Flight Planning - Jetplan Vs Universal

[Envoy604]

General Question.

Currently using Jetplan but was wondering about Universals product. Anyone familar with both? Preferences, advantages disadvantages etc

Thanks

[SENFLYER]

Its been a few years since I used the Universal System but from what I remember Jetplans was the easier to use but the univ system is more comprehensive especially for weather.

[merlinxx]

Don't forget UV is a JETPLAN customer as well I believe. UV started with WX don't forget way back when dear old (long gone) Tom Evans started the co for Mex Gulf oil traffic. I am biased, I still consider Jetplan the best, Metplan 2nd to UV, but with new Vector WX maps, who's to judge but the end user.

[refplus20]

The advantage I see Jetplan has over the competion is the pricing structure. As well as producing flight plans in so many formats, you also have the option of a fixed monthly fee to run as many flight plans as you need, and that takes care of the ones that do not run at the first attempt. BTW, I do not work for Jeppesen, but have used their system for about 15 years now so am slightly biased. :ok:

[merlinxx]

U nearly as old as I, have used Jetplan/Metplan (Lockheed/Jeppesen) since 1980.Now used by the majority of NATO Air Forces as well OZ & NZ as well as civil. Keep up the good work.

[Envoy604]

Thanks all. Didn't realise that Universal ran off JetPlan. I also like the idea of the monthly bill with running as many plans as you need to get it right!

Cheers

[farmer jo]

I have used both for many years. Personally I think Universal are far better. We stopped using Universal because of the cost, and went to Jet plan and then went back to Universal because the fuel flight planning was so bad with Jetplan. With Universal we did all our own flight planning, filing , slots etc over the internet, we could refile and replan on the airplane without having to talk to anyone. I don't know if this service is avaiable with Jetplan. Universal is more expensive but can be tailored to your needs, but I believe a better all round service ? It's the first time I have heard Universal use Jetplan - if they do they have certainly improved it !

ATP

[CL300]

Totally agree, except the price UV is much better !! figures are more accurate.

[JBGA]

JetPlan performance calculations are derived purely from the manufacturers specifications in the aircraft manual. Due to a number of factors such as aircraft age, ATC manouvers and piloting style the actual performance of an aircraft on a live operation can differ to that quoted in the manual.

Jeppesen prefers not to account for such discrepancies automatically, therefore some users may experience that fuel burns calculated by the system are lower than the actuals. The answer is to have the performance data of the aircraft you have stored in the system adjusted to your preference - particularly in the climb and descent phases where the greatest discrepancies are often found. If anyone is unhappy with the fuel burn figures produced by JetPlan I suggest they contact their account manager or the customer service team who can talk you through the process of adjusting the performance on a temporary or permanent basis.

Ben Watkins
Jeppesen UK

P.S. I'm not really in a position to comment officially but to my knowledge UV no longer use JetPlan. They used to but not for many years now.

[refplus20]

Ben. I seem to remember that one option in the sign up to UV services was to use the Jetplan system for your flight plans as opposed to using UV's own system. If you did opt to Jetplan in UV then you had to supply your JP logon details etc. to UV.
;)

[merlinxx]

BW you came out, shame on you, still you're still correct, some JP users do not use the full ability of the system. I still consider it the best. Whens my recurrent SVP!

[the bald eagle]

I think you will find now is Navtech supplying the code for UV with a different front end on it...They came up with some deal uv & Navtech regarding how they could improve their businesses with out losing their identities..UV are for the corporate market were by Navtech go for the commercial both are still sh!t (to many fingers needed to make a simple plan) and both highly expensive but do have that tailored option for fixed costs, but then all planning companies do that now (well most)

Still think Air Data is best...one thing me and merlinxx won't agree on!
Now like any good ops officer - i'm off down the pub!!:) :) :) :) see ya

[JBGA]

>BW you came out, shame on you.....

I know.......! I have to be careful in here though. We have strict policies on ethical working practice at Jeppesen and I don't think posting anonymously on a public forum about business matters would be right. At least you know we are listening to what people say about us though!! :)

[merlinxx]

Yup agree, I was part of it for a looong time old chap, you stll flying?. PM me.

[glexdriver]

We use Airdata throught Baseops and we are happy with that. But we would like to be more indipendent specially for the domestic planning. We use regulary UV for other services (handling and TSA). How is the calculation specially in europe from UV??

[chevvron]

Wish you guys wouldn't use ANY of these agencies; they all continually file incorrect departure routes from my airport. Just because we're in class G airspace does NOT mean you can file any random route which gets you to your destination; standard departure routes (SDRs) are published in the UK AIP and must be programmed in your FMS otherwise it's YOU who has to hurriedly re-programme just after departure when you could do without the extra workload.

[CL300]

chevvron Wish you guys wouldn't use ANY of these agencies; they all continually file incorrect departure routes from my airport. Just because we're in class G airspace does NOT mean you can file any random route which gets you to your destination; standard departure routes (SDRs) are published in the UK AIP and must be programmed in your FMS otherwise it's YOU who has to hurriedly re-programme just after departure when you could do without the extra workload.

But this is England, If England coud do simple flying it would be well known. UK is a disaster for aviation, with a lot of NON phraseology, and a lot of Umbrellas like ' radar coverage limited to Advisory due to equipement limitations' , and a thousand others.... Radar to radar hand-over, cloud break VFR, 'cleared to enter controlled airspace'', ' Leaving controlled airspace, radar service terminated' a lot of talks, for no safety. THEN, ATC gets mad when you fly a VNAV departure and when they read your ASEL, they see the last level of the SID! Guess what ? It is a potential Level Bust !!!! :rolleyes: :hmm:
SO do not use any of the provider for your local departure, I will be interested to see how the city-pairs RAD is linked from your ADEP...Fly safe and breathe..

[JBGA]

Chevron - Just wondering what airfield you are referring to in your post? We've got all of the SDR's for Biggin and Farnborough loaded in to JetPlan so it should be picking them up. We might not have anything for some of the smaller locations (Shoreham, Redhill, Goodwood etc.) because the system is never used for those AD's.

[Opslackey]

Oye..BW !...Is this your final revelation before you scarper off to better things ?
(still in the closet but also in the sunshine)

[cressidom]

FBOL - flight breifing on line (SITA) ...they have a good setup as well - Cost an arm and a leg though !!

[NorskAir]

I highly recommend taking a look at Arinc Direct. Most of the flight plan providers uses Sabre for flight plan computations, so the output is essentially the same. Arinc has a easy to use web format, comprehensive Runway analysis by APG and a very good pricing structure. We have used it for our CL-300 for the past 2 years and we have been very pleased with the product.In the past we have used Universal, Jeppesen and GDC and Arinc is by far the better product.

[JBGA]

Just to clarify.....JetPlan is not based on Sabre. The history of JetPlan lies in a system written by Lockheed but Jeppesen has invested more than 20 years development in to the system since then.

[flexy]

definately UV, have used most of the others and nothing comes close. The End.