Flight Data Monitoring Market

Market Overview

The global flight data monitoring market was valued at USD $4.54 billion in 2022. It is estimated to reach USD $7.23 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 5.31% during the forecast period (2023–2031).

Flight data monitoring is a system that records flight data to improve flight operations safety. Flight data monitoring programs help identify, assess, and solve operational risks, identify trends, and investigate emergency circumstances. Flight data monitoring records data that may be required for future investigations. It also routinely records flight data to improve fleet operations security. Flight data monitoring improves operational efficiency and also helps with training programs.

Market Dynamics

Market Drivers

• Increasing Air Passenger Traffic and Subsequent Increase in the Number of Aircraft

Globally, air passenger traffic has been increasing significantly over the past couple of years. Factors such as decreasing airfares, rising per capita disposable incomes, especially in developing countries, and higher living standards have influenced this growth. By 2036, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) predicts that global air travel will have more than doubled. Additionally, it predicts that by 2024, China will have surpassed the US as the world's largest aviation market in terms of passenger volume.

Airlines have equipped their fleets with advanced flight monitoring systems to provide better aircraft monitoring and retrieval of flight data. Moreover, flight data monitoring helps to take necessary actions by analyzing recorded data on flight performance, problems, operations, and others. Therefore, it is anticipated that during the forecast period, the expansion of the worldwide flight data monitoring market will be driven by the rise in passenger traffic and the ensuing need for new aircraft from established and emerging airlines.

• Focus on Ensuring Flight Safety and Need for Constant Aircraft Monitoring

In recent years, the aviation industry has witnessed significant accidents that have changed aircraft safety parameters. For instance, the crash of Air France Flight 447 in June 2009, the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March 2014, and the crash involving Indonesia AirAsia Flight QZ8501 in December 2014. Flight data monitoring will help overcome safety challenges in aircraft systems by analyzing the reasons behind such crashes. Thus, airlines globally are adopting flight data monitoring systems for continuous aircraft monitoring.

Meanwhile, increasing safety standards, regulatory norms by government bodies, and the advancing commercial aircraft industry are the drivers for market growth. As a result, the growing requirement for aviation safety will fuel the demand for flight data monitoring, thus fueling the expansion of the worldwide flight data monitoring market.

Market Restraint

• Accuracy of Information Received and Assurance of Quality by FDM

Flight data are recorded on every commercial aircraft to improve flight safety. The recorded data is analyzed, and various algorithms are used for computing new parameters and detecting precise instants of the flight, such as rotation, take-off, and touchdown. These instants are then used to identify events when a safety risk occurred during the flight. It is crucial to detect moments precisely to prevent missing events and misleading events. Poor accuracy in detecting the instant might lead to false-positive triggered events. Due to this, safety risks may not be visible and, therefore, not considered by airlines and aircraft operators. Thus, the accuracy of information received and quality assurance by FDM are expected to restrain the global flight data monitoring market's growth during the forecast period.

Market Opportunities

• Growing Need for Real-Time Monitoring

Aircraft manufacturers are focusing on strengthening aircraft security systems to avoid accidents. Airport authorities are also actively involved in providing real-time data on a flight to passengers. The pilots have a live tracker of the airplane system, which helps them rapidly gather every system's performance. This real-time tracking system plays a vital role when a flight undergoes unexpected system failure or improper working of any system in a plane. During such an incident, the pilot gets ample time to overcome the situation by coordinating with the air traffic manager at the airport. This real-time tracking system can help land the airplane at the nearest airport to prevent a significant travel accident. As a result, the companies active in the worldwide flight data monitoring market will have growth possibilities due to the increasing need for real-time monitoring during the forecast period,

Regional Analysis

North America Dominates the Global Market

By region, the global flight data monitoring market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.

North America is the most significant shareholder in the global flight data monitoring market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.16% during the forecast period. The high product demand from players in the US and Canada primarily drives regional market growth. It is expected that approximately 10,000 aircraft will be in service in the region by 2035, which is expected to create additional opportunities for the players operating in the North America flight data monitoring market. Moreover, the increasing revenues of airlines headquartered in the region are also projected to boost the market's growth. But the COVID-19 pandemic, which is still going on, will likely slow the market's growth in the region. Furthermore, the US market is expanding partly because of the presence of well-known players like Curtiss-Wright Corporation and L3Harris Technologies, Inc. Various airlines are expected to receive financial aid from the US Government to reduce the impact of the crisis, ensure the continuation of essential airline services, and protect jobs. Hence, North America's flight data monitoring market is expected to expand during the forecast period.

Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.45% over the forecast period. China, India, and Japan are the emerging economies in the region. Asia-Pacific is gaining prominence in the global aviation industry and is projected to become the world's leading market for air travel. According to Airbus SAS, more than 16,000 aircraft are expected to be delivered in Asia-Pacific by 2035, which is expected to impact the regional market's growth positively. Furthermore, based on the statistics provided by the IATA, China is set to overtake the US and become the leading air passenger traffic market. According to IATA, air passenger traffic in India would surpass the UK to be the third-highest in the world by 2035, with the addition of over 322 million passengers, reaching a total of 442 million. The country's increasing domestic air passenger traffic is also expected to drive market growth. Additionally, the opening up of new international routes by airlines based in the country and the modernization of airline services are set to contribute to the Asia-Pacific flight data monitoring market.

In Europe, regional market growth is primarily driven by the UK, Germany, France, and Italy. In 2017, there were approximately 5,000 aircraft in the region; the number is expected to reach over 8,000 fleets by 2035. The availability of sophisticated technology is expected to attract investments in the market. Furthermore, according to the International Trade Administration, the French aerospace industry grew by 1.2% from 2017 to 2018 to reach USD 59.51 billion. The presence of prominent companies such as Safran is also expected to drive the market's growth in the region. Furthermore, the development of new airports with advanced MRO facilities is further expected to drive the regional market's growth.

The Middle East and Africa is projected to witness noticeable growth over the forecast period, primarily because of increasing air traffic resulting in increased aircraft deliveries and burgeoning military spending. Rising air traffic is expected to bolster the demand for new aircraft, which will likely supplement the flight data monitoring market. Leading Middle East and African airlines have upped their investment in the latest technology. For example, leading airlines such as Qatar Airways, Middle East Airlines, and Emirates have invested considerably in technologies such as digital analytics, in-flight connectivity, and avionics upgrades in the 2019 Dubai Airshow. These factors contribute to regional market growth.

In Latin America, one major factor driving the region's economy is increased air travel. Due to the region's rapidly growing number of aircraft, there will likely be a significant rise in demand for flight data monitoring solutions. The steady rise in air passenger traffic in Brazil is likely to create growth opportunities for companies that work in the flight data monitoring market there. Additionally, the increasing initiatives undertaken by the Brazilian government to reduce the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the aviation industry of the country are also expected to drive market growth.

Segmental Analysis

The global flight data monitoring market is segmented into solution, end-user, and component.

By Solution, the global flight data monitoring market is divided into onboard and on-ground.

The onboard segment is the highest contributor to the market and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.81% during the forecast period. Onboard flight monitoring is defined as ensuring passengers' safety during travel. The increasing need for safe traveling by passengers and rising tourism activities, coupled with the changing technological landscape in airlines, are fueling the market growth of the onboard flight data monitoring market. Furthermore, the rising number of onboard passengers contributes to the segment's development in the global market. By 2035, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects air travelers to double, reaching 7.2 billion during the following 20 years. Therefore, the rising number of these travelers is further fueling the market growth of this segment.

The increasing use of ground-based flight data monitoring analysis drives the on-ground segment. Airlines are focused on enhancing operational efficiency and using FDM to improve ground conditions, further contributing to this segment's market growth. Additionally, airlines use the data captured from FDM analysis to support requested changes to air traffic control and airport procedures. Flight data monitoring equipment collects, records, and transmits non-critical data (such as take-off and regular cruise reports) conveyed via ACARS (Aircraft Communications, Addressing and Reporting System) messages. These data are analyzed on-ground before operating the flight.

By End-User, the global flight data monitoring market is divided into fleet operators, drone operators, FDM service providers, and investigating agencies.

The fleet operators segment owns the highest market share and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.86% over the forecast period. The increasing demand for flight data monitoring, the rising number of fleet operators in the airline industry, and the growing fleet size of major airlines boost the growth of this segment in the global market. Additionally, the growing per capita disposable income has contributed to the demand for air travel, resulting in a rise in air passenger traffic and shifting the airlines' focus to provide passengers with proper safety management in the flight.

The flight data monitoring market comprises flight data service providers, such as Curtiss Wright (US), Teledyne Controls LLC (US), Safran Electronics & Defense (US), Flight Data Services Ltd. (US), Guardian Mobility (US), Scaled Analytics Inc. (US). The increasing number of service providers providing FDM services is driving the market growth of this segment.

By Component, The global flight data monitoring market is divided into FDM service, FDM software, and FDM system.

The FDM service segment is the highest contributor to the market and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 5.76% during the forecast period. The increasing procurement of new aircraft in the commercial and military sectors drives the growth of this segment in the global market. The services are provided using FDM to ensure safety, identify trends, and thoroughly investigate the circumstances behind events flagged. For instance, AviSwiss provides Flight Data Monitoring Services based on the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) legislation that requires the implementation of flight data monitoring (FDM) combined with Flight Operation Quality Assurance Process (FOQA) and Safety Management System SMS for commercially operated airplanes with a maximum take-off mass of 27,000 kg and more.

Onboard flight data monitoring uses software that collects and analyzes aircraft operational parameters recorded onboard the aircraft, generally using Quick Access Recorder (QAR). QAR can typically record many aircraft flight parameters, such as Indicated airspeed (IAS) and accelerations. They are periodically downloaded when the aircraft reaches a suitable station or maintenance base. The resulting data is stored in an extensive database and analyzed to identify occurrences exceeding defined thresholds and trends. The Curtiss-Wright PGS software suite comprises all the necessary editors and tools to simplify everyday flight data processing. The increasing use of onboard flight data monitoring analysis and various software being used to analyze onboard safety are driving the growth of this segment in the global market.

Recent Developments

September 2022- Safran Data Systems and Contec announced an agreement for the 2023 installation of an optical ground station in Western Australia. Safran Data Systems has been chosen to provide Contec with an optical ground station as part of this development.

October 2022- Safran said that the Swedish Space Corporation had chosen Safran Data Systems to expand its worldwide network of Lunar Exploration Ground Sites (LEGS) to meet the new needs of the space industry for communications on the moon.