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The Gerald R. Ford International Airport a laboratory for innovation

Gerald R. Ford International Airport logo
Gerald R. Ford International Airport
Gerald R. Ford International Airport

FLITE program partners with entrepreneurs developing travel solutions.

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.

Patrick joined WGVU Public Media in December, 2008 after eight years of investigative reporting at Grand Rapids' WOOD-TV8 and three years at WYTV News Channel 33 in Youngstown, Ohio. As News and Public Affairs Director, Patrick manages our daily radio news operation and public interest television programming. An award-winning reporter, Patrick has won multiple Michigan Associated Press Best Reporter/Anchor awards and is a three-time Academy of Television Arts & Sciences EMMY Award winner with 14 nominations.