All,
Nice comments about the FEGA boys from Montreal.
I can say that certainly, f:wz was pitched; but only when asked which system in our expert opinion, after visiting many airlines and working with/evaluating many systems, was the best at producing the most optimized cost solution for a particular flight.
The reason why f:wz stands out is its architecture; it has the performance to produce truly 4D optimized CI managed speed solutions which the legacy systems (like Jeppesen, EDS, Sabre, Lido, Navtech) lack.
Give it a CI value and it will produce the best solution the industry has to offer at this time- change that CI value and re-optimization laterally and vertically will produce a different optimum solution. Set a RETA and the new solution will show a new, optimized CI value to program into the FMS.
And all this dynamically, not based on interpolation of legacy Mach tables values.
The longer-range the operation, the higher the optimization/savings per sector as compared to legacy systems.
These savings can be vastly more than what the systems costs extra compared to others, but only an on-site evaluation can produce any number to take to the bank.
Now, if your operation still relies on fixed Mach flying- don't bother spending money on a top-shelf system, stay with whatever you're using because obviously there is no interest in operational savings.
Honestly, I'm not selling the system, merely pointing out why I like it.
I can recall a DEL-NYC B777 sector where f:wz produced a 45-minute shorter route than the (legacy) in-use system; the old route was via Northern Europe, but f:wz produced one via the Mediterranean. Awsome.
Fuel and operational efficiency goes a lot further than limiting additional fuel or tuning a fuel policy. It's about total cost of the operation and this is where f:wz produces great input for the larger cost picture (delays, etc.).
Do yourself a favor and buy the IATA Fuel Book Ed. 3 from their website.
No, I don't get a commission, but it'll be the best $400 or so that you'll ever spend if your goal is to increase operational efficiency.
It's a good place to start.
Max