With the majority of business and general aviation damage occurring on the ground during handling, new technology from a start-up company looks to improve that statistic.
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More than 70 percent of damage to business and general aviation aircraft occurs on the ground during handling, according to aviation technology startup Fyve By. To lessen these often expensive occurrences, the company is developing a sensor and software system aimed at reducing the threat of hangar rash.
In fact, Fyve By recently announced it completed a pre-seed funding round, raising more than $600,000, and is now preparing to launch the Beta test program for its Sky View system. It describes Sky View as “a backup camera for the hangar.”
Using computer-vision technology, the system provides aircraft tug operators with a live-streamed, top-down, in-scale rendering of the entire hangar on a mobile device, allowing operators to maneuver aircraft precisely. And when safety margins are breached, the system issues warnings.
An early test run of the system did not meet the developers' goals, forcing it back to the drawing board. “Our initial tech stack didn’t provide the coverage and reliability we aim to offer in its limited rollout,” explained CEO Benjamin Youngstrom, who stated that based on additional live testing it now exceeds expectations. “We understand that the aviation industry demands a meticulous and careful approach, 'move fast and break things is' the antithesis of what we stand for.”
As it moves into the next phase, Fyve By is now looking to recruit 50 active hangar keepers representing a diverse range of operations. Youngstrom stated that in addition to contributing to improving safety in the industry, Beta test participants will receive a lifetime discount on the system costs as a token of appreciation.
According to plans, the commercial launch of the product is slated for early 2024, with a hangar stacking optimization feature to follow later in the year. Early-stage testing of that element has shown promising results, according to the company, suggesting an ability for hangar operators to also increase occupancy and revenues.
Hangar Rash Prevention System Heading to Beta Test
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More than 70 percent of damage to business and general aviation aircraft occurs on the ground during handling, according to aviation technology startup Fyve By. To lessen these often expensive occurrences, the company is developing a sensor and software system aimed at reducing the threat of hangar rash.
Fyve By recently announced it completed a pre-seed funding round, raising more than $600,000, and is now preparing to launch the Beta test program for its Sky View system. It describes Sky View as “a backup camera for the hangar.”
Using computer-vision technology, the system provides aircraft tug operators with a live-streamed, top-down, in-scale rendering of the entire hangar on a mobile device, allowing operators to maneuver aircraft with precise accuracy. When safety margins are breached, the system issues a warning.
As it moves into the next phase, Fyve By is now looking to recruit 50 active hangar keepers representing a diverse range of operations. Youngstrom stated that in addition to contributing to improving safety in the industry, Beta test participants will receive a lifetime discount on the system.
Commercial launch of the product is slated for early 2024, with a hangar stacking optimization feature to follow later next year. Early-stage testing of that element has shown promising results, according to the company, suggesting an ability for hangar operators to increase occupancy and revenues.