Greater transparency on the apron: Munich Airport digitizes aircraft ground handling – our CEO Wolfgang Hiermann to speak about it at REConf 2026 

Greater transparency in ground handling: Munich Airport relies on camera-based status capture

Munich Airport is consistently driving forward the digitalization of its operational processes. We have supported this initiative from the very beginning – from creating the requirements specifications through supporting the tender process to implementation and acceptance. This enabled us to lay the foundation for camera-centered turnaround status detection (“KAZE”) and to actively contribute to its successful realization.

In March 2026, a camera-based system for capturing ground-handling status went live in Terminal 2. Over the coming months, the solution will be gradually rolled out to all parking stands on aprons 1, 2, and 3. 

The goal is to make aircraft turnaround fully traceable—from roll-in to roll-off—seamlessly, objectively, and data-driven. These data and results are intended to further support transparent, efficient, and future-oriented airport management. 

From process observation to reliable real-time data

At each parking position, two cameras use software and artificial intelligence to capture all turnaround processes — from refueling and baggage loading to catering — and assign each event a precise timestamp. This creates an objective data foundation that goes far beyond traditional manual status reports. Data collection per stand around two months, during which data from various workflows across different aircraft types are fed into the system.  

The added value of AI support lies not only in documentation but above all in operational control: The real-time data obtained can improve coordination between the parties involved, support well-informed day-to-day operational decisions, and thus contribute to greater punctuality, stability, and efficiency. 

For an airport, these turnaround processes are critical because they are highly complex: many teams and services
interlock, time windows are tight, and deviations quickly affect subsequent rotations. A continuous, objective view of turnaround status creates the conditions for identifying bottlenecks earlier, 
making handovers more transparent, optimizing processes based on data, and enabling faster, more robust operational decisions. 

Recognition: Our Managing Director Wolfgang Hiermann as a speaker at REConf 26

Requirements Engineering projects are also a key topic at REConf26: Wolfgang Hiermann has been accepted as a speaker and will, together with Johannes Knöferle (Head of Product and Performance Management, Munich Airport), share insights and lessons learned on the use of Requirements Engineering in AI projects. 

The invitation is a special recognition: According to feedback from the organizers, there were more submissions than ever 
before (more than in the past two decades), with consistently high quality and a very tight evaluation field. All the more we are delighted that our project prevailed and is among the selected presentations. 

What is REConf?

REConf (Requirements Engineering Conference), organized by HOOD GmbH, is a leading European professional conference in Munich specializing in Requirements Engineering, Systems Engineering, and agile methods. It has been held annually since 2002 to bring together the best in the industry to learn from one another, 
exchange ideas, and discuss.