Ligiu Uiorean - Home: https://uiorean.com/ - Posts: https://uiorean.com/posts/ - Scaling Down Is the Hard Part: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-07-13-architecting-for-small/ - Data Integration Is a Home Renovation. Most Airports Are Living in the Gut Job.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-07-10-data-integration-is-a-home-renovation/ - I still read every support ticket: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-07-07-i-still-read-every-support-ticket/ - Bani publici, cod public: am analizat inițiativa legislativă privind codul sursă deschis în sectorul public.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-07-01-bani-publici-cod-public-analiza-legii-codului-sursa-deschis/ - Two things airports get wrong about replacing an AODB.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-30-two-things-airports-get-wrong-about-replacing-an-aodb/ - LOFIC sensors and the promise of huge dynamic range: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-29-lofic-sensors-and-dynamic-range/ - My mom asked me if AI is going to affect us.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-29-my-mom-asked-me-if-ai-is-going-to-affect-us/ - We are working through the design of a new performance-linked bonus at AirportLabs.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-25-we-are-working-through-the-design-of-a-new-performance/ - Division of Labour in the Time of AI: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-22-division-of-labour-in-the-time-of-ai/ - My son finished kindergarten today.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-19-my-son-finished-kindergarten-today/ - Two months ago I wrote: vendor-managed AI degrades silently.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-16-two-months-ago-i-wrote-vendor-managed-ai-degrades-silently/ - The most uncomfortable number in aviation this year is not in the profit forecast.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-15-the-most-uncomfortable-number-in-aviation-this-year-is-not/ - I was in Paris with my family the other week.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-13-i-was-in-paris-with-my-family-the-other-week/ - The FIDS (Flight Information Dissemination System) should present the most relevant Information for passengers at each touchpoint.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-11-the-fids-flight-information-dissemination-system-should/ - What is an acquisition?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-06-10-what-is-an-acquisition/ - Brilliant showcase of the AirportLabs RealTime platform, proudly running at DOH: https://lnkd.in/du79DGZy: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-05-13-brilliant-showcase-of-the-airportlabs-realtime-platform/ - A customer told me, recently, that he was told gate allocation at an airport is rather like playing Tetris.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-05-07-a-customer-told-me-recently-that-he-was-told-gate/ - You watch the news.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-05-05-you-watch-the-news/ - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 "𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐮𝐩?" 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 "𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨?": https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-28-the-question-is-no-longer-is-the-ai-up-it-is-is-the-ai/ - Our BA interns did not spend their first weeks in a training room.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-23-our-ba-interns-did-not-spend-their-first-weeks-in-a/ - A "Black Swan" used to be the rare event that reshaped a season.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-22-a-black-swan-used-to-be-the-rare-event-that-reshaped-a/ - Boston Consulting Group (BCG) just published one of the clearest articulations of where leading airports are headed, and it is the model that AirportLabs customers are already running.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-21-boston-consulting-group-bcg-just-published-one-of-the/ - Fraport Greece deployed the AirportLabs Community App across their entire Greek network in four months:: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-20-fraport-greece-deployed-the-airportlabs-community-app/ - ACI Just Confirmed: AirportLabs runs the World's Busiest Airport: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-15-aci-just-confirmed-airportlabs-runs-the-world-s-busiest/ - Setting the pace in the industry and on the track. Inspiring work!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-03-setting-the-pace-in-the-industry-and-on-the-track-inspiring/ - I think energy price arbitrage through AI load shifting is going to be a real business.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-04-03-i-think-energy-price-arbitrage-through-ai-load-shifting-is/ - Weird weekend flex from the AirportLabs SkyCore AODB team.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-27-weird-weekend-flex-from-the-airportlabs-skycore-aodb-team/ - Tocmai am revenit de la PTE după anul cel mai încărcat de până acum.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-26-tocmai-am-revenit-de-la-pte-dupa-anul-cel-mai-incarcat-de/ - Speed creates opportunities.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-24-speed-creates-opportunities/ - Emil Boc e cel puțin incompetent și incompetența lui ne omoară.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-20-emil-boc-e-cel-putin-incompetent-si-incompetenta-lui-ne/ - So - at PTE 2025 we announced the contract, went live by August and this PTE the team is ready to discuss how we achieve faster time to value for airports.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-16-so-at-pte-2025-we-announced-the-contract-went-live-by/ - The weekend is when I remember that airports don’t care it’s Saturday.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-13-the-weekend-is-when-i-remember-that-airports-don-t-care-it/ - Aviation does not have time for 2-year software projects.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-12-aviation-does-not-have-time-for-2-year-software-projects/ - Following the recent events in the Middle East, I watched the AirportLabs team step up with a level of commitment that honestly blew me away.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-11-following-the-recent-events-in-the-middle-east-i-watched/ - A lot of airport tech still assumes that if the system knows something, the airport knows it.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-10-a-lot-of-airport-tech-still-assumes-that-if-the-system/ - Infinitely scalable.": https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-09-infinitely-scalable/ - To recap this roller-coaster week: it was a reminder that “the cloud” is still made of buildings, cables and people on the ground.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-06-to-recap-this-roller-coaster-week-it-was-a-reminder-that/ - Pentru prima dată într-un studiu din România, motivația principală a angajaților nu mai e salariul.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-05-pentru-prima-data-intr-un-studiu-din-romania-motivatia/ - I always thought (and hoped) "battle tested" would ONLY mean that our systems are proven in operation.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-04-i-always-thought-and-hoped-battle-tested-would-only-mean/ - An airport has a fixed number of gates, stands, check-in desks, baggage belts, and jet bridges.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-03-an-airport-has-a-fixed-number-of-gates-stands-check-in/ - Happy Mărțișor! 🌸: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-02-happy-martisor/ - The "Cloud" is still physical.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-03-02-the-cloud-is-still-physical/ - We know how much is being asked of everyone in the region right now.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-28-we-know-how-much-is-being-asked-of-everyone-in-the-region/ - Airlines that went all-in on one engine option for the A320neo have spent years dealing with groundings, lost capacity, and repair backlogs.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-27-airlines-that-went-all-in-on-one-engine-option-for-the/ - Apparently there's a tension in tech right now: companies are adopting AI fast, and at the same time cutting the pipeline of junior talent.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-26-apparently-there-s-a-tension-in-tech-right-now-companies/ - Airports are spending more on IT, but many still aren’t satisfied with the results.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-25-airports-are-spending-more-on-it-but-many-still-aren-t/ - McKinsey & Company’s research on smart airports is clear: the right integration and digital solutions can boost airport EBITDA by 6-8%, with much of that gain achievable within a few years.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-24-mckinsey-company-s-research-on-smart-airports-is-clear-the/ - Pilots that never land: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-23-pilots-that-never-land/ - Cei mai buni colegi au ajuns la noi prin programe de internship.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-21-cei-mai-buni-colegi-au-ajuns-la-noi-prin-programe-de/ - “Why is your stand so big?”: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-20-why-is-your-stand-so-big/ - Nu am mai deschis o poziție de acest fel de 4 ani.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-06-nu-am-mai-deschis-o-pozitie-de-acest-fel-de-4-ani/ - Fast deployment deserves a fast deep-dive.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-02-05-fast-deployment-deserves-a-fast-deep-dive/ - Heading into the weekend with some great news from Mexico! 🇲🇽: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-01-30-heading-into-the-weekend-with-some-great-news-from-mexico/ - Why do the world’s biggest operations trust AirportLabs Allegra RMS?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-01-29-why-do-the-world-s-biggest-operations-trust-airportlabs/ - Inside the Brain of the World’s Busiest International Airport ✈️🧠: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-01-22-inside-the-brain-of-the-world-s-busiest-international/ - It’s one thing to be a large airport; it’s another to operate with the efficiency required to be Number 1.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-01-21-it-s-one-thing-to-be-a-large-airport-it-s-another-to/ - 1 Million Workflows. Zero Paperwork.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2026-01-20-1-million-workflows-zero-paperwork/ - Watching the AirportLabs "Wrapped" video, I’m struck by one thing: Momentum.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-12-23-watching-the-airportlabs-wrapped-video-i-m-struck-by-one/ - For all Cluj people, AirportLabs will be participating in an open doors event that is becoming a tradition here.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-10-14-for-all-cluj-people-airportlabs-will-be-participating-in-an/ - Another year, another AirportLabs team running event in the books!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-09-21-another-year-another-airportlabs-team-running-event-in-the/ - Three years ago, we started the AirportLabs Online Learning Academy.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-08-27-three-years-ago-we-started-the-airportlabs-online-learning/ - This is what partnership looks like.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-08-26-this-is-what-partnership-looks-like/ - Absolutely thrilled and immensely proud to share that AirportLabs has won a Skift IDEA Award for 2025 for our Airport Community App!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-08-12-absolutely-thrilled-and-immensely-proud-to-share-that/ - Untold nu aduce prosperitate: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-08-08-untold-nu-aduce-prosperitate/ - An de an, auzim aceeași poveste, susținută fără rușine inclusiv de primar: Untold aduce prosperitate economică în Cluj-Napoca.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-08-07-an-de-an-auzim-aceeasi-poveste-sustinuta-fara-rusine/ - For engineers who thrive on technical challenges: Alexandra Moca is seeking new members for her team at AirportLabs.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-08-06-for-engineers-who-thrive-on-technical-challenges-alexandra/ - 2 Million Strong: AirportLabs Community App - the People and Data Platform That's Moving Aviation!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-08-05-2-million-strong-airportlabs-community-app-the-people-and/ - Yesterday's technical issue at the Swanwick Centre put UK air traffic operations to the test.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-07-31-yesterday-s-technical-issue-at-the-swanwick-centre-put-uk/ - It takes a global community to keep the world's airports running smoothly, and a huge part of that community is connected through the AirportLabs Airport Community App.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-07-18-it-takes-a-global-community-to-keep-the-world-s-airports/ - Ever notice how airports and airlines start telling you about your flight experience long before you even board?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-07-09-ever-notice-how-airports-and-airlines-start-telling-you/ - Are You Tracking Your 'Time To Wow'?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-07-07-are-you-tracking-your-time-to-wow/ - See our products live!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-07-04-see-our-products-live/ - Officially, it was a celebration of 10 years of innovation.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-07-04-officially-it-was-a-celebration-of-10-years-of-innovation/ - We do not see reality, we see our reality: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-06-26-we-do-not-see-reality-we-see-our-reality/ - ✈️ Airports are emotional environments — not just logistical ones.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-06-24-airports-are-emotional-environments-not-just-logistical-ones/ - At the beginning of the year I said we will be activating an airport a week this year.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-06-20-at-the-beginning-of-the-year-i-said-we-will-be-activating/ - ....a partner who never blinked – AirportLabs": https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-06-03-a-partner-who-never-blinked-airportlabs/ - 🇷🇴🇷🇴🇷🇴: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-05-18-post/ - Intern to department head in 5.5 years?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-05-08-intern-to-department-head-in-5-5-years/ - We're hiring a DevOps engineer for our Cluj office.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-05-07-we-re-hiring-a-devops-engineer-for-our-cluj-office/ - 🇷🇴🇷🇴🇷🇴: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-05-03-post/ - At least 50% of the world's busiest airports (by intl.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-04-16-at-least-50-of-the-world-s-busiest-airports-by-intl/ - International Gate Control (IGC)has chosen AirportLabs —proven in the world’s largest and most complex airports—to elevate operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-04-10-international-gate-control-igc-has-chosen-airportlabs/ - Thrilled to announce a paradigm shift in the aviation tech industry! 🚀: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-04-01-thrilled-to-announce-a-paradigm-shift-in-the-aviation-tech/ - The increasing global focus on tech sovereignty highlights the strategic importance of infrastructure independence, particularly for providers of critical services.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-03-24-the-increasing-global-focus-on-tech-sovereignty-highlights/ - Over 2.5M messages were pushed out this morning over the AirportLabs Community App regarding the flights disruption in the London area.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-03-21-over-2-5m-messages-were-pushed-out-this-morning-over-the/ - As AirportLabs turned 10, I’ve been thinking this morning about the moments that have truly defined us.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-03-08-as-airportlabs-turned-10-i-ve-been-thinking-this-morning/ - I usually steer clear of mainstream news and hype, but the recent wave of disruption caused by DeepSeek in the stock market is too impressive to ignore.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-01-28-i-usually-steer-clear-of-mainstream-news-and-hype-but-the/ - We just had one month with 0 critical incidents across hundreds of production systems.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-01-13-we-just-had-one-month-with-0-critical-incidents-across/ - Hey David LAVOREL Anamaria Beleiu did you really name your Cluj Office AirportLab?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-01-07-hey-david-lavorel-anamaria-beleiu-did-you-really-name-your/ - 🎉 Celebrating 10 Years of AirportLabs! 🎉: https://uiorean.com/posts/2025-01-05-celebrating-10-years-of-airportlabs/ - My last post about the need for 99.99% system availability in airports generated a lot of buzz – both within the aviation industry and beyond.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-12-13-my-last-post-about-the-need-for-99-99-system-availability/ - At AirportLabs, we live and breathe aviation high technology.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-12-06-at-airportlabs-we-live-and-breathe-aviation-high-technology/ - Been geeking out with the AirportLabs team over various companies' annual reports lately.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-11-29-been-geeking-out-with-the-airportlabs-team-over-various/ - One thing that AirportLabs may have triggered over the past 10 years is the change in system availability requirements in tenders.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-11-22-one-thing-that-airportlabs-may-have-triggered-over-the-past/ - At AirportLabs, we've spent the last decade transforming airports into dynamic, responsive hubs.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-11-15-at-airportlabs-we-ve-spent-the-last-decade-transforming/ - 10 years ago, I made a risky bet for AirportLabs: we built EVERYTHING in-house.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-11-08-10-years-ago-i-made-a-risky-bet-for-airportlabs-we-built/ - Nine years ago, when we first presented the 'Report a Fault' feature in the AirportLabs Airport Community App, an airport executive looked at me skeptically.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-11-01-nine-years-ago-when-we-first-presented-the-report-a-fault/ - It's been almost 9 years since AirportLabs launched the Airport Community App and I've just noticed that now we send over 40 million push notifications per month.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-10-25-it-s-been-almost-9-years-since-airportlabs-launched-the/ - The Red Dot Design Award certificate has landed just as we're about to on-board our 10th SkyCore customer!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-10-18-the-red-dot-design-award-certificate-has-landed-just-as-we/ - At AirportLabs we invest heavily in user interfaces, but for an AODB, a UI can actually be a sign of lack of automation.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-10-09-at-airportlabs-we-invest-heavily-in-user-interfaces-but-for/ - Forget code sprints, we just did a literal sprint! 🏃‍♀️: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-09-22-forget-code-sprints-we-just-did-a-literal-sprint/ - What an incredible journey it's been!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-09-20-what-an-incredible-journey-it-s-been/ - Red Dot?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-09-05-red-dot/ - If your airport staff spends more time fighting with their software than actually working, it's time for an upgrade.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-08-30-if-your-airport-staff-spends-more-time-fighting-with-their/ - Behind every seamless airport experience is a team empowered by great design.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-08-29-behind-every-seamless-airport-experience-is-a-team/ - I've always been drawn to innovative management concepts.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-08-09-i-ve-always-been-drawn-to-innovative-management-concepts/ - AirportLabs' "unmeasured time off" policy is a shining example of how companies can empower employees and drive results.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-08-05-airportlabs-unmeasured-time-off-policy-is-a-shining-example/ - I believe the days of ugly, clunky corporate software should be over.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-07-31-i-believe-the-days-of-ugly-clunky-corporate-software-should/ - We're hearing about tonight's Azure and DigiCert incidents.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-07-30-we-re-hearing-about-tonight-s-azure-and-digicert-incidents/ - ✈️🛫 Calling all Senior Backend Developers! 🛫✈️: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-07-26-calling-all-senior-backend-developers/ - In the fast-paced world of aviation SaaS, talent is a prized asset.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-07-24-in-the-fast-paced-world-of-aviation-saas-talent-is-a-prized/ - Tough day for aviation and IT and as many of you may know, I'm always on top of events that impact our customers.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-07-19-tough-day-for-aviation-and-it-and-as-many-of-you-may-know-i/ - Throwback to that time I tried to inspire the public...: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-07-05-throwback-to-that-time-i-tried-to-inspire-the-public/ - 🎉 Congrats to the amazing team at AirportLabs on the launch of PocketFlights!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-06-07-congrats-to-the-amazing-team-at-airportlabs-on-the-launch/ - At the Dubai Airport Show, I had an incredible opportunity to meet a true leader in UAE aviation, HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-05-14-at-the-dubai-airport-show-i-had-an-incredible-opportunity/ - So excited to see Ioana speak at the Dubai Airport Show!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-05-10-so-excited-to-see-ioana-speak-at-the-dubai-airport-show/ - Excited to announce that AirportLabs will be attending Passenger Terminal Expo in Frankfurt (April 16-18)!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-03-18-excited-to-announce-that-airportlabs-will-be-attending/ - Impressive view of AirportLabs' RealTime passenger flow in action!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-03-09-impressive-view-of-airportlabs-realtime-passenger-flow-in/ - Happy International Women's Day!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-03-08-happy-international-women-s-day/ - 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵 Welcome Japan!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-02-13-welcome-japan/ - I will be holding a presentation and Q&A session on the 15th of Feb.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-02-09-i-will-be-holding-a-presentation-and-q-a-session-on-the/ - Excited to share a project close to my heart - working together towards greater accessibility in travel for passengers with reduced mobility.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2024-02-05-excited-to-share-a-project-close-to-my-heart-working/ - What a fantastic year it's been in AirportLabs!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-12-20-what-a-fantastic-year-it-s-been-in-airportlabs/ - When your office has its very own Harvey Specter, you know the digital transformation talk is about to get as sharp as his suits.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-12-18-when-your-office-has-its-very-own-harvey-specter-you-know/ - Our team is mostly complete and high performing but this is a rare occasion when we're #hiring junior/mid in our product team.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-10-21-our-team-is-mostly-complete-and-high-performing-but-this-is/ - I've noticed that the disaster recovery requirements stipulated in contracts often demand service recovery within 24h.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-10-09-i-ve-noticed-that-the-disaster-recovery-requirements/ - I'll be holding a keynote speech at the World Aviation Festival in Lisbon.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-09-22-i-ll-be-holding-a-keynote-speech-at-the-world-aviation/ - Exciting news from AirportLabs!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-09-15-exciting-news-from-airportlabs/ - Conway's law posits that software often mirrors the structures of the organizations that create it.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-09-15-conway-s-law-posits-that-software-often-mirrors-the/ - Many airports fear that having critical systems in the cloud may pose a risk in case all Internet links are lost.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-09-13-many-airports-fear-that-having-critical-systems-in-the/ - Super proud of this one: AirportLabs can run its entire product lineup on any cloud and across multiple clouds, including private and bare metal infrastructure.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-09-11-super-proud-of-this-one-airportlabs-can-run-its-entire/ - First in a series of articles I coauthored, on how we build our products in AirportLabs: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-09-08-first-in-a-series-of-articles-i-coauthored-on-how-we-build/ - The Community App team at AirportLabs wrote a review of how the app was used during yesterday's nation wide air traffic control system failure in the UK.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-08-29-the-community-app-team-at-airportlabs-wrote-a-review-of-how/ - Read about the powerhouse behind the AirportLabs product suite - our planet scale integration engine - the AirportLabs Data Router.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-08-28-read-about-the-powerhouse-behind-the-airportlabs-product/ - In the past, business software often received minimal investment in UI/UX due to its limited evaluation in tenders, and end users had limited points of comparison.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-08-22-in-the-past-business-software-often-received-minimal/ - Dive into the pages of our inaugural post from an ongoing series spotlighting our products, technology, and the vibrant pulse of life within AirportLabs: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-08-21-dive-into-the-pages-of-our-inaugural-post-from-an-ongoing/ - We've just had a cool team outing at AirportLabs & our bi-annual Peer Bonus Points session: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-07-14-we-ve-just-had-a-cool-team-outing-at-airportlabs-our-bi/ - It's great to witness AirportLabs making a notable entrance into the public eye and actively engaging with the international aviation and tech community!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-07-07-it-s-great-to-witness-airportlabs-making-a-notable-entrance/ - I am humbled and proud to be part of such an exceptional team.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-06-19-i-am-humbled-and-proud-to-be-part-of-such-an-exceptional/ - Great way to end the week - AirportLabs Airport Community App launched in New York's airport system!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-05-12-great-way-to-end-the-week-airportlabs-airport-community-app/ - Building a company is incredibly hard and can only be achieved by lots of hard work and passion: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-04-03-building-a-company-is-incredibly-hard-and-can-only-be/ - Heading towards #PTExpoConf in Amsterdam.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-03-10-heading-towards-ptexpoconf-in-amsterdam/ - Yesterday's global outage of the Lufthansa systems caught me with the entire family waiting for a LH flight in Munich Airport.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-02-16-yesterday-s-global-outage-of-the-lufthansa-systems-caught/ - Diseară voi schimba idei cu studenții de la FSEGA despre cum se construiesc companii.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-01-19-diseara-voi-schimba-idei-cu-studentii-de-la-fsega-despre/ - AirportLabs is 8 today and I thought it’s a good time to look at where we’ve been and think of where we’re heading.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2023-01-05-airportlabs-is-8-today-and-i-thought-it-s-a-good-time-to/ - ⚽⚽⚽ Do you have to travel during great sport events?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-11-10-do-you-have-to-travel-during-great-sport-events/ - AirportLabs just opened a new senior role in our Cluj office - do you know anyone interested?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-09-26-airportlabs-just-opened-a-new-senior-role-in-our-cluj/ - Super stoked when we get feedback like this, congrats to our partner airports and the AirportLabs VisionAir FIDS team!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-09-20-super-stoked-when-we-get-feedback-like-this-congrats-to-our/ - Avem un rol nou deschis în Cluj.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-07-19-avem-un-rol-nou-deschis-in-cluj/ - Congratulations AirportLabs team for a very successful first half of the year!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-07-13-congratulations-airportlabs-team-for-a-very-successful/ - Mulțumesc Andreea Rosca pentru acest interviu, sper că am reușit să adaug valoare pentru publicul tău!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-05-27-multumesc-andreea-rosca-pentru-acest-interviu-sper-ca-am/ - Hey, we can run more than just airport systems!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-05-23-hey-we-can-run-more-than-just-airport-systems/ - It's internship season once again!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-05-03-it-s-internship-season-once-again/ - We have recently completed our profit share round of almost €300.000.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-04-22-we-have-recently-completed-our-profit-share-round-of-almost/ - On International Women's day I'd like to express my gratitude to all the women that I am lucky to surround myself with.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-03-08-on-international-women-s-day-i-d-like-to-express-my/ - Happy to see one of our team's innovations in the space of airport efficiency is gaining traction!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-03-03-happy-to-see-one-of-our-team-s-innovations-in-the-space-of/ - As storm Eunice is making a landfall in Europe we're already seeing a 2x-3x increase in use of the Community App.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-02-18-as-storm-eunice-is-making-a-landfall-in-europe-we-re/ - Hiring for our devops team!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-01-31-hiring-for-our-devops-team/ - So excited to see Alexandra Moca's presentation tonight - you might remember her from our internship videos a few years back.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-01-27-so-excited-to-see-alexandra-moca-s-presentation-tonight-you/ - Sorry network - this is in Romanian and of local relevance only.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-01-19-sorry-network-this-is-in-romanian-and-of-local-relevance/ - Many years ago I was working on the client side (i.e.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-01-05-many-years-ago-i-was-working-on-the-client-side-i-e/ - More than twice a second (on average) but sometimes 50 times per second (during major events)...: https://uiorean.com/posts/2022-01-03-more-than-twice-a-second-on-average-but-sometimes-50-times/ - AirportLabs has barely reached school age and some consultants think it already deserves to hang out with the grandparents of the industry – as a key player 😁: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-12-27-airportlabs-has-barely-reached-school-age-and-some/ - Now you can make sure SANTA1 has everything it needs for visual approach and watch the landing in real time 🦌🦌🦌: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-12-20-now-you-can-make-sure-santa1-has-everything-it-needs-for/ - The Airport Community App was launched in production 6 years ago.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-12-01-the-airport-community-app-was-launched-in-production-6/ - New paid internship starting this September!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-07-30-new-paid-internship-starting-this-september/ - AirportLabs is super excited to see our partner DXB's Terminal 1 lights back on!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-06-24-airportlabs-is-super-excited-to-see-our-partner-dxb-s/ - Cloud airport systems make cutting edge solutions available and affordable even for the smallest of airports while also allowing the largest of airports to stay nimble and get the latest features fast.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-04-23-cloud-airport-systems-make-cutting-edge-solutions-available/ - On International Women's Day, we want to take a moment to celebrate all the women in our lives, whether professional or personal.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-03-08-on-international-women-s-day-we-want-to-take-a-moment-to/ - New roles available in AirportLabs Cluj - Improve the life of billions of passengers worldwide!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2021-01-11-new-roles-available-in-airportlabs-cluj-improve-the-life-of/ - Hey network - wish you were here with us!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2020-12-17-hey-network-wish-you-were-here-with-us/ - DevOps role opening for our Cluj Office - improve the life of billions of passengers !: https://uiorean.com/posts/2020-12-14-devops-role-opening-for-our-cluj-office-improve-the-life-of/ - Looking for a DevOps/SRE for our Cluj office, to work with the best in the industry!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2020-12-03-looking-for-a-devops-sre-for-our-cluj-office-to-work-with/ - A new opportunity at our Cluj office - Frontend Developer to work with the best in the industry!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2020-11-27-a-new-opportunity-at-our-cluj-office-frontend-developer-to/ - Dubai' The Model Centre has produced and impressive study regarding the journey and impact of adopting Community App in Dubai's airports.: https://uiorean.com/posts/2020-03-07-dubai-the-model-centre-has-produced-and-impressive-study/ - Excited to see multiple AirportLabs products featured in DA's CEO report for the third year in a row!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2020-02-05-excited-to-see-multiple-airportlabs-products-featured-in-da/ - Dubai Airports CEO mentions AirportLabs RealTime and Community App in his update on the progress in the first half of 2019!: https://uiorean.com/posts/2019-09-04-dubai-airports-ceo-mentions-airportlabs-realtime-and/ - On the UAE's 43rd anniversary: https://uiorean.com/posts/2014-12-02-on-the-uae-43rd-anniversary/ - Scrutiny and made-up numbers: https://uiorean.com/posts/2012-10-11-scrutiny-and-made-up-numbers/ - Despre educația din România: https://uiorean.com/posts/2012-08-08-despre-educatia-din-romania/ - Vor romanii sa lucreze in strainatate?: https://uiorean.com/posts/2010-04-03-vor-romanii-sa-lucreze-in-strainatate/ - Popular Mechanix, 1922: https://uiorean.com/posts/2009-09-27-popular-mechanix-1922/ - ADAC is hiring Passive Network Specialist: https://uiorean.com/posts/2008-12-30-adac-is-hiring-passive-network-specialist/ - ADAC is hiring Senior Network Architect: https://uiorean.com/posts/2008-12-30-adac-is-hiring-senior-network-architect/ - Hello, World: https://uiorean.com/posts/hello-world/ - Ideas: https://uiorean.com/ideas/ - Projects: https://uiorean.com/projects/ - Wireless links in the field (2006): https://uiorean.com/projects/wireless-links-in-the-field-2006/ - CREC (2003): https://uiorean.com/projects/crec-2003/ - SpamTUNNEL (2003): https://uiorean.com/projects/spamtunnel-2003/ - The x86 Assembler guide (2000-2001): https://uiorean.com/projects/x86-assembler-guide-2000-2001/ - Springfree trampoline S113: https://uiorean.com/projects/springfree-trampoline-s113/ - Opinions: https://uiorean.com/opinions/ - The Dacia Tender Was a Masterclass: https://uiorean.com/opinions/the-dacia-tender-was-a-masterclass/ - In the media: https://uiorean.com/media/ - About: https://uiorean.com/about/ - Diploma Thesis 2006: https://uiorean.com/about/diploma-thesis-2006/ - Contact: https://uiorean.com/about/contact/ - For Investors (why I don't answer): https://uiorean.com/about/for-investors/ In December 2006 I was the IT lead on the Romanian Motorway Project, working out of the camp at Săvădisla. The construction ran along kilometres of alignment through the hills west of Cluj, and the sites that needed data were exactly the ones with no cable to them and no realistic way to get one. So I built the links out of the air, using cheap consumer routers and a set of antennas, and I wrote up how I did it. This is a short retrospective on that work, with the field photos from the original guide. The point of the links was to put the site engineers online where they worked. With a connection at the work front they could pull down the latest technical drawings, update measured quantities, and report progress without driving anywhere. That saved a large amount of money in fuel alone, and it kept people off the roads, which was a real safety gain on a motorway construction site. It also saved engineering time: the right drawing arrived in minutes instead of a round trip back to camp. ## The idea The whole approach was to keep the price down by using standard off-the-shelf equipment. The router I settled on was the Linksys WRT54GL, mostly because I could actually buy it. The trick was the firmware: the stock Linksys software is fine for a home, but I reflashed every unit with **[DD-WRT](https://dd-wrt.com/)**, the open source firmware, which gave me the three things I needed: adjustable RF output power, a proper repeater mode, and real monitoring and administration. For antennas I matched the type to the job. Omni-directional antennas (5 to 12 dBi) covered the camp itself. Sectorial antennas (17 to 19 dBi) covered a camp from one edge. And for the long shots down the alignment I used parabolic grid antennas, in practice a CalAmp 24 dBi grid, which are ideal for long range but need careful aiming and are easily thrown off by interference.
A WRT54GL router board mounted inside a white polycarbonate weatherproof box on a pole in a muddy field, labelled with the IP 10.30.96.1
A WRT54GL board in a polycarbonate weather-sealed box, mounted right at the pole so the cable run to the antenna stays short. Power went up the spare pairs of the ethernet cable. This one answered on 10.30.96.1.
## Planning the links Before anyone climbs a pole, the link has to close on paper. The factors that matter are the transmit power, the antenna gain at each end, and the free-space loss over the distance, which is the term that really decides whether a link is viable. My rule of thumb was that very good links are achievable up to 10 km and reasonable ones up to 20 km, that you almost always need direct line of sight, and that you want roughly 10 to 20 dB of margin over the theoretical limit before you trust it. The WRT54GL output was adjustable from 1 to 250 mW (0 to 24 dBm) and the receive sensitivity sat around -85 dBm. The lesson I kept coming back to: trust the calculations. If the numbers say the link is possible, it will work. The frustrating part is never the physics, it is aligning two antennas kilometres apart, which I did with a GPS unit that had an integrated electronic compass. What made the planning tractable was the free software written by Roger Coudé, VE2DBE, at [ve2dbe.com](https://www.ve2dbe.com/). It let me drop the two endpoints onto real terrain data, draw the profile between them, and see whether a hill was going to block the path before I ever loaded the truck. It helped me a lot at the time, both to simulate the links and to actually understand how they behaved. ## What was actually running By 18 December 2006 the Săvădisla camp had these links live, all fed by a WRT54GL on a CalAmp 24 dBi parabolic grid facing down the alignment: - **Camp to km29**, an 8 km direct line-of-sight link running about 5.5 Mbps raw. - **Camp to km26**, which had no line of sight at all, reached over a repeater sitting on a hilltop about 12 km from camp. It ran about 2 Mbps, held down partly by the high-voltage power lines the repeater sat next to.
A parabolic grid antenna on a pole beside a silver 4x4 with its boot open, on bare winter ground
The parabolic grid at the camp end of the km29 link. The 4x4 is the mobile office: you set up, aim, and watch the signal until it locks.
The repeater was the interesting one. A hill sat directly between the camp and km26, so a straight shot was impossible. Putting a WRT54GL in repeater mode on top of that hill turned one blocked path into two clear ones, and the valley behind got its link. Power on those hilltops was the practical problem. There was no mains supply out there, so the antennas in the field, and the repeaters especially, ran off car batteries. One battery lasted roughly one to two weeks depending on the battery, then someone drove up and swapped it for a charged one.
Four workers in orange overalls and hard hats raising a wooden mast with an antenna, a high-voltage pylon behind them under a clear blue sky A wooden mast with an antenna on a rocky hilltop, with the Săvădisla HQ labelled in the valley below
Raising the repeater mast on the hilltop, high-voltage pylon behind (left), and the finished mast looking back down toward the camp in the valley (right). The power lines cost us some throughput but the link held.
Inside the camp itself the job was different: the new living quarters needed internet in the dorms. I covered that with a root access point and a set of WDS-configured units forming a small mesh. The area was small enough that even two WDS hops still delivered at least 5.5 Mbps, and users had signal across the whole camp. The same kit travelled to other parts of the project. At a different location I put up a link of about 22 km, shot over a forest, to bring data to the Suplacu de Barcău viaduct, running from Ip across to Chiribiș. That was the longest one I built, and it held. ## Why it holds up None of this was exotic. It was consumer routers, open firmware, a few antennas, and weatherproof boxes bolted to poles. But it was all tested in the field and each solution ran at least a month before I wrote it down. That is the part I am still happy with: cheap, repairable, off-the-shelf kit, planned properly, that cut a large fuel bill, kept engineers off the roads and safer, and gave them back the hours they used to lose driving for a drawing. ## Links - [DD-WRT](https://dd-wrt.com/) — the open source router firmware. - [ve2dbe.com](https://www.ve2dbe.com/) — Roger Coudé VE2DBE's radio link simulation software. - [Wireless network connections (PDF, December 2006)](/files/wireless-network-connections-2006.pdf) — the original write-up, with the theory, equipment, and full router configuration steps.