All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced it has become the first airline in the world to implement a locally produced AI-based turbulence prediction service which has an accuracy rate of 86%.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced it has become the first airline in the world to implement a locally produced AI-based turbulence prediction service which has an accuracy rate of 86%.
Following several years of extensive testing and validation, ANA stated the turbulence prediction technology was developed by Tokyo, Japan-based BlueWX. After being developed using deep learning techniques and a decade of turbulence data, and operational trials involving 2,500 ANA pilots, the airline is now formally integrating the technology into its weather data infrastructure. ANA also stated the system has a 86% accuracy rate.
"For airlines, turbulence prediction is a long-standing challenge," said Hiroyuki Kometani, ANA's Executive Vice President of Operation Division, "At ANA, we have successfully developed this capability in collaboration with BlueWX, utilizing the latest AI and deep learning techniques. The implementation of this new system will ensure a more reliable and comfortable air travel experience for all our passengers."
"As turbulence exacerbates due partly to ongoing global warming and becomes a major safety concern for the air transport industry, we are honored to start providing our leading-edge, AI-powered turbulence prediction for ANA flight operations," said Kaz Watanabe, Chief Executive Officer of BlueWX. "ANA's decision to use our service highlights the accuracy and reliability of our service, and we look forward to contributing to the crew and passengers of ANA and other airlines in the world in terms of flight safety and comfort."
Developed since 2019 as part of a joint initiative between ANA and Keio University in Tokyo, trials began in 2021 with continuous updates improving the model's accuracy and performance. ANA reports its pilots expressed strong support for its continued use, citing accuracy against flight reports and greater effectiveness in real-world operations compared to traditional methods.
According to the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), turbulence accounts for 30-50% of aviation incidents. Besides the safety concerns, turbulence also leads to economic loses such as damage to cargo and equipment, and flight delays/cancellations due to unscheduled inspections to ensure the safe operation of the aircraft.
Founded in July 2023 through an industry-academia collaboration between ANA and Keio University, BlueWX specializes in AI-driven weather forecasting solutions. The company plans to expand distribution of its turbulence prediction service to other airlines and distribution partners. In addition, the company is also developing wind and direction forecast models to help optimize flight routes.
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