American Airlines’ HEAT Technology Keeps Flights Moving in Severe Weather

American Airlines’ Hub Efficiency Analytics Tool (HEAT) technology has kept adverse weather from grounding 1,000 flights in the last 12 months, the company reported. HEAT is a cutting-edge tool that uses data and algorithms to dynamically adjust flight schedules and minimize disruptions when severe weather impacts the airline’s larger hubs.

HEAT, which was developed in-house by American’s Integrated Operations Center (IOC) team, optimizes data about weather, flight load factors, customer connections, gate availability, air traffic control and crew constraints. Then, an advanced algorithm weighs this data and shifts arrivals and departures around at the hub, while ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory requirements.

By using HEAT, American can turn unplanned maintenance events into scheduled ones, reduce aircraft on ground (AOG) events, increase on-time flights, protect revenue, and enhance customer satisfaction. HEAT also provides more situational awareness and decision-making support for air traffic managers, controllers, pilots and dispatchers.

“HEAT is an innovative tool and part of our irregular operations playbook that will only get smarter with use,” said Timothy Niznik, American’s director of IOC Analytics. “Each time we run HEAT, we analyze the results, and incorporate those findings so we can continue to improve the strategies and technology that help keep our operation moving.”

HEAT was launched in April 2022 and has been deployed at American’s hubs in Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Charlotte (CLT), Chicago (ORD), Miami (MIA), Philadelphia (PHL), Phoenix (PHX) and Washington D.C. (DCA). Since its initial deployment, HEAT has prevented nearly 1,000 flight cancellations across the network.

“HEAT allows me to optimize our flight timing in inclement weather to provide a better experience for our customers and crews — it’s a game changer,” said Bob Shirley, an American dispatcher, air traffic control coordinator and a member of the team who developed the tool.

HEAT is part of American’s ongoing investment in data and analytics to transform its operations and customer experience. The airline has partnered with Microsoft to use Azure as its preferred cloud platform for its airline applications and key workloads. The airline also leverages artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to improve various aspects of its operations, such as reducing taxi time, optimizing fuel consumption, enhancing maintenance efficiency and personalizing customer service.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, msn.com, news.aa.com, cio.com