Hi! Thanks for the question.
I will provide here a listing of different technologies American
Airlines rely on for their everyday operations. I will also categorize
them according to different sections like aircraft technology,
security and information technology.
Aircraft Technology:
1. Safety:
a.) GPWS
“The Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS) assists pilots in avoiding
navigational errors that could cause a properly functioning airplane
to hit terrain.”
“American Airlines is an industry leader – the first – to equip all
aircraft with automatic external defibrillators (AEDs).
State-of-the-art enhanced medical kits are also standard equipment on
all aircraft.”
“Keeping Passengers and Employees Safe at All Times”
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/safety.htm
b.) Fire Safety Systems
“All U.S. airlines, including American Airlines, TWA, American Eagle,
and the three American Connection carriers, have fire detection and
suppression systems in all cargo holds, as required by the Federal
Aviation Administration.”
“The system works by first alerting the cockpit of the fire. The
cockpit crew then pushes a button which releases halon gas into the
cargo hold. The gas, which is heavier than air, smothers the fire.”
Cargo Hold Fire Suppression Systems
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/cargofire.htm
“TDG Aerospace presently offers the NOFOD(TM) Clear Ice Prevention
System, the first and only over-wing heater blanket system to ensure
full compliance with FAA Air Worthiness Directive AD-2002-21-06 (STC
SA6042NM). TDG Clear Ice Prevention Systems are designed to prevent
the formation of cold soaked wing ice, which forms as a result of
supercooled fuel chilling the upper wing surfaces of the aircraft.
This non-environmental ice or "clear ice" forms on the upper wing
surfaces of aircraft in ambient temperatures between 35(degree) -
75(degree)F (2(degree) - 24(degree)C), and can pose a significant
flight safety hazard for planes operating in moisture-rich climates.”
“The NOFOD system was designed for use on rear engine aircraft, which
are susceptible to foreign object damage (FOD) from clear ice exiting
the wing during takeoff and being ingested by the rear engines. The
NOFOD system is currently installed on the entire MD-80 fleets of
American Airlines, TWA, Delta, Alaska Airlines, US Airways, Aeromexico
and Midwest Express.”
“TDG Aerospace Announces New Safety Products Designed to Prevent Fire
and Ice on Commercial Aircraft”
http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/cb_headline.cgi?&story_file=bw.061503/231655006&directory=/google&header_file=header.htm&footer_file=
2. In-flight Entertainment
“The compact digital audio fileserver, which is a key to the system,
provides passengers with outstanding CD-quality audio entertainment.”
“American provides Bose® Acoustic Noise Cancelling® Headsets in first
and business class on all International Flagship Service (IFS) flights
and in first class on all American Flagship Service (AFS) flights.”
“A variety of domestic and international premium passengers can enjoy
portable Panasonic DVD players that feature seven-inch diagonal
widescreen LCD monitors and home-theater sound quality.”
“Inflight Entertainment”
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/entertain.htm
3. Comforts
The Cabin Interior Refurbishment section provides a detailed
description of the amenities of different American Airlines aircraft
fleets. The names of the equipment suppliers are also mentioned in
this page.
“Cabin Interior Refurbishment”
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/cabinrefurb.htm
4. Aircraft Fleet Technology Specs:
Our next links show the technology specs and details of the different
aircrafts used by American Airlines.
Boeing 737-800
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/boeing737.htm
Boeing 757
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/boeing757.htm
Boeing 767
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/boeing767.htm
Boeing 777
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/boeing777.htm
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/suite.htm
Airbus A300
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/a300.htm
MD-80
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/md80.htm
----------------------
Security
Our next articles will pertain to security technologies presently
being used by American Airlines.
“American Airlines is going mainstream with a high-tech check-in
system it has used experimentally at Mineta San Jose International
Airport and at 15 others nationwide.”
“Employees roam lobbies using wireless technology to check-in
passengers while they are standing in lines at the ticket counter, at
security checkpoints or even getting coffee.”
“Roving agents use a PDA device and a small printer strapped to their
waists to take flight information from passengers with no checked
baggage, and quickly issue boarding passes. That allows the passengers
to quickly get to the security checkpoint and onto the plane without
going to the ticket counter.”
“American Airlines to extend ‘roaming’ check in service to dozens of
other US airports over the next two years ...”
http://www.airlinequality.com/news/news_extra/aa_roaming.htm
“Passengers first go through the walk-though metal detector. If it
alarms, the passenger is subjected to a further screening using a hand
held metal detector in conjunction with a pat down search. All alarms
of the hand wand must be resolved. The carry-on items are subject to
x-ray inspection.”
“If the x-ray operator sees an object that he/she can not identify or
may be a threat item, the bag must be screened using Explosive Trace
Detection (ETD) (where available) and/or a physical search.”
“Checkpoint Screening”
http://www.amrcorp.com/facts/sheets/checkpoint.htm
“American Airlines Inc. has taken significant steps to secure wireless
bag-matching and curbside check-in operations at Denver International
Airport (DIA) that a year ago were found to be highly vulnerable to
hackers.”
“In what appears to be a positive sign that airlines are beginning to
look more closely at the security ramifications of operating wireless
systems, last month's test was unable to detect a single airline
wireless network operating without encryption protection, said Thubten
Comerford, CEO of White Hat.”
“In addition, American had not only removed the IP addresses from its
OneStop self-service kiosks, but it had also added Cisco Systems
Inc.'s Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol (LEAP)
authentication technology on top of the standard 40-bit Wired
Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption.”
“American Airlines secures wireless LANs in Denver”
http://www.computerworld.com/mobiletopics/mobile/story/0,10801,77255,00.html
“Biometric technology is about identifying people based on their
physical characteristics using information technology. Biometrics is
considered the only reliable solution for protecting the identity and
the rights of individuals because it recognises unique and unalterable
features.”
“Using information stored in databases or on chips in smart cards,
biometric identification can involve the contours of a hand or finger,
fingerprints or the pattern of an iris.”
“IBG clients include leading international organisations, including:
American Airlines;”
“Biometric expert to advise Gulf companies”
http://www.ameinfo.com/news/Detailed/24772.html
-----------------
Information Technology
1. CRM
a.) CRM Software
“American Airlines announced the successful redesign of its Web site,
AA.com(R), which features Art Technology Group's (ATG's) Online CRM
offering.”
“Built on a Java platform, the new AA.com's open architecture allows
for a simpler, more intuitive booking process and greater versatility,
which will enable future implementations of new features and
enhancements to AA.com .”
“American Airlines Web Site Features Atg Online CRM Offering”
http://java.sun.com/industry/news/story/45470.do
“American Airlines Upgrades AA.com with ATG to Improve Customer
Relationships” (Case Study)
http://www.atg.com/repositories/ContentCatalogRepository_en/case_studies/AA-com_case_study.pdf
b.) E-Learning
“The IBM Lotus LearningSpace e-learning platform gives American
Airlines a centralized database for tracking all learner activities.
By bringing textbook training into an interactive online learning
format, American Airlines' course administrators now have more
flexibility in updating courses and providing timely training to
flight attendants. IBM has helped the airline reduce the publishing
time for its flight safety materials and the costs of duplicating and
distributing these materials. Previous training methods (including
video) were expensive to duplicate and disperse. Now all that happens
from a central location.”
“American Gets Flight Attendant Training Off the Ground with Lotus
LearningSpace”
http://securityadvisor.info/doc/11407
c.) Self-Service Check-In devices
“More than 700 Self-Service Check-In devices are installed at almost
90 airports across the American Airlines network.”
“Self-Service Check-In Additions”
http://www.amrcorp.com/news/selfservice.htm
2. E-Commerce
a.) Fare Chase
“American Airlines Inc. and FareChase Inc., a New York-based travel
software company, have settled a suit the carrier filed last year over
FareChase's use of fare information from American's Web site.”
“FareChase's software, known as a "screen-scraper," searches Web pages
for information, copies it and formats it, and retransmits it to
others. FareChase licenses its software to commercial users, including
Southlake-based Sabre Holdings Corp., and travel agents.”
“American Airlines, FareChase settle suit”
http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2003/06/09/daily55.html
“EveryFare agencies now also can use FareChase to access aa.com fares,
including the oft-cited Web-only discounts AA is providing them on
fare classes including full coach. Three of the four GDS companies,
several large travel agencies and a number of corporate booking tools
aggregate fares using FareChase.”
“AA Creates New EveryFare Agency Revenue Source Via AA.com”
http://www.btnmag.com/businesstravelnews/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1914162
Fare Chase – Market View Software (Technology Details)
http://www.farechase.com/website/solutions_marketview.html
b.) Digital Insight – Axis Internet Banking
“The largest credit union in Texas, American Airlines Federal Credit
Union (AAFCU), has implemented Digital Insight's Axis Internet banking
and bill payment system to provide enhanced online services to its
membership.”
“In addition to basic Internet banking and bill pay, Digital Insight's
hosted solution for AAFCU offers check images, statement images, and
targeted marketing-all new offerings for the credit union.”
“New System Flies at American Airlines CU”
http://www.banktech.com/story/specialSection/BNK20020408S0023
c.) Rapid Reprice
“Worldspan's industry-leading automated repricing solution, to process
ticket exchanges
throughout its worldwide operation. By repricing tickets
automatically with
Rapid Reprice technology,”
“Carriers participating in Rapid Reprice for distributors include
Aeromexico, America West, American Airlines, Continental Airlines,
Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Midwest Airlines, Northwest
Airlines, United Airlines and US Airways.”
“United Airlines Selects Worldspan Rapid Reprice(SM) For Fast,
Accurate Ticket Exchanges”
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=SVBIZINK2.story&STORY=/www/story/06-11-2003/0001963403&EDATE=WED+Jun+11+2003,+08:43+AM
Rapid Reprice Product Details
http://www.worldspan.com/home.asp?fPageID=53&fBUnit=15&fBUCatID=156&fProductID=12
3. Wireless Technology
“American Airlines has installed Wi-Fi in its Admiral's Clubs and is
taking it a step further. The airline has partnered with T-Mobile,
along with competitors Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, to install
Wi-Fi at the gates of several major airports. ‘We don't see the value
of stopping at the doors of our Admiral's Clubs,’ says Patrick Morin,
managing director of IT communications and security services. "With
some of the challenges we're facing with airport security, maximizing
the value of passengers' time while in the airport is critical.”
“But the value of Wi-Fi extends beyond hot spots. American Airlines
uses it for curbside check-in, baggage handling, and cargo
package-tracking. The airline sees plenty of opportunity for further
developments. ‘In our employee base, 75% don't have a fixed workplace,
and 100% of our customers are mobile when they use our products,’
Morin says. ‘Where does mobility not fit into our plans?’"
“Wi-FI technology lets businesses plan ahead and meet travelers'
demands”
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20030403S0012
Search terms used:
"American Airlines" security technology
I hope these links would help you in your research. Before rating this
answer, please ask for a clarification if you have a question or if
you would need further information.
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Regards,
Easterangel-ga
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