Albany, NY – December 19, 2008 – As people get ready for holiday travel, GE Enterprise Solutions, a high-tech integrated solution provider wants them to know that advanced technologies are working behind the scenes to help protect them from the moment they step into the airport until they land at their destination. In addition to improving traveler safety, these technologies enable airport efficiencies, faster baggage handling and better plane monitoring to help keep travelers—and their luggage—on schedule.
"This year especially, travelers are demanding both convenience and safety, and GE technologies are helping airports and airlines to provide that to them," said Michael Harsh, vice president of technology for GE Enterprise Solutions. "GE Enterprise Solutions’ range of technologies come together to help the aviation industry to provide a safer and smoother travel experience for travelers not only during the holidays, but throughout the year."
Among these technologies are GE Security’s state-of-the-art explosives detection systems (EDS), the CTX series. In use at more than 200 airports around the world, the GE CTX series set the precedent for industry-leading performance in the 1990s and continues to offer best-in-class explosives detection capabilities today, reducing false alarms and in turn, decreasing the number of bags that airport security personnel need to inspect by hand. As a result, fewer bags may miss their flights this holiday travel season. And for future travelers, GE Security is developing its next-generation system, the CTX 9800 DSi, which will be the industry’s first high-resolution, full volumetric EDS, delivering unprecedented levels of detection, images and speed.
In addition, airports stay safer and delays are minimized during holiday storms thanks to GE Digital Energy products. These technologies protect the airport’s critical infrastructure from being damaged or destroyed during power system failures and help ensure uninterrupted power. Runway lighting systems, radar, terminal operations, and other equipment continue to run during system or utility power outages.
In the air, GE engines might be the most visible technology, but GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies help keep aircraft safe before and during flight. GE’s diagnostic equipment collects key flight information and inspects the full aircraft and engines. Similar to health care technology, GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies offers X-ray, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), borescope (industrial endoscope) and other technologies like eddy current to perform inspections. This includes evaluating blades within the engine, inspecting the landing gear and fuselage for damage and automatically evaluating aircraft wheels.
"We have spent a lot of time listening to our aviation industry customers so that we can offer solutions that help them increase safety, deliver better service, improve efficiencies and productivity, and meet government regulations," said Harsh. "This has resulted in GE Enterprise Solutions’ ability to collaborate with our aviation customers to offer a range of technologies that enhance today’s air travel experience from start to finish."
