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Airline makes iPhones mandatory for plane mechanics and staff

Published Nov 29th, 2016 4:31PM EST
iphone business
Image: Uncle Leo

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Finland’s largest airline, Finnair, is fully embracing iOS as a platform for a whole suite of new enterprise apps, thanks to a new partnership with IBM. The first of Finnair’s new apps are for the aid of aircraft mechanics and supervisors, and will provide them with highly optimized workflows.

IBM’s MobileFirst for iOS program will help expedite the development and deployments of the apps, and the cloud services for the programs will be hosted on IBM’s cloud infrastructure. DON’T MISS: The iPhone 8 might break a record set by the iPhone 6

Our collaboration with Apple and IBM is an important building block in our digital transformation,” Katri Harra-Salonen, Finnair’s Chief Digital Officer, said in a press release. “We want to link our employees with the insights they need to make better decisions. This collaboration enables a user focused, high quality, yet cost effective way of developing digital solutions, helping us to improve the way we operate as an airline.”

The first two app that Finnair will implement are called Inspect & Turn and Assign Tech. Both apps utilize analytics to optimize how and when the company’s crew of mechanics tackles their various crucial tasks. Finnair describes that apps thusly:

Inspect & Turn provides aircraft mechanics with digital task cards and documentation with analytics-driven recommendations to complete work assignments to ensure the safe upkeep of aircraft and achievement of on-time arrival and departure targets.

Assign Tech provides aircraft mechanic supervisors a clear overview of flight schedules, maintenance process and mechanic availability. Using advanced analytics, the app recommends optimal shift assignments and incorporates the skills and certifications of each mechanic. Push notifications also alert supervisors to flight delays process issues, so they can easily make changes on the fly.

The airline expects both apps to roll out to its maintenance staff starting early in 2017, with more on the way.