Aiber has announced plans to double its workforce, following an upgrade of its ‘carry onboard’ solution to support in-flight medical emergencies.
The Inverness and Edinburgh-based business, which was originally spun out from the University of Aberdeen, will roll out its product to customers in the aviation and maritime sectors in Europe, the US and the Middle East.
Following six months of trials supported by Boeing Executive Flight Operations, it expects to create a range of new roles, including in software development, sales and service support.
Some airlines have a comprehensive medical kit onboard, supported by products such as defibrillators, but the provision varies across the globe.
Providing a connection with ground support medical services and tools for sharing vital signs data, Aiber is specifically designed to ‘hand hold’ non-medical professionals like cabin crew through a variety of events, from allergic reactions to potential heart complaints.
The technology allows for more informed decisions to be made by the flight deck. Apart from improving the passenger experience, it can potentially save airlines considerable sums. One diversion caused by a medical incident can cost a commercial airline anything from £25,000 to £500,000.
Since first participating in Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated program - a funded three-month accelerator for start-ups - Aiber completed a £2m fundraise, led by BGF.
Jacqueline Davidson, programme director of Boeing’s Aerospace Xelerated, said: “We are delighted to have supported the Aiber team with this important phase of testing and validation of their inflight emergency product.
“Coupled with their successful investment in May, this testing lays foundation for growth and for the company to service their customers on a global scale.”
Anne Roberts, co-founder and chief executive of Aiber, said: “Our work with Boeing has really been fantastic in terms of developing our product and setting Aiber on the path to further growth.
“At the heart of everything we do is supporting air crews with lifesaving skills and emergency management by giving them the tools they need to communicate the emergency properly, so they can respond in a calm and confident manner whilst the airline can demonstrate responsible safety mitigation.”
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