Objectives of the service
The Frequency service enables airlines to address key problems in aviation communication caused by legacy channels with inherent limitations. These problems include - relays, repetition, roadblocks, and information silos that hinder operational efficiency. Frequency provides a unified communication and collaboration platform connecting frontline workers, operation control centers, and management teams. Frequency is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform which simplifies real-time information sharing, enabling distributed decision-making and reducing flight delays by improving communication quality and speed.
Users and their needs
The Frequency solution currently targets the aviation industry, specifically focusing on:
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Airline Operations (AirOps) Teams: these include frontline workers, operation control centers, and leadership teams responsible for ensuring smooth airline operations. They require efficient communication systems to manage flight schedules, delays, and safety protocols.
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Maintenance Teams: Involved in the upkeep and repair of aircraft, these users need timely, accurate communication to respond quickly to maintenance issues that could delay flights.
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Flight Crews (Pilots and Cabin Crew): They rely on real-time updates to manage their duties and ensure passenger safety, needing streamlined communication to handle disruptions effectively.
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Ground personnel: They rely on real-time updates to manage their duties; they require efficient communication systems to minimize delays.
These users share the following needs:
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Seamless Communications: across all departments to avoid relays, repetition, and roadblocks.
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Real-time Information Sharing: for immediate decision-making and action.
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Reduced Delays: by optimizing communication and resource allocation.
Challenges for the proposed solution:
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Integration with Existing Systems: ensuring compatibility and ease of use across diverse hardware and software setups.
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Scalability: managing the platform's performance as it scales to support large operations with many flights and users.
Frequency is targeting airlines worldwide with AerLingus as major initial pilot user.
Service/ system concept
Frequency is a powerful communication and coordination tool for airlines. It provides frontline teams (like pilots, ground staff, operations controllers, and maintenance crews) with real-time, flight-specific updates and an intuitive way to collaborate. Each flight automatically creates a secure digital workspace where users can share messages, files, and updates, and receive alerts about any operational changes.
Key features include:
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Real-time alerts for delays, cancellations, and updates
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Role-based access to relevant flight information
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Smart notifications via mobile, web and push alerts
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Seamless collaboration using text, images, and documents
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Available on desktop and mobile (iOS and Android)
The modus operandi of the Frequency solution is as follows:
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Frequency collects and processes live flight and operations data.
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All team members for a flight are automatically grouped so they can collaborate and resolve issues quickly.
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For each flight, it creates a shared digital space for all involved staff.
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Team members are alerted when something changes—like a delay or gate switch.
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Everyone communicates and solves problems quickly through the platform
The system empowers airline teams to act faster, reduce delays, and improve operational efficiency—all from one connected platform.
Space Added Value
Frequency leverages satellite-based communication services as a space asset, particularly when terrestrial connectivity is limited or disrupted. This can be the case in remote or congested airports. Satellite links ensure that real-time updates, alerts, and collaborative communication remain uninterrupted for all flight stakeholders.
The added value of using space-based communication lies in global, uninterrupted coverage, enabling reliable data transmission even in areas where cellular networks fail or Wi-Fi is unavailable. Unlike competitors relying solely on ground-based infrastructure, Frequency can maintain real-time flight group updates, notifications, and situational awareness under any conditions.
By integrating space assets with modern cloud architecture, Frequency enhances resilience, reach, and operational continuity, reducing the risk of communication breakdowns. This ensures that teams stay connected, delays are managed more effectively, and flights depart safely and on time—even in challenging scenarios where traditional systems underperform.
Current Status
The Frequency project was kicked off in May 2024 and the software development is close to being “trial ready”, with final features being implemented based on direct feedback from the launch airline partner. These features include role-specific interfaces for pilots, ops controllers, and turnaround coordinators, as well as improved integration with real-time flight data feeds. A contract for a live operational trial with this major European airline is currently being finalized, covering deployment at Dublin Airport across key operational teams. Preparations are underway for system onboarding and user training, expected to begin within weeks. Earlier phases successfully delivered full backend integration with flight data sources, deployment of mobile and web apps, and internal testing across multiple operational scenarios. Upcoming activities include configuring the trial environment, activating dynamic flight groups in live operations, and capturing usage metrics to support further iteration and scale-up. The Critical Design Review milestone was reached in May 2025.
