Flight Planning providers???
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Flight Planning providers???
Can any of you good ops people out there recomend a decent flight planning provider for medium range operations.
I'm sure there are a number of companies, Sita , Jepp etc. would like to get some feedback before taking the plunge.
Cheers.
I'm sure there are a number of companies, Sita , Jepp etc. would like to get some feedback before taking the plunge.
Cheers.
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Hi Skytrucker,
The company I work for uses SITA for our flight planning and flight watch.
My advice is TAKE AVOIDING ACTION!!!!. The ammount of problems we have had recently have driven us round the bend.
I think the main problem is the method of communication with their main system is antiquated and unreliable. Also, if we have to plan a route that is not pre loaded, we have to use a tool called the Automatic Route Builder. This is supposed to produce the best possible route but nine times out of ten it sends back total cr*p and routes that fail Eurocontrol.
As far as I'm concerned, it's more trouble than it's worth, but then I am sure that someone must find it OK.
Good luck
The company I work for uses SITA for our flight planning and flight watch.
My advice is TAKE AVOIDING ACTION!!!!. The ammount of problems we have had recently have driven us round the bend.
I think the main problem is the method of communication with their main system is antiquated and unreliable. Also, if we have to plan a route that is not pre loaded, we have to use a tool called the Automatic Route Builder. This is supposed to produce the best possible route but nine times out of ten it sends back total cr*p and routes that fail Eurocontrol.
As far as I'm concerned, it's more trouble than it's worth, but then I am sure that someone must find it OK.
Good luck
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Skytrucker
I have used SITA for the past 10 years and overall they are very good. Back up is excellent, 24/7 and the guys on the help desk are all qualified FAA dispatchers or Ops bods. SITA airport data is also one of the best I have used and is approved/used by Boeing and Airbus themselves.
Have previously used Jepps and Air Data but overall prefer SITA.
Opsdog
All suppliers have their faults, but all I can say is that SITA have at the last count, over 230 airlines worldwide using the system, so it cant be all that bad. Yes the ARB was/is dodgy but I understand there is a new Nav Data base being Beta tested with a European airline which is showing good results and should be on line early next year. Amongst other enhancements, the system will alert the user if a notam closes an airway on an already filed or calculated CFP and then do a re-rte if required. "Which is nice".
I have used SITA for the past 10 years and overall they are very good. Back up is excellent, 24/7 and the guys on the help desk are all qualified FAA dispatchers or Ops bods. SITA airport data is also one of the best I have used and is approved/used by Boeing and Airbus themselves.
Have previously used Jepps and Air Data but overall prefer SITA.
Opsdog
All suppliers have their faults, but all I can say is that SITA have at the last count, over 230 airlines worldwide using the system, so it cant be all that bad. Yes the ARB was/is dodgy but I understand there is a new Nav Data base being Beta tested with a European airline which is showing good results and should be on line early next year. Amongst other enhancements, the system will alert the user if a notam closes an airway on an already filed or calculated CFP and then do a re-rte if required. "Which is nice".
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Hey FL460
You wouldn't happen to work for said company would you?
"new Nav Data base being Beta tested with a European airline which is showing good results and should be on line early next year. Amongst other enhancements, the system will alert the user if a notam closes an airway on an already filed or calculated CFP and then do a re-rte if required. "Which is nice".
My understanding is that the New Nav Database is well overdue and just does not work.
I am sure SITA's sales people would tell us any old crap if they thought they could make a few bucks.
Oh, and since when did an FAA dispatcher not know what a Max Brake Release Weight was. Because the guy I spoke to on the helpdesk just did not have a clue.
More sales speak!!
You wouldn't happen to work for said company would you?
"new Nav Data base being Beta tested with a European airline which is showing good results and should be on line early next year. Amongst other enhancements, the system will alert the user if a notam closes an airway on an already filed or calculated CFP and then do a re-rte if required. "Which is nice".
My understanding is that the New Nav Database is well overdue and just does not work.
I am sure SITA's sales people would tell us any old crap if they thought they could make a few bucks.
Oh, and since when did an FAA dispatcher not know what a Max Brake Release Weight was. Because the guy I spoke to on the helpdesk just did not have a clue.
More sales speak!!
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Opsdog
I dont work for them but have conections on "the inside", besides, as stated in my prevuious post I am a user of the system and attend the user group meetings.
Yes the New Nav is overdue but my info I have is as I stated on my previous.
And.... if you had read my post, I also stated that apart from qualified FAA dispatchers there are experianced Ops bods as well.
As I beleive this is a country of free speech I only offered my opion based on 25 years exeperience in this business. It would interesting to know how long you have been doing this?
Toodle pip
I dont work for them but have conections on "the inside", besides, as stated in my prevuious post I am a user of the system and attend the user group meetings.
Yes the New Nav is overdue but my info I have is as I stated on my previous.
And.... if you had read my post, I also stated that apart from qualified FAA dispatchers there are experianced Ops bods as well.
As I beleive this is a country of free speech I only offered my opion based on 25 years exeperience in this business. It would interesting to know how long you have been doing this?
Toodle pip
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Thanks to all for your honest opinions. Didn't want to start a war though between Opsdog and FL460.
I am sure that there are many with good and bad experiences of different companies, so it's good to hear both sides.
Thanks Courtman, I'll put it to my colleagues and will probably pick your brains further.
I am sure that there are many with good and bad experiences of different companies, so it's good to hear both sides.
Thanks Courtman, I'll put it to my colleagues and will probably pick your brains further.
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FL460
In answer to your question, I came into ops ten years ago after losing my Class 1 medical.
I have a thirty year background in aviation from being a flying instructor to 9,500 hrs on large transport aircraft.
Although I do not hold an FAA Dispatchers License, I think I have a fair idea how things work by now.
I did not mean to belittle the helpdesk staff at SITA, I normally find them very helpful and knowledgeable especially when it comes to what can only be termed as the user unfriendly interface with their system.
I think that the person I had problems with on the helpdesk was probably a trainee, as he seemed to have less an idea of how the system worked than myself and my staff. (And not meaning in any way to be racist, we all work in a global environment, he did have a problem speaking english).
Anyway, I do not want to get into a war with anybody but I can only express my view about the SITA flight planning system to somebody that has asked for it. Where would Skytucker be if we all waxed lyrical not wanting to upset anyone!
In answer to your question, I came into ops ten years ago after losing my Class 1 medical.
I have a thirty year background in aviation from being a flying instructor to 9,500 hrs on large transport aircraft.
Although I do not hold an FAA Dispatchers License, I think I have a fair idea how things work by now.
I did not mean to belittle the helpdesk staff at SITA, I normally find them very helpful and knowledgeable especially when it comes to what can only be termed as the user unfriendly interface with their system.
I think that the person I had problems with on the helpdesk was probably a trainee, as he seemed to have less an idea of how the system worked than myself and my staff. (And not meaning in any way to be racist, we all work in a global environment, he did have a problem speaking english).
Anyway, I do not want to get into a war with anybody but I can only express my view about the SITA flight planning system to somebody that has asked for it. Where would Skytucker be if we all waxed lyrical not wanting to upset anyone!
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Opsdog
No problems
You beat me on the flying hours, and its good to see someone from the flight deck doing ops. Now you know what we have to put up with
Skytrucker
Good luck with what ever you choose.
No problems
You beat me on the flying hours, and its good to see someone from the flight deck doing ops. Now you know what we have to put up with
Skytrucker
Good luck with what ever you choose.
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Try the fllwg link for further info:
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...highlight=lido
Good luck
EB
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...highlight=lido
Good luck
EB
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srs what?
To correct your "several" comment. Only 2 SITA customers have left us to go to NavTech. Both were due to 2004 budget contraints and were not a problem with the service as such although the delayed release of NewNav was cited by one as a contributary factor.
As the designated sales person for SITA's Flight Operations Portfolio in Europe you can't get any closer to insider knowledge as I was closely involved in both of them. The two operators were both European based.
With very few credible startups in my region, and globally for that matter, the only way to grow our business is to target existing users of competitor systems (preferred option) or persuade existing customers to increase their use of our services by utilising the Supplimentary options such as Flight Plan Uplinking, Over Flight Charge Analysis, or Flight Briefing On-Line.
It is very much a case of some you win, some you loose. The trick is winning more than you loose and we have been doing pretty well over the 5 years I've been in the chair keeping the balance of power in our favour
FL460
Thanks for you words of support, much appreciated. To correct your "230" number it is now 246 and that includes the 2 signatures received in the last week.
Whooaahh!!!
To correct your "several" comment. Only 2 SITA customers have left us to go to NavTech. Both were due to 2004 budget contraints and were not a problem with the service as such although the delayed release of NewNav was cited by one as a contributary factor.
As the designated sales person for SITA's Flight Operations Portfolio in Europe you can't get any closer to insider knowledge as I was closely involved in both of them. The two operators were both European based.
With very few credible startups in my region, and globally for that matter, the only way to grow our business is to target existing users of competitor systems (preferred option) or persuade existing customers to increase their use of our services by utilising the Supplimentary options such as Flight Plan Uplinking, Over Flight Charge Analysis, or Flight Briefing On-Line.
It is very much a case of some you win, some you loose. The trick is winning more than you loose and we have been doing pretty well over the 5 years I've been in the chair keeping the balance of power in our favour
FL460
Thanks for you words of support, much appreciated. To correct your "230" number it is now 246 and that includes the 2 signatures received in the last week.
Whooaahh!!!
LIDO
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Whooaahh
When you leave your comfy sales position in Geneva, then maybe we will believe what you say in defence of SITA.
Until that time nobody in their right mind is going to take what you say seriously. (After all, who the hell believes a salesman!)
You are hardly going to bite the hand that feeds you.
When you leave your comfy sales position in Geneva, then maybe we will believe what you say in defence of SITA.
Until that time nobody in their right mind is going to take what you say seriously. (After all, who the hell believes a salesman!)
You are hardly going to bite the hand that feeds you.