Airside Automation Group will promote aviation applications of autonomous mobility
Major names in the world of aviation including Heathrow Airport, IAG and the Civil Aviation Authority have formed the Airside Automation Group to foster greater collaboration between the UK’s civil aviation and connected and automated mobility (CAM) industries.
Image credit: Zenzic
Established under the auspices of Zenzic, the government backed organisation set up to champion the UK’s CAM ecosystem, founding members are Aer Lingus, Equinix, The Civil Aviation Authority, Heathrow Airport, International Airlines Group, Aurrigo plc, Oxa, Fusion Processing, Highlands and Islands Airports, Menzies, Swissport, UPS and Zenzic.
Mark Cracknell, Programme Director at Zenzic, said, “The CAM sector contributes billions of pounds to the UK economy annually and with the Government harbouring ambitions to increase this to over £42bn by 2035, we see further growth in the aviation market as being key to realising this potential.
“British businesses are already developing world-leading solutions which are being exported and deployed across the globe and the establishing of the Airside Automation Group will help us to further build on this success, by increasing collaboration, amplifying the fantastic work coming out of the group and supporting the aviation industry as it aims to understand how CAM can help meet upcoming challenges and grasp lucrative growth opportunities.”
UK companies are already being recognised as world-leaders in the field and in large part the group will help bring together organisations from across an array of sectors to create and promote success stories and provide a compelling investment proposition for the UK.
For instance, Aurrigo, headquartered in Coventry, recently trialled a fleet of its automated baggage handling vehicles at Singapore’s Changi Airport and has seen its Auto-Dolly Tug and Auto-Sim solutions recommended to a network of 60 airports following a successful trial at Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport.
University of Oxford spin-out Oxa has been working with global logistics giant DHL to explore how autonomous vehicles can help improve airport logistics, with trials currently underway at Heathrow Airport.
Fusion Processing through its partnership with airport ground transportation solution provider Construct Invest, is applying its years of experience developing autonomous passenger transport to automated airport bus services.
The group is chaired by Andrew Cornish, Non-Executive Chair at Aurrigo. He said, “I am proud to Chair the newly established Airside Automation Group and to see Aurrigo among its founding members. For more than a decade, we have been pioneering autonomous aviation solutions made in Coventry and deployed in airports from Singapore to Amsterdam and Cincinnati. That global experience gives us a unique opportunity to bring real-world insights back into this UK-led collaboration.
“The group provides a vital platform for industry and innovators to come together, share learning, and accelerate the development of the next generation of connected and automated solutions. By working collectively, we can ensure the UK remains at the forefront of this global transformation, delivering world-class technology, stronger supply chains, and long-term economic growth.”