Automation Reduces Costs, Improves Efficiency in Airport Property Management

Drone technology can help airport property managers and potential investors improve runway safety and save costs. Silent Falcon, a fixed-wing drone designed and manufactured by Bye UAS, can reduce airport costs by 30-60%, according to the company.

The company reached a milestone earlier this year by reaching over 1 billion square feet of runway surface scanned.

A 2021 study by the state of Alaska aimed to demonstrate the practical application of UAS in airport operations, partnering with Silent Falcon to conduct runway inspections. Silent Falcon captured high-resolution imagery, processed with AI, to inspect and calculate Pavement Condition Index (PCI).

The state reported a 1600% boost in imagery resolution, from 50-centimeter or better imagery all the way down to 2-millimeter images – all in a fraction of the time of traditional ground inspections. Traditional ground inspection methods typically cover 10% of the airport surface. Silent Falcon and similar technologies can cover 100%. The state compared Silent Falcon’s results with a traditional ground inspection and found the results comparable:  Silent Falcon showed a PCI of 69.82 while the ground inspection showed 65 PCI.

The report states, “This could have a massive impact for Alaskan airports, with the ability for one person to create a digital twin of multiple airports across the state without having to leave their office.”

Silent Falcon and similar technology can also provide high-resolution data for potential airport investors, aiding in developing a comprehensive property appraisal. In fact, the use cases for this type of technology are virtually limitless.