Discussion on the Application of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology in Green Air Transport (Part 2)

In the figure, the airport check-in system includes manual check-in islands and self-service machines. The logistics management system provides cargo loading data. The data link provides an output channel for the electronic manifest, and also includes timely transmission of temporarily changed configuration data, such as passengers who have not arrived after checking in for boarding passes.

　　The RFID loading workstation includes a loading and balancing program that meets airworthiness requirements. The program implements loading management and calculates the corresponding center of gravity based on airworthiness rules and civil aviation safety operation regulations. Its output is a typical electronic manifest. The workstation also includes a model database configured according to the model, including 2D and 3D virtual model layouts. The workstation is also configured with a flight management system program equivalent to the relevant model, which is used to verify the needs of optimizing performance calculations. The user end includes flight crews, airlines, airports and ground operations personnel.

　　The typical workflow of the system is shown in Figure 2:

　　Figure 2 Typical system workflow

　　During the data collection phase, the RFID information of passengers and items, including passenger seats and luggage weight data, is obtained mainly through the airport's check-in system. At the same time, the weight and nature of the goods are obtained through the RFID information of the logistics department.

　　Information on temporary changes of passengers and items is transmitted through the data link system.

　　During the information processing stage, weight and balance configuration personnel can choose manual configuration to configure weight and balance according to company operating procedures and their own experience; they can also choose automated configuration, that is, automated configuration by the RFID loading workstation.

　　During the configuration inspection phase, the RFID workstation displays the 2D or 3D calculation results of the specific aircraft type's cabin space and center of gravity. By observing this displayed information, the staff can make virtual adjustments on the screen based on company regulations and their own experience to achieve the best cabin space utilization and center of gravity configuration optimization results.

　　Depending on the airline's operating model, these optimized configuration results can be displayed on various display terminals in flight dispatch, corporate operations, flight preparation, and the cockpit. Staff and flight personnel will optimize the performance budget of the flight management system and make decisions, based on which performance control indicators in the flight plan are derived.

　　During the information output phase, the electronic manifest is transmitted through the data link system, or the relevant weight and center of gravity data required for performance initialization are provided to the flight management system.

　　Future Outlook

　　In the new generation of civil aviation transportation system, the automation of information processing for passengers and cargo is not just about self-service check-in, nor is it just about airport and ground services. Instead, it should be about maximizing information benefits and effectively realizing information value-added through information management.

　　For example, by establishing a complete information service system, including a series of services such as personnel document verification, baggage delivery, flight rescheduling, passenger boarding, baggage, cabin and cargo management, the current traditional business processes will be reintegrated to form a multi-center information automation processing and operation with passengers, airlines, airports and air traffic management as the operating centers.

　　In the daily operation of civil aviation transportation, flight, air traffic control and airport command and coordination personnel are the three key links related to the safety and efficiency of civil aviation transportation. Providing them with automated aircraft performance management requires these highly efficient information exchange platforms.

　　Therefore, the purpose of developing this system is to support information optimization processing and maximize utilization efficiency, give full play to the use value of the aircraft, and provide a modern management method to ensure that the aircraft operates at optimal performance.

　　Through such enhanced refined management and scientific and technological innovation, we will implement the requirements of energy conservation and emission reduction and make corresponding contributions to achieving the level of energy consumption and emission indicators per unit output of my country's civil aviation at the level of developed aviation countries by 2020.

　　References

　　[1] Civil Aviation Administration of China, Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Promotion of Energy Conservation and Emission Reduction, April 2011

　　[2] Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, White Paper on China’s RFID Technology Policy, June 2006

　　[3] Shanghai Municipal Government, Several Opinions on Promoting the Integrated Development of Road Freight (Logistics) in the Yangtze River Delta Region, June 2009

　　［4］ Federal Aviation Administration, Airworthiness Approval and Operational Allowance of RFID Systems, 2008-09

　　[5] Xu Fang, Gu Shimin, A loading and balancing system based on radio frequency technology, State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China, Patent Specification CN101901361 A, December 2010