Kocoverk making its GSE accountable
Kocoverk International has announced the integration of an airport mobile workforce solution which it believes will save 30% on energy consumption and improve billing by 10% for its aircraft heaters, coolers, ground power units and other GSE.

In partnership with SITA and Appear, Kocoverk is embedding context-aware wireless technology in its equipment to enable the SITA Mobile Workforce Solution, thereby ensuring that its assets are used more efficiently.

The wireless units communicate the location of each piece of equipment to a control room, where dispatchers can assign equipment to a turnaround. Simultaneously, data is sent directly to handlers through rugged, hand-held devices from which they can immediately locate equipment on a map, monitor its parameters and remotely activate and deactivate the GSE as necessary. This increases staff productivity as it avoids unnecessary staff movement on the tarmac, whilst reducing energy consumption. Efficient usage and real-time information on location also allows for better asset utilisation and reduces the need to acquire surplus machines. Operation logs can be automatically transferred in digital format for billing purposes which cuts the risk of lost or inaccurate invoice data.

SITA and Appear have also launched a new workforce mobility programme designed to provide a common use, mobile middleware infrastructure in order to support field applications in the air transport industry, such as maintenance, aircraft turnaround and airport management. Several pilot schemes are now underway that incorporate Kocoverk’s modified equipment.