Modernizing Airport Safety Compliance with Real-Time Location Intelligence

Michael Bettua Square
June 25, 2025//Airports/RTLS, airport safety, airports

Volan’s real-time location system (RTLS) brings automation, precision, and full visibility to airport safety compliance by replacing outdated manual systems with digital tracking. The platform delivers time-stamped data across all operational zones, helping airports prevent incidents, streamline emergency response, and meet FAA standards with ease. With rapid installation, no infrastructure disruption, and fast ROI, Volan empowers airports to modernize safety operations efficiently.

Volan’s real-time location system (RTLS) revolutionizes airport safety and compliance by replacing outdated, error-prone processes with precision, automation, and instant insight. From ARFF response time tracking to digital self-inspection logs, Volan empowers airports with verifiable, time-stamped data that exceeds FAA requirements, without the burden of manual effort.

Modernizing Airport Safety Compliance with Real-Time Location Intelligence Blog Post

Aviation Safety

In today’s high-security aviation environment, safety isn’t just a priority; it’s a mandate. For airports like Los Angeles (LAX), Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky (CVG), and John F. Kennedy (JFK), safety audits are a constant part of operations. These facilities are held to some of the world’s highest safety standards, and meeting those standards demands a level of operational precision that legacy systems can’t match.

Traditional tools like handwritten logbooks, two-way radios, and siloed reporting systems introduce delays and dangerous blind spots. These systems depend heavily on human input, memory, and timing, all of which are vulnerable under pressure. When passenger safety, crew accountability, and multi-million-dollar infrastructure are on the line, guesswork is not an option.

Volan eliminates the guesswork. Its RTLS platform provides live, continuous visibility into people, vehicles, and equipment across all operational zones, airside and landside. Every movement is automatically logged on a secure, geofenced digital map. This reliable, time-stamped data stream empowers airport teams to respond faster, avoid incidents, streamline investigations, and deliver indisputable proof of regulatory compliance.

How Volan Enhances Airport Safety Compliance

Volan’s RTLS enhances airport safety by providing real-time visibility into personnel and equipment locations, automating protocol verification, and enabling faster emergency response. It also supports incident investigations, regulatory audits, and workforce accountability through time-stamped data, historical playback, and streamlined compliance workflows.

Real-Time Safety & Prevention

  • Accident Prevention: Always know where people and equipment are to prevent incursions, vehicle conflicts, and restricted zone breaches.
  • Automated Protocol Verification: Instantly confirm that pre-checks, zone clearances, and standard procedures have been followed, and no forms or follow-ups are needed.
  • Faster Emergency Response: In seconds, identify who was involved, where they were, and what happened, enabling faster, more effective incident resolution.

Historical Insight & Accountability

  • Replay Operational Histories: Investigate incidents by reviewing detailed location timelines; no longer rely on memory or incomplete logs.
  • Workforce Transparency: See who entered which zones, when, and for how long, without radios, badge scans, or manual logs.
  • Identify Risk Patterns: Analyze historical trends to fix process gaps and prevent repeat issues proactively.

Audit Readiness & Regulatory Compliance

  • Digital Audit Trails: Volan captures every required detail for FAA inspections, including fueling operations, training exercises, inspections, and response drills.
  • Real-Time Inspector Access: Share dashboards or historical replays instantly; there is no printing, prepping, or chasing down binders.
  • Efficient Compliance Workflows: Reduce the administrative burden on safety and ops teams while increasing data integrity.
Airport Safety

FAA Compliance, Simplified

Volan’s RTLS supports compliance with 14 CFR Part 139 by converting manual, error-prone tasks into seamless digital workflows. Whether tracking ARFF response times, controlling movement-area access, or documenting self-inspections, Volan builds a trustworthy, permanent digital record. Audits that took days to prepare can now be completed with a few clicks, reducing stress, shortening inspection time, and increasing confidence.

Built for SMS and the Future of Aviation Safety

With the FAA’s new Safety Management System (SMS) rule, airports must go beyond basic compliance to create a measurable safety culture. Volan supports each of SMS’s four pillars with real-time data and analytics:

  • Hazard Identification: Detect unsafe patterns before they lead to incidents.
  • Risk Management: Quantify exposure and guide data-backed decision-making.
  • Performance Assurance: Monitor the effectiveness of safety protocols in real time.
  • Safety Promotion: Create accountability and transparency that reinforces safety across all levels.

Volan doesn’t just track what happened; it helps you anticipate and prevent what could happen.

More Than an Add-On, A Force Multiplier

For airports that have already invested in safety infrastructure, Volan amplifies those investments. It works alongside your existing systems to fill critical visibility, compliance, and operational awareness gaps. By reducing manual labor, digitizing oversight, and streamlining data access, Volan helps your teams stay focused on high-priority tasks, not chasing paperwork. Every department benefits from Volan’s clarity, speed, and automation, from operations and IT to safety and compliance.

Rapid Deployment. Zero Disruption. Immediate ROI.

One of Volan’s most significant advantages is its straightforward installation. Unlike legacy RTLS systems that require trenching, cabling, or expensive infrastructure overhauls, Volan’s wireless mesh network and wearable sensors can be deployed in days, not months.

  • No hardwiring or construction required.
  • No integration delays or downtime.
  • Scalable to fit a single concourse or an entire airport footprint.

Whether retrofitting an older terminal or outfitting a new facility, Volan integrates seamlessly into existing operations. Your teams can start collecting location data almost immediately, and most clients report operational benefits within the first 24 to 48 hours. IT and safety managers appreciate the low-friction setup and intuitive dashboards, which require no specialized training or lengthy on-boarding.

See Volan in Action

Ready to modernize your airport’s safety and compliance systems, without the complexity? Schedule a live demo today and see how Volan’s RTLS can transform your operations with minimal setup and maximum impact. Contact us to get started.

Read Our Airport Blog Posts

Stop Relying on Luck Real-Time Solutions for Airside Security

Stop Relying on Luck: Real-Time Solutions for Airside Security

A delivery driver drove onto the O’Hare tarmac and spent 10 minutes unchallenged in a live operations zone. This wasn’t an isolated mistake—it was a warning. Every airport is vulnerable to the same failures. The only question is: will you be ready when it happens at your airport?
Read more
Where’s My Fuel Truck The Costly Walkie-Talkie Problem at Airports

Where’s My Fuel Truck? The Costly Walkie-Talkie Problem at Airports

Airline delays often start with a delayed servicing vehicle, like a fuel truck that is not where it is supposed to be—and a  scramble to find it using walkie-talkies. Despite managing thousands of ground service vehicles, most airports still rely on outdated communication methods that waste time, money, and fuel. Volan Technology brings real-time visibility to these “invisible fleets,” helping airlines optimize equipment usage, reduce delays, and unlock major operational savings. It’s a simple solution to a billion-dollar problem.
Read more
Reduce Risk & Improve Efficiency with Real-Time Location Systems

Reduce Risk & Improve Efficiency with Real-Time Location Systems

, , , ,
Our CEO, Michael Bettua explains that high-risk environments like airports and industrial sites demand precise, real-time visibility to prevent costly errors and safety incidents. Volan’s infrastructure-free RTLS platform delivers sub-second tracking of people, assets, and equipment — without GPS or complex installations. Customers have used Volan to reduce search time, enhance safety, and uncover inefficiencies that were otherwise invisible. In high-risk environments, every second counts — and visibility is everything.
Read more
Smart Infrastructure Without the Headaches Modernizing Without Massive IT Projects

Smart Infrastructure Without the Headaches: Modernizing Without Massive IT Projects

Airports are facing growing challenges from labor shortages and stricter FAA safety requirements, prompting a need for smarter, more flexible technology solutions. Traditional infrastructure projects—costly, slow, and rigid—are no longer effective for managing the vast number of assets and personnel involved in modern airport operations. In response, wireless mesh networks offer a scalable, adaptable alternative that improves situational awareness without massive IT overhauls. The future of airport operations lies in incremental innovation that enhances safety and efficiency through real-time insights rather than large-scale capital investments.
Read more
The Last Mile of Airport Security Modernizing Access Control in the Age of Contract Workers

The Last Mile of Airport Security: Modernizing Access Control in the Age of Contract Workers

Airports are struggling to manage security for unbadged, temporary workers involved in large construction projects, exposing a critical gap in traditional access control systems. Relying on human escorts is proving ineffective due to staffing shortages and high turnover, making it nearly impossible to maintain proper oversight. Forward-thinking airports are adopting role-based geofencing and real-time location tracking to monitor workers virtually and prevent security breaches. The future of airport access control lies in smart, scalable systems that enhance human oversight and secure every corner of airport operations.
Read more
Beyond Air Safety The Hidden Challenges of Securing Airport Ground Operations

Beyond Air Safety: The Hidden Challenges of Securing Airport Ground Operations

Recent incidents have highlighted the importance of aviation safety, but securing airport ground operations presents equally critical challenges. Staffing shortages make it difficult to monitor hundreds of contractors and delivery workers daily, increasing the risk of security breaches. Advanced technologies now enable real-time monitoring, providing immediate alerts if escorted workers deviate from authorized areas, improving security without overburdening human resources. By integrating automated monitoring with human oversight, airports can enhance safety standards while addressing workforce limitations.
Read more
From Blind Spots to Insights How Real-Time Visibility is Transforming Operations at Airports and Warehouses

From Blind Spots to Insights: How Real-Time Visibility is Transforming Operations at Airports and Warehouses

,
Real-time visibility is revolutionizing operations at airports and warehouses by replacing outdated, assumption-based methods with actionable, live data. This transformative technology allows facilities to track assets like vehicles, equipment, and cargo indoors and outdoors, enabling safety, efficiency, and cost savings. Facilities that adopt these innovations can uncover inefficiencies, prevent safety incidents, and optimize processes in ways previously unattainable. As these advancements become essential for competitiveness, organizations that quickly adapt will lead the way in operational excellence.
Read more
An Almost Catastrophic Delivery Preventing the Next Runway Incursion

An Almost Catastrophic Delivery: Preventing the Next Runway Incursion

Runway incursions remain one of the most critical safety challenges for airports, with incidents often stemming from unauthorized access by vehicles or personnel unfamiliar with airport layouts. Current manual systems are increasingly strained by labor shortages and high turnover, exposing vulnerabilities in safeguarding restricted areas. Adopting advanced real-time location technology can address these risks, ensuring proactive monitoring, precise intervention, and enhanced operational safety across the airside environment.
Read more
Airport CFO Checklist Graphic

Airport CFOs Checklist | Trust AND Verify to Minimize Airport Labor Costs

As airport operations expand, CFOs face the increasing challenge of accurately tracking contractor labor costs across multiple, complex projects, with traditional manual methods often resulting in millions of dollars unverified. Without precise labor tracking, valuable insights that could enhance resource allocation and operational efficiency are missed. We have created a checklist for forward-thinking CFOs to identify areas for improvement. 
Read more
Link to: Airports

Our Solution for Airports

Airports

Our construction barrier technology provides geofenced barriers for airport construction sites to keep workers out of restricted areas and reduces the costs for worker escorts. Airport construction projects are never-ending, have many workers, and regulations require full-time monitoring of worker location. Volan’s technology can provide alerts within 2-3 seconds if a worker moves into a restricted space, along with the precise location of the worker and a live map view. Visit our Solutions for Airports page.