The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is serving as a real-world laboratory developing of high-tech air travel solutions. The initiative is called FLITE.
“The Ford Launchpad for innovative technologies and entrepreneurship.”
That’s Ford International Airport COO Alex Peric. He tells us the Michigan Economic Development Corporation along with Southwest Airlines are working with Grand Rapids-based facilitator Seamless pairing those tech solution entrepreneurs and start-ups with the airport where testing of products can take place.
“We’re directing these companies to focus on specific airport, or airline environments which include security, smart infrastructure, automation, safety of course, data analytics, and also what we’re calling a whole realm of the future.”
Ford International is one of the first in the nation providing its runways, terminals, concourses and ground transportation spaces as development platforms. San Diego International Airport is doing the same.
Once companies develop products with potential for scale, a local and state committee will vet and recommend them for larger airport review.