speed, in-flight Wi-Fi technologies.
Honeywell's "Connected Aircraft Report", available for download here, was culled from surveys of maintenance personnel, flight and ground crews, fleet management and others in the global commercial air sector.
According to the report, aircraft connectivity is a high or very high priority amongst 81 percent of respondents, with nearly 70 percent stating they were likely to increase connectivity spending over the next five years.
In monetary terms, 38 percent said that spending equates to at least $1 million in connected technologies over that five-year span, with 17 percent saying they plan to spend more than $10 million.
"The airline industry is beginning to seriously invest in connected aircraft technology to proactively improve daily operations," said Kristin Slyker, vice president of Honeywell Aerospace's Connected Aircraft division. "The result is airline employees performing their daily roles more effectively, while also delivering the kind of service that passengers expect, including increased safety and on-time arrivals."
Honeywell said the anticipated wave of connectivity investments will likely address three key areas, including maintenance, fuel consumption and aircraft turnaround time.
These investments are expected to pay dividends, however, with 27 percent of respondents saying they would want returns by the end of 18 months, and 28 percent anticipating returns by the end of three years.
