Sergio Pila from Santander studied computer science, but has been dedicated to the world of aviation for many years. In this sector he has done everything from "porter" to airplane pilot today.
After being assigned to Lanzarote for work two years ago, Pila fell in love with the island, and decided to combine his two passions here, computer science and airplanes, creating the company Air & Ground Operations Consultancy, a technology consultancy to improve the efficiency of the aviation world.
Its flagship product, the AGOC web application, has already managed to reduce its clients' delays by 12%. In an interview with Ekonomus, Pila explains, with examples from his day-to-day life at the controls of an airplane, how IT can revolutionize the coordination of all airport services.
- What is your professional career?
I studied computer science, but the world of aviation always caught my attention a lot, so I became a pilot. Now I am a commander at Binter and I am very happy.
Before that I worked for many years at Ryanair, from its beginnings in Spain. I started as a porter, then I was a flight coordinator, shift manager, ramp manager and instruction manager.
- How did the idea of creating the company come about?
We have been developing the application in our spare time for the last 10 years. Working in the world of aviation we saw that we could create something that would help to be more efficient.
To give you an example, I, as commander, arrive with my plane at the airport parking lot and the haze has stained the windows, and, for whatever reason, I don't get the fuel. Then I have to pick up the phone and call the airline's Operations Control Center (OCC), which then has to call the window company and the fuel company. This can waste a lot of time.
Our program links everything. With a single click, the information is sent to all the agents involved and is recorded. This can greatly reduce delays.
"I live in Lanzarote and I am delighted, my two children were born here. So I convinced the partners to have the company in Lanzarote. I wanted to give something back where I have been treated so well, create employment here"
- Who makes up your team?
For now we are seven, all with experience in the world of aviation except for the sales manager, who studied business, and we are also computer scientists.
- Is the company based in Lanzarote?
Yes, our office is in Costa Teguise, but it is getting too small, so we have started looking for facilities in Arrecife. Four members of the team live here in Lanzarote and three work remotely.
- Why did you choose Lanzarote to set up the company?
I live in Lanzarote and I am delighted, my two children were born here. So I convinced the partners to have the company in Lanzarote. I wanted to give something back where I have been treated so well, create employment here.
It would have been cheaper and easier for us to open it on the peninsula, because the rents here are crazy.
"We are preparing an application to measure the real fatigue of the crews. It is something that has never been done in Europe"
- Have you taken advantage of the benefits of the ZEC Zone?
To be honest, when we opened here I didn't know the ZEC, the advisor told us later, who is now preparing the documentation. It has been an additional motivation. You have to have at least three employees on the island and you benefit from tax deductions.
- Who are your potential clients?
Airlines, airports, handling companies and airport service providers. The airport is like a city, there are many companies that offer different services such as maintenance workshops, cleaning companies, food and beverage supply, security, fuel, medical service...
- In which areas of the world are you working?
We currently have clients in Southeast Asia, in Vietnam and Thailand. We are going to sign shortly with clients in Latin America.
- Do you already have data on the reduction of delays thanks to your software?
At the moment, with the clients that have already passed the testing phase, we have managed to reduce delays by around 12%.
- What is your flagship product?
It is a web application for flight management, which allows total control of operations. It covers all areas and is fully configurable to adapt to the needs of each airline, handling company or aviation service. It connects all the actors involved in the airport ecosystem, thus reducing response times.
The website complements very well with another service we offer that allows customers to obtain real-time reports or a history of the different operations.
"There are airlines that have their own software, but there is nothing like our program, which can link everything"
- You also have several projects based on Artificial Intelligence...
Yes, we have put the latest in Artificial Intelligence at the service of companies through intelligent chats. We have also created a model dedicated to training for the aviation sector.
- What other services do you offer?
We have an application for tracking luggage by passengers and another with which CO2 emissions can be reduced based on data processing (Big Data).
We have also developed a platform dedicated to crews, to take care of flight hour limitations and so that the cabin can communicate directly with all the services required during a stopover, thus shortening response times.
- You are also working on a product to manage crew fatigue, how does that work?
It is something that has never been done in Europe. We are preparing an application to measure the real fatigue of the crews and that airlines can reorganize schedules based on the results.
With this data, an airline will be able to anticipate when a crew is going to be tired and will be able to make the necessary changes to improve air safety.
- What competition does the company have?
There are airlines that have their own software, but there is nothing like our program, which can link everything.
We differentiate ourselves because we know aviation from the inside, there are many software companies, hired by airlines, that have never flown a plane, that have never loaded a suitcase, that have never been in an OCC...
