Soaring with Observability: Monitoring Aircraft at 30,000 Feet with FlytEDGE

Observability at the edge presents unique challenges—especially when that edge is flying at 30,000 feet with limited connectivity and bandwidth constraints. Thales' In-Flight Experience team leverages Datadog technologies to build resilient observability into aircraft-based edge infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted monitoring and event collection, even under intermittent network conditions.

In this talk, attendees will learn how Thales built FlytEDGE, a flying Data Center tailored specifically for aerial environments. We'll discuss the architectural decisions and innovative solutions required to handle constrained connectivity, limited bandwidth, latency, and stringent security requirements. We'll also touch on how integrating observability solutions allowed the team to gain real-time insights, proactively troubleshoot issues in-flight, and enhance overall system reliability—ultimately ensuring a seamless, safe, and enjoyable passenger experience.

Using the lessons from FlytEDGE, you'll be equipped to make your own systems more resilient to adverse network conditions, whether in the clouds or on the ground.