Software solution for management of flying training and operation

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Phoenix AMS

(Aviation Management System)

Software solution for management of flying training and operation

A scheduling officer starts to plan the training schedule for the next day. With a short glance at the screens of Phoenix AMS the scheduling officer can gather relevant information about the status of the current training course and gets noti-fication about those trainees to be scheduled next. According to syllabus stu-dent pilot Bruno M. is supposed to make his first flight in the low level navigation phase. With just a few mouse clicks the scheduling officer puts Bruno M. onto next day´s flying schedule and assigns the flight instructor as well as the mis-sion profile, T/O time, route etc..

In the background the Phoenix AMS software checks that all prerequisites for the upcoming flight are met.

Query trainee:

Is he timewise available for this flight? Did he receive the required phase briefing?

Did he complete the required flight simulator training?

Query instructor:

Is he timewise available for this flight?

Is he qualified to instruct in this phase of flying? Does he have backseat landing currency?

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There are more evaluations carried out in the background. Only if all require-ments are met, a successful scheduling of the intended flight is possible. Other-wise Phoenix AMS will produce the respective warning indication.

The software is also used to file the flightplan, to perform statistic evaluations of the conducted flight and to document the grading of the student performance. Statistic evaluation and data presentation are possible with a variety of data-base outputs. A variety of filters can be set to present only those data which are relevant for the respective user groups.

Having just used the example above to demonstrate one of the main tasks of Phoenix AMS the following description will now introduce all contributing com-ponents.

2 System specifications

2.1 Personnel management

Phoenix AMS can be used to carry out the entire human resources planning of a flying unit.

This software is an ideal tool for unit commanders and scheduling officers to track availability of personnel for training and operation. Time schedule, curren-cy status and special qualifications of personnel can be called up on an individ-ual basis.

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2.2 Course administration

Phoenix AMS comprises all components necessary to successfully conduct training courses. The software allows a flexible structuring and supervision of syllabi, management of training courses and students, and supervision of course progression. This includes the compilation of gradesheets and their ad-ministration.

There are tools to manage currency syllabi and the automatic planning of the crew assignments. Commanding officers can easily keep track of the progress of trainees and staff personnel, as well as the progression of the entire training course.

The course management system comprises the academic part, the simulator training, and the actual flying training. In each phase of training Phoenix AMS is the connectional element to trace availability of training facilities, aircraft, and individual requirements of crew members.

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2.3 Operational planning/scheduling

Using Phoenix AMS the operations officer is able to create and change the daily duty-roster within a very short period of time. At the same time the management system checks the availability of the scheduled crews, their qualifications/pre-requisites for the upcoming mission and the aircraft configuration necessary for the particular sortie. In addition, environmental factors like weather and availa-ble airspace (departure routes, ranges, low level routes etc.) are taken into con-sideration.

The selection of crews and events is done by means of drop-down menus, which show available personnel in the upper area. Unavailable personnel is listed in the lower part of the roster on colored background. If personal qualifica-tions do not meet the requirements for a specific task, the scheduled event is highlighted. In general, however, the operations officer is given the possibility of a manual override.

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For scheduling of simulator sorties and academic training/briefings the availabili-ty of the necessary resources is checked and reservations are made automati-cally.

Phoenix AMS software keeps track of the adherence to the syllabus regulations and indicates if certain requirements for relevant phases of training are not yet met.

Semiautomatic scheduling for long term planning of training courses can be managed with the help of Phoenix AMS, considering the capacity utilization of simulator sorties, lecture rooms etc.. This feature takes into account both the needs of training courses as laid down in the syllabus and the requirement of staff crews to fulfill their annual TCTP.

2.4 Currency supervision

An important contribution to flight safety is the supervision of aircrew currencies (regular renewable qualifications). Phoenix AMS tracks the validations of crew currencies. Since currencies may differ between operational units, the software allows the individual definition of currencies with respect to the operational role of the unit.

TCTP requirements, color states and other qualifications are parameters to be considered and indicated to the scheduler during his planning.

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There is the possibility to automatically assign crew members to a re-currency syllabus if their currency has expired. The associated events for syllabus com-pliance are listed as well as the required prerequisites like simulator sorties and briefings.

2.5 TCTP supervision

Phoenix AMS software tracks the inputs for the current version of the TCTP. TCTP events, which are logged with the sign-in of a flown sortie, are recorded for each individual crew member. The data can be retrieved anytime for evalua-tion purposes.

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An automatic surveillance of the academic TCTP is also carried out as long as the lessons are conducted in the form of computer based training (CBT).

An integration of a new TCTP version is possible without any problems. This has already been demonstrated during a pilot project.

The modular design of Phoenix AMS allows the user to apply modifications at his own discretion without the need of programming skills. Thus the system pa-rameters can be kept up to date with respect to changes of regulations and re-quirements.

At the same token it is possible to implement new TCTP events and to set up corresponding assessment rules.

2.6 TCTP evaluation

Reports with a flexible layout are used to present the evaluation of TCTP data. All stored data can be presented starting from simple listings up to forecast cal-culations with respect to a predetermined date.

Data access can be limited to certain individuals or groups of authorized per-sonnel.

2.7 Personal flight data processing

Phoenix AMS supports the gathering and assessment of personal flight data (flying hours, instrument flying time, approaches, landings etc.).

Data summaries of delegated crews from other units can be entered into the system. Phoenix AMS automatically keeps them up to date with each new post flight sign-in. If needed those data can be extracted and printed in a specified form (Form 5).

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2.8 Reporting

Data reports to be circulated can be generated automatically or manually ac-cording to requirements. When called up, those reports are displayed on the screen and can be printed or exported in various formats such as pdf, xls, HTML or TIFF.

Report examples: TCTP reports, personnel availability reports, number of sor-ties per time period reports, crew currency status reports, daily/weekly flying schedule reports etc.

2.9 Mobile operation

Phoenix AMS software will run on a customary notebook. This stand-alone op-eration enables the user to carry out all opop-erational planning even during pe-riods of detached operation without internet access. Required data will be stored on the notebook prior to the operation and will be continuously updated for the remainder of the detachment. On return to the home base those data will be synchronized with the database of the home server.

It is possible to freely define several detached locations within one database. Using filters, only data required for the relevant location can be indicated.

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3 Operational- and data security

3.1 Redundancy

Phoenix AMS has been introduced to the German Air Force and has passed several acceptance tests by the Federal Office of the Armed Forces Germany for Information Management and Information Technology (IT-Amt) and a variety of users. It is in operation with the German Air Force Flying Training Center at Holloman AFB for almost ten years. A test version has also proved reliability at the JG 71 “R” fighter wing for several years. The database system has proven itself to be very stable and fail-safe.

For data security, automatic backups are carried out on a daily basis. A long term maintenance contract and a hotline service take care of any residual risk.

3.2 Admission of access

Access to Phoenix is controlled via user privileges and individual passwords. Defined roles and rights ensure the limitation of access for individual users to authorized data only. Depending on the user role, data access may be restricted to certain areas or even pages of the system only.

3.3 System maintenance

A long term support and maintenance contract is in effect to keep this officially implemented software up-to-date. Near-term modifications can be applied if ne-cessary upon demand of the customer.

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4 Criteria for Installation

4.1 Network requirements

There are no special requirements to use Phoenix AMS software in a local area network. Within a 10 Mbit test environment the operating speed of the software has shown a satisfactory performance.

4.2 Customer environment

Prior to the software installation the existing hardware and software environment of the prospective user is analyzed and adaptations are made if necessary. Fol-lowing the installation of the Phoenix AMS software a database will be generat-ed with already existing data. Finally the system will be adjustgenerat-ed to fit the opera-tional needs, and rights of system access will be assigned.

The subsequent preparatory training will be performed separately for different user groups. Scheduling officers, aircrews, flying operations staff and system administrators are trained to cope with their individual tasks.

Based on the premise of a final acceptance test by the customer Phoenix AMS will be cleared for operational use.

Software solution for management of flying training and operation

Phoenix AMS

Table of contents

1 Introduction

2 System specifications

3 Operational- and data security

4 Criteria for Installation