Touching on the dramatic possibilities of Rockwell Collin’s ARInCDirectSM Flight Operations System
Connectivity, mobile devices and remote hosting have revolutionised flight operations, with easy, global accessibility, near real-time updating where connection allows and interfacing with a broad variety of MRO and other software systems. Rockwell Collins’ offers the ARINCDirectSM Flight Operations System (FOS), a comprehensive suite capable of simplifying complex planning operations and providing users with a variety of access options.
The system is available through Essential, Professional and Enterprise subscription, optimised for companies of increasing size. James Harvey, Senior Manager of Technical Support, ARINCDirect Flight Operations System, explains: “Each can be hosted by the customer or include application hosting in Rockwell Collins’ secure data centre. The first year of FOS subscription includes implementation and consulting by application and industry experts. Each package also offers a number of days of on-site training at the customer facility, or on one of our dedicated courses. The subscription packages offer different options to include mobile licenses as part of the subscription or ad-hoc for smaller operations.”
How do flight operations personnel typically access FOS and is it available through mobile devices? Is it updatable in real time and how are the rights to input/change data managed? Is the product cloud based?
FOS is a native application that resides on a server either in the customer’s facility, with a third party hosting provider, or in Rockwell Collins’ secure data centre. When hosted, flight operations personnel can access it through any internet connection. In partnership with Stellar Labs Inc, we’re in the process of developing a web-based, next generation scheduling software in the cloud. Our new approach with Stellar Labs makes this possible by creating a cloud-based global system that supports fast, robust and highly secure collaboration at every level.
Today, business aviation data is stored in thousands of traditional, disparate systems. The new platform will eliminate that issue by leveraging Stellar’s cloud infrastructure and replicated data centres, and the industry benchmark features of FOS.
Rockwell Collins’ FOS mobile is a native iOS application for both iPad and iPhone. It allows personnel to view flight details and/or submit important information to the core application. When an internet connection is not available, the offline mode queues messages to update when connectivity is restored.
Does FOS interface with MRO management software? Does it feed logged issues back into the maintenance schedule?
FOS has an interface with most of the major MRO providers. This allows users to view, track and submit maintenance items from both core FOS and the mobile application.
FOS appears to provide a complete trip support facility for crew and aircraft, including crew scheduling data, hotels, transportation and more. Is this comprehensive data management facility also available for passenger information?
FOS can track a whole host of passenger information, including schedule, hotel, transportation, costs and more.
Text weather reports, NOTAMS and security warnings are also available through FOS. From where is the data sourced and is it available everywhere?
Weather and NOTAMS are available through the ARINCDirect flight planning software, which is provided and analysed from a variety of sources. It is a global database and can be provided for locations all over the world.
Can the system be interfaced with systems from other vendors – the WSI products from The Weather Company, OASES from Commsoft, for example, or an ERP system?
FOS currently has native interfaces with more than 80 third-party providers to include maintenance, flight training, charter marketplace, fatigue risk management, safety management systems, fuel and more. Our highest level of integration is with our ARINCDirect subscription services, providing document management, trip support services and flight planning. FOS offers the flexibility to export data in a number of formats compatible with internal customer or third party external systems.