IATA Enhances Analytical Capabilities for Global Aviation Data Management Program

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has revealed that the upgraded analytical features of the IATA Global Aviation Data Management (GADM) program, Its  Analytical Capabilities are driving informed decisions to enhance safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. These advanced analytical capabilities leverage developments in big data, machine learning, and artificial intelligence.

GADM’s data is sourced from various channels, including the Incident Data Exchange (IDX) and the Flight Data eXchange (FDX) programs. The FDX program now encompasses data from 15 million flights conducted by 7,500 aircraft, monitoring hundreds of parameters per second. This establishes GADM as the world’s most authoritative and comprehensive collection of global aviation operational data. Presently, 198 airlines contribute data to GADM, with ongoing daily growth as additional data is gathered.

Nick Careen, IATA Senior Vice President, Operations, Safety, and Security, emphasized, “Enhancing GADM’s capabilities is contributing to data-driven insights and improvements for aviation safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability. By applying better analytical tools, we are turbocharging its ability to inform critical business decisions.”

Insights gained through GADM’s enhanced analytical capabilities include:

1. Identifying emerging safety risks
   • Analysis of GADM’s data enables IATA to pinpoint emerging safety trends, crucial for airlines exploring new destinations and regulators formulating safety strategies.
2. Fuel Efficiency Measurement
   • IATA will use GADM operational data to enhance fuel efficiency analysis, providing industry benchmarks for flight dispatch, ground operations, and flight operations.
3. Aircraft Emissions Calculations
   • GADM data analysis leads to more granular measurement of aircraft fuel burn and enables precise tracking of CO2 emissions, supporting the industry’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
4. Predicting Aircraft Performance
   • Advanced deep learning models in IATA’s analytical arsenal offer high-accuracy predictions, aiding strategic decisions on aircraft purchases and network planning.

IATA’s increased focus on data involves staffing up a newly established division responsible for data management, strengthening the GADM team, and significantly expanding its team of data scientists. This initiative aims to enhance the analytical capabilities offered by IATA, supporting airlines in their decision-making processes. IATA Consulting is also poised to assist clients in achieving their business goals using GADM and other IATA data collections and expertise.