Flight Planning software

[L-H]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The specialist aviation company I work for is searching for Flight Planning/Route Planning software. Our operation involves a lot of operations in remote places on detachments so we need something that is standalone as well as web based. At present we are using Flitestar which although is very good in a GA context does not fulfil our needs all that well. We have had some correspondence from PPS who's product looks rather impressive, but then that is the advertising blurb. Sita is inappropriate as our scale of operation does not warrant it and Jeppesen jetplan is the same.

Question is what other systems are out there that may fulfil our need and has anybody had any experience of PPS and their product.

Any guidance will be gratefully received.

[tony truand]

hi L-H,

use to be a PPS user for about 3 years. I do only know the old version (DOS based) not good looking appz but very efficient tool. High capability in route construction. Easy to customize product. Very nice for those who operate on remote area (laptop, standalone appz). I saw the 32bit beta version (looks great). The web crew briefing allow users to retrieve full crew briefing package from anywhere (Internet required). Now i'm using Skytrack (EDS). Another world...


Cheers

Tonytruand/LFBZ

[avfuelman]

Have a look at www.uvflightplanner.com - three week free trial offered I believe.

[L-H]

Thanks fellas. Tony can you give me an idea of Skytrack and the benefits you gain from that application. PM me if you are worried about saying anything contentious.

Again, your assistance is much appreciated.

L-H

[no sig]

L-H

You might want to take a look at Airdata.

[tony truand]

hello L-H
Nothing contentious between PPS and Skytrack. To my opinion, PPS is primarily devoted to biz-aviation but works fine for schedule flights airline if correctly customized. Skytrack is to be used 'as is' with some customized features but this product is mainly used by regional/international airlines. Actually we have a fleet of 14 B733QC operated on mixed network (cargo schedule flights and day charter flights) and Skytrack provides quick planning phase for cargo network. Skytrack is linked to our Flight Ops System (Netline from Lido) and daily worksheet (flight list) is auto generated. Specifications for day charter flight are slightly different. Cargo network is easy to plan (RPL's on domestic routes, night flights, no restrictions, etc..). Charter flights require very powerfull planning system. With Skytrack you may be able to plan a flight according to various criterias. You can compare differents routes for the same pairing (point A to B) and choose the best one according to your criteria (Time, Cost, ZFW, etc..). One year working with Skytrack and i must say we have saved a really impressive amount of fuel (€€€!!!). Calculations regarding fuel consumption are very precise. System allows to compute ETOPS flights as, Inflight planning.
Basically you may choose normal planning, DPP planning, cruise setting (fixed mach, cost index, Long range, Max range), actual weather or statistical datas etc.. depending on your ops requirements.
Sometines system is a bit optimist with flights planned near max ceiling at heavy weights. You may check fuel/cost analysis for each flight . Very precise against real costs. Our route catalogue is maitained by our ops engineer department but sometines we have to use graphical tools wich comes with Skytrack named FlightGlobe coordinated with Minimum Time Track module (inside Skytrack). Very easy/friendly to use. Module search best route (based on your criterias) in a very reasonable time. Very fast tool when you have to reroute to avoid restrictions (bloody slots ).
My conclusion is : Skytrack is very interesting/powerfull planning system for regional/long-haul airlines. PPS more biz oriented operations.
L-H : PM me if interested with documentation.
Regards
Tonytruand/LFBZ

[NorthCountryBoy]

When we changed from Flitestar a couple of years ago, within a week of speaking to Air Support about PPS they hopped over from Denmark in thier Seneca to demo the system and had us up & running (including on-site training) within the month.
The PPS/Crewbriefing system itself is more than adequate for our use, it's user friendly and the guys in support very helpful and receptive. Would have no hesitation in recommending it. We run it both in the office and remotely from laptops.
As you say, the advertising blurb makes it look impressive but we have found it to be everything it claims to be. I have met a number of European users on the PPS Seminars, from GA operator's, regional airlines and military - all of who seem to be very happy.
Feel free to PM me if you need any more info

[L-H]

Thanks again team. I like the look of PPS and it suits our style of op perfectly, although Flitestar also does the job, but adequately. From an ops perspective PPS seems the ideal tool, sadly I fear an uphill strugle with the beancounters!

[dispatchertara]

Hello from Canada. try www.navtechinc.com. Very user friendly and inexpensive. Talk to me I am one of the Operations Support dude.

DXR tara

[bacardi walla]

Originally Posted by L-H

Thanks again team. I like the look of PPS and it suits our style of op perfectly, although Flitestar also does the job, but adequately. From an ops perspective PPS seems the ideal tool, sadly I fear an uphill strugle with the beancounters!

Ah beancounters..... they love it when it's time to spend money on something that will eventually save them money

L-H you have a PM.

[Again?]

Sorry to jump in on this but maybe I can get some advice from you. I am a dyed in the wool user of all things Jeppesen but I have a CP who is now talking about a FPL system that gives FIR and en-route briefs in the PLOG. i.e. 10 mins before entry to Pakistan FIR contact freq ****.

Does anybody know what this software may be?