This afternoon we set up the printer in the tower and got it fully working.
Here's a video showing the flight details being entered in to the Excel system and the print out to the printer.
Initially we plan to trial this with PPR requests via phone (Inbounds and Outbounds calling up on RT will still be written by hand).
It should be noted that whilst the flight details are being entered in the VCR in this video, the reception staff have a similar Excel system and can also key in the details when they take PPR requests by phone - these print out in the VCR and should therefore reduce the need for phone calls to the FISOs thereby reducing distraction.
In time we may introduce the ability for pilots to 'book out' using this system, rather than a paper based record as is used now. The system already keeps an archive of all strips generated.
A further future development may be to couple this up to the online PPR form on our website, such that when someone fills in their details a strip will be produced. That needs some interaction between Outlook and Excel though and so needs some further research !
Thanks again for everyone's help !
