CREW PLANNING AND TRACKING SYSTEMS
 

Hello!

What sort of crew planning / tracking applications are you guys using? Any benefits of one over the other ?

Any suggestions for internet sites promoting their product?

We have about 120 flight crew with mixed ratings, and need to have a practical system to crew plan as well as to track - getting just a little to large for china graphs and boards!!

Will need to work in tandem with around 23 a/c.

Any and all suggestions, including comments on actual applications used would be very welcome.

"Your only safe as a non-rev when the doors are closed...the gear doors, that is...."

null

AIMS - Can't beat it :cool: Don't touch ACROBAT - it's PANTS :mad:

ummm - really need to decide what it is you want from a system. Any company that offers this type of system should not object to suppling users that you can go and chat to for their imput.
Main contenders:
Aims - based in ATH
RM - base in UK
Acrobat - base in UK
If you want any other feedback, do feel free to send me a PM (Private message)

Ditto with Cat-Club...

AIMS - excellent
ACROBAT - sh!te

RM are actually based in Stockholm but have offices in London and Paris. Try their website www.rmrocade.com for product info.
BTW, we used to have AIMS. Wouldn't let them through the door now!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Beware of the promises.

OO-AOG

Check out Geneva a package from the kiwi wizards down under......widely used in that region & is about to start up in Europe. I believe it is a little more cost effective than those mentioned by those before me, but equally as good....maybe better.

If you want further info, contact me by email at [email protected]

The website is www.geneva.co.nz

:D :D

Make sure you check out Geneva, a great product from NZ that seems to be first choice Downunder.

[ 18 October 2001: Message edited by: S Kitten ]

Hello

Currently using Sabre Aircrews!

Does anyone else use this and what are your views

I was always under the impression that software suppliers could tailor their product to suit, to a certain extent...

OO-AOG

Acrobat is used at both Monarch and Excel Air
and has consistantly been praised for many a year. It also comes at a more attractive price than AIMS and RM Rocade.

RM and AIMS feature amongst many charter, scheduled and freight Airlines in the UK, probably a 50% split. Most Airlines seem happy with the above, although not to the extent of Arcobat! (and i dont work for Mon)

Last and most important mention is that any systems are only as good as the users!!.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Well to me you either work for Acrobat or now someone who works for them. From people i have spoken to about acrobat it is very un user friendly and a little out dated, as the computer age has improved over the last ten years Acrobat seems to have stayed in the Ice age, and does not have all or as many or in fact none of the features the others offer. So how can you say this is a wonderful system. (open your eyes and have a look around). Best place for it Deepest Africa. :D :D :D :eek: :eek: :eek:

Sorry chaps, but Geneva is total crap!

It don't work.

If you do speak with Forte, ask them about the "Optimisation engine"!

Swiz

Neither to either working for acrobat or knowing someone there, just what i hear on the grapevine. Simple fact is that Acrobat
(from what i've heard) does a lot more things than the others, might be unfriendly and dated but its the basics that are important. It copes with automatic crew assignments miles better than RM and matches AIMS. It was the first with e mailing rosters to crews and is well liked by the CAA.
When you look at the moans and groans from other Airlines, VS looking at RM, BMi all other the place with selction and user issues, Air2 rumoured to have looked at other systems, Airtours switching from AIMS to RM and so on. The only reason I
mentioned acrobat is that MON have constantly praised it since day 1 whereas everyone else seems to moan and groan about their systems.
The fact that MON has 3? Rosterers for 1500? crew speaks for itself.

And No I dont work for MON

:mad: :mad:

Harsh words from Mr Laptop - perhaps stung with a bad roster request somewhere along the line? :( :(

I've worked with Geneva & others & am definitely in favour of it - modern feel,user friendly as does the business, quickly & efficiently. :D :D

No favourtism because there are some excellent products around but a look would be worthwhile. Unfortunately most cost a crap load to purchase. :confused: :confused:

Mr Angry - I've yet to work with Acrobat but words over a pint with crew schedulers indicate it got left in the 80's somewhere - not sure if that was 1980's or 1880's. Very cumbersome....as I say though have yet to use so only go by frequent haresay. :eek: :eek:

bmi used Acrobat for several years, used to auto assign flying duties by R2 for the Fokker fleet and worked better than the present system. It is old and basic but it does work reasonably well. Only used by Crew Records now.

Hi there,
discussion on what system is best. As mentioned in previous replies it all depends on what airline size you are, how many planes, how many crews and for what you would like to use the system for.

Experience in "Softouch" (old, now Mercury) and AIMS.
If you are looking for a product that takes care of a Crew Planning, Crew Control, Aircraft Planning, Aircraft Day-to-Day Movement Control, Truck Planning and Control you might wish to take a serious look at AIMS. http://www.aims-inc.com will get you there.

No I don't work for AIMS - i am just a well advanced user of the product and love it.

Cheers ;)

Hav eyou had a look at TopAir? - pretty good system by www.aerocomputer.ch

Hi All

Aims, look at a few before deciding, AIMS by far is the best for our operation approx 750 crew 20 aircraft. Using it for Ops / crewing / Rostering. Excellent on reports and user friendly. No major complaints from the users and support from AIMS very good.

Dakar

Seems like alot of you like AIMS which does have a good product and a good technical platform with Oracle and MSSequel however let down by the poor after-sales/support in our experience. Geneva, is perhaps too new on the block to have a track record especially in Europe - and with no office in Europe difficult to see how well it will be supported - but again platform is good - MSSequel. RM has been good and seems to have probably more than half the UK market but is let down on platform and development is snails pace - They are also closing UK office! Acrobat has its fans but platform and technically they are a dinosaur. Lufthansa has a good product with typical German efficiency! Others include Sabre (poor on crewing and megabucks), Atraxis, Mercury(SITA promoted),SBS, Borneman etc...
Thats about it... As others have said it's horses for courses and what you need - you may not need sophisticated optimisers. Keep in mind the after sales support - the best systems are useless if there is no support - ideally local support. ;)

After sales support is perhaps one of the most important issues to consider after operational needs have been met. Also bear in mind the fact that you will, if you get one of the larger systems, probably need someone to manage the system once you have it through the door.

Before selecting spend a lot of time speaking with operators who have the system already and who match your type of operation, ensure you IT bods are part of the selection process.

The above posts give quite a balanced view on most systems. My expereince is that none of them are perfect but you can make a system fit your type of operation.