29
AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012 Flight Operations in Flight Dispatch GROUP ASSIGNMENT COMPUTING AND IT IN WORKPLACE (CITW) CT006-3-1-L-CITW 1

CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

This assignment involves investigating and researching an area of computing and information technology (CIT) in the workplace.

Citation preview

Page 1: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Flight Operations in Flight Dispatch

GROUP ASSIGNMENT

COMPUTING AND IT IN WORKPLACE (CITW)

CT006-3-1-L-CITW

INTAKE CODE: UC1F1203IT

DATE ASSIGNED: Week 2

DUE DATE: 23 JULY 2012

MEMBERS’ NAMES: HUSSEIN SAID SEIF AL-WAHAIBI

JEFFREY BOEY

IBRAHIM ANWAR

1

Page 2: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Table of ContentsAbstract.................................................................................................................................................6

Introduction...........................................................................................................................................7

Air Asia.............................................................................................................................................7

Flight Dispatch..................................................................................................................................7

Functionality..........................................................................................................................................8

Advantages of Flight dispatch system...................................................................................................9

1. Scheduled Airline operations.....................................................................................................9

2. Flight Planning...........................................................................................................................9

3. Economic Planning....................................................................................................................9

4. Flight Safety...............................................................................................................................9

Disadvantages of Flight Dispatch System...........................................................................................10

The daily plan is never flown completely as expected.....................................................................10

Impacts of Flight Dispatch System......................................................................................................10

Minimisation of Delays...................................................................................................................10

Minimisation of schedule disruption................................................................................................10

Safe Flights......................................................................................................................................11

Security Issues:....................................................................................................................................12

Viruses, worms and Trojan Horses..............................................................................................12

Denial of Service attack...............................................................................................................13

System Failure.............................................................................................................................13

System Protection............................................................................................................................13

Anti-virus software......................................................................................................................13

Creating a Recovery Disk............................................................................................................13

Files Back-up...............................................................................................................................13

Message encryption.....................................................................................................................14

Human Computer Interaction (HCI)....................................................................................................15

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) in AirAsia’s Flight Operation System....................................15

Health Concern from Human Computer Interaction (HCI)..........................................................15

Ergonomics..................................................................................................................................16

Internet Applications...........................................................................................................................18

2

Page 3: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................20

References...........................................................................................................................................21

Assessment Criteria

(100%)

Marks

Allocated

Marks

Given

GROUP

(70%)

a) Documentation Materials are presented professionally using correct grammar, punctuation spelling and length. Addressed report guidelines.

10

b) Coursework structuring Introduction

Main body

Conclusion/

Recommendation

10

c) Research & References Supporting research clearly explained and presented. Thoroughly lists references that are relevant to the topic.

This includes proper use of citation and referencing; following the Harvard Referencing System for all facts and diagrams used and evidence of research and reading.

10

d) Argument Coherence Paragraphs are in a logical sequence to the whole and flows logically into the next.

15

e) Group Analysis Justifications and analysis

Current scenario

25

3

Page 4: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Functionality

Advantages &

disadvantages

Impact of the technology

INDIVIDUAL

(30%)

f) Individual Analysis The similarities and differences with the lectured covered in this module

15

S1 S2 S3

g) Original Ideas & Critical Thinking Clear evidence of original ideas and critical thinking.

10

h) Research & References Supporting research clearly explained and presented. Thoroughly lists references that are relevant to the topic

5

Total Group Mark 70

Total Individual Mark 30

TOTAL MARK 100

AbstractIn this report, the author is going to explain a scenario that could benefit from using Computers and Information technology (CIT). The report is about Flight Operations in

4

Page 5: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Airline Company, Air Asia. The author will focus in one department of Flight Operations in Air Asia, which is the department of Flight Dispatch.

In addition, the author is going to explain in details about Flight Dispatch system, functionality of Flight Dispatch system, advantages, disadvantages, impact of Flight Dispatch system to the organisation, aviation industry as well as the customers which are the passengers. In this report, the author will explain the implementation of Computing and Information Technology in Flight Operations where in this report it is the Flight Dispatch.

However, in this research the author will also identify and discuss similarities and differences of the scenarios with the materials covered in the lecture of Computing and Information and Technology in Workplace (CITW). The author has chosen the lessons of Internet application, Human Aspect and Security.

Lastly, the author will recommend solutions to overcome any computing and Information problems in the scenario or enhance the current situation in the researched area.

5

Page 6: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Flight Operations in Flight Dispatch

IntroductionThis report is about investigating and researching an area of Computing and Information Technology (CIT) in workplace within an Organisation.

The Organisation chosen in this report is Air Asia, a Malaysian based low cost Airline and the scenario chosen is Flight Operations in the Flight Dispatch system.

Air AsiaAir Asia is a Malaysian based low cost airline based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. The carrier was formed out of Tune Air in 2002 and is led by CEO Tony Fernandez. Air Asia’s extensive domestic and Regional network includes services within Malaysia and to China, Southeast Asia and the subcontinent.

Air Asia is also Asia’s leading airline with a dream of making flying possible for everyone. It operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations in 20 countries.

Flight DispatchFlight Dispatchers are those responsible for keeping airplanes operate on schedule in an airline. Both the airline captain and the flight dispatcher are held jointly responsible for the safety of the flight. In cooperation with the pilot, the flight dispatcher creates a flight plan that enables the aircraft/airplane to arrive its destination on schedule with maximum payload and the least operating costs considering en route and destination weather, winds aloft, alternate destinations, fuel requirement and traffic flows.

A Flight dispatcher also known as Aircraft dispatcher authorises, regulates, controls and terminates aircraft flights in accordance with company and governmental regulations and policies to ensure safety. Flight Dispatchers are also responsible for the economics, operational control and passenger service requirements for daily flight operations.

An aircraft Dispatcher is authorised by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to delay, divert or cancel a flight if unsafe conditions pose a threat to safety of the aircraft, passengers, cargo or flight. They monitor weather conditions, aircraft positions reports, aeronautical navigation charts, aircraft radio calls to evaluate the progress and safety of the flight.

6

Page 7: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Fig 1: Image of Flight Dispatchers on job.

FunctionalityEach airline has one central facility from which it manages its flight activities. As for Air Asia, this main hub is at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. All decisions regarding the airline’s daily operation are made in the operational control centre by FAA licensed Aircraft Dispatchers working together with airline management and flight crews.

Flight Dispatchers use both Software and Communications in their operations. Communications include internet communications as well as radio communications like HF/VHF.

In Flight Dispatch operations, the dispatchers use SITATEX software to communicate with airline captains and pilots. SITATEX is a client-based software application that generates and receives Type B messages (the standard format for messaging in the aviation industry). It provides critical operational communications for the world’s airlines, ground handlers, GDS, airfreight and aerospace companies.

With SITATEX, messages and documents can be communicated via the Internet, IP networks and dial-up connections. These tasks are accomplished through an easy-to-use interface designed for the ATI operational messaging environment.

Flight Dispatchers in Air Asia also make the use of CIT in their work place for computerised flight planning, accessing weather information and NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) which is used to notify airmen the whereabouts of their next departure aerodrome. NOTAM is a scenario used in the Flight Dispatch Operations. One of the software they use for the flight planning is SABRE.

An Aircraft Dispatcher prepares flight plans with information including maximum allowable takeoff and landing weights, weather reports, field conditions, METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, PIREPs (all these are aviation scenarios and procedures), and other information required for the safe completion of the flight.

7

Page 8: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Advantages of Flight dispatch systemThe use of Computing and Information Technology has resulted to a lot of advantages to the Aviation Industry and has contributed a lot in the well-being of this industry. There are lots of advantages of flight dispatch system in an airline company like Air Asia. Some of the Advantages of Flight dispatch system are as follows:

1. Scheduled Airline operations.One of the most important things in an Airline company is to ensure that flights are operated as scheduled. Flight delays are one of the most irritating things in aviation industry which torment both passengers and Aviation Officials including Airport Officials, Airline Managers etc. In 2006, more than 20% of all scheduled flights were delayed in the US due to increase in air traffic. Using Computing and Information Technology in Flight Dispatch system helps a lot in flight operations like flight dispatch operations which results in keeping Airlines operate on schedule.

2. Flight Planning.Flight Planning is one of the important procedures done in Flight Dispatch operation system. In flight planning, which is done by the Flight dispatcher together with the respective aircraft captain, both flight dispatcher and aircraft captain considers en-route weather conditions, destination’s weather condition, alternate destinations in-case of emergencies and so on. All of these help in ensuring safety of the journey, on schedule flights and helps the Airline Company in knowing the requirements of the flight as well as minimise operating costs at the same time ensuring safety of the flight. Hence, the use of Computing and Information Technology in the flight planning processes contributes a lot in this field of aviation (The field of Flight dispatch and flight operations).

3. Economic PlanningAnother important task in the flight dispatch system which is one among the parts of Flight Operations in an Airline company like Air Asia is the Economic Planning. This is done by the Flight Dispatcher/Aircraft Dispatcher when scheduling and planning flight routines and path ways. Considering the air traffic, en-route and destination weather conditions, aircraft’s maintenance and other factors, flight dispatcher is enabled to cut costs of the flight by planning the best possible route to minimise the operational costs.

4. Flight SafetyIt is said that the safest transportation in the modern world is the air transportation. This is actually true because there are a lot of individuals working together as a group and communicating each minute to keep the aircrafts on air safe and reach their destinations on scheduled without colliding with one another. This is done by the Air Traffic Controllers at the air ports control tower, TRACON (Terminal Radar Control Approach) and also the flight dispatchers. Flight Dispatchers communicate with pilots in the Aircraft all the time to ensure safety of the flight but also to notify them on weather changes, routes as well as emergencies.

8

Page 9: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Computing and Information Technology plays an important part in doing so, where communications as well as GPS in Flight following are used. Flight Dispatchers follows the flight from the time of departure to landing at the destined airport where any technical errors/problems are recorded and warning alerts can be easily detected, hence safety of the flight is ensured.

Disadvantages of Flight Dispatch SystemThe main disadvantage in a Flight dispatch system is:

The daily plan is never flown completely as expectedThe daily flight plan and schedule is never flown completely as expected in the operation of an airline due to several reasons which are actually the constraints in the flight dispatch system. These constraints include weather, mechanical problems and labour.

Impacts of Flight Dispatch SystemFlight Dispatch system has a great impact towards the Aviation Industry, the airline company like Air Asia as well the passengers. The Flight Dispatch system has resulted into several positive impacts as well as negative impacts to the Aviation industry. Among the impacts of Flight Dispatch System, include the following:

Minimisation of DelaysIn the past years, the percentage of air traffic delays has decreased. This is due to the great impact of Flight Dispatch system in Airlines working together with Air Traffic controllers. Flight dispatchers have helped airlines to minimise delays in the airports hence reduce inconvenience to the passengers as well as the Airports management. Nevertheless, the reduction of delays by Airlines has resulted to avoid significant additional operational costs whereby delays of over 15 minutes can cause so.

The increase in percentage of delayed flights is caused in increasing air traffic due to the growth of Aviation Industry and air travel. Hence, Flight Dispatch system has resulted a huge impact in minimisation of such problems and Computing and Information Technology has played a great role to catalyse that.

Minimisation of schedule disruptionFlight Dispatch system which is operated in a large use of Computing and Information Technology has resulted in the minimisation of disruption of schedules in Air Asia as one among the leading Airline companies in the Aviation Industry.

The use of Computing and IT in flight operations (Flight Dispatch) is so critical in this era of Information Technology to the Air travel.

9

Page 10: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Safe FlightsThe fact that weather is always changing and it’s not constant makes it very difficult for Air travel to be safe. Air travel needs a very huge attention from all sectors responsible to make it safe. One among the important departments responsible for safety of an Aircraft is Flight Dispatch.

Flight dispatch has caused Air travel not only comfortable but also safe for the respective aircraft as well as other aircrafts in the airspace at that particular. The air traffic has increased in recent years due to the development of Aviation Industry and Air travel, flight dispatch has played an important role in prevention of collision during flights. Flight Dispatch system also prevents aircrafts to fly into undesirable weather conditions and can re-route a flight plans into safety routes.

10

Page 11: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Security Issues:Computer security risks are actions that cause loss or damage to a computer system. Like any other Organisation or Company, Air Asia faces several security issues and threats in their systems. The flight dispatch department is a very important and critical department in an aviation company like Air Asia and the Aviation Industry as well.

Since Flight Dispatch operations rely so much on internet as well, it is obvious that Air Asia’s flight dispatchers face a lot of online security threats which include threats like virus attacks, spam, phishing scams, denial of services attack, hackers and so on. Sometimes, even terrorists may hack to the flight dispatch system and use the information in attacking or hijacking an aircraft.

Together with Air Traffic Control systems, Flight Dispatchers may receive a lot of threats from the outside world into their systems and since these departments are very critical in the operations of the airlines, the airline companies like Air Asia needs a firm security system in order to minimise and avoid security threats which may endanger the lives of thousands of passengers relying on these people.

Among the security threats which Air Asia’s Flight Dispatchers face, include the following:

Viruses, worms and Trojan HorsesComputer Virus is an unwanted program in a computer device that can replicate itself and spread from one computer to another. They can spread as well as damage files in a computer. Viruses tend to interfere with computer operations, might also corrupt or delete data or even everything available on a computer.

Computer worms are stand-alone computer malware programs that are able to replicate themselves and spread over a network or the internet. They can possibly shut down a computer or a network. Worms spread automatically through email messages, networks or operating system vulnerabilities. They are not always destructive to computers but usually cause computer and network performance and stability problems.

Trojan Horses are malicious stand-alone programs that masquerade as legitimate file or application. They do not replicate themselves and look like legitimate programs until triggered.

All these, (viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, dishonest adware and other malicious or unwanted software) are referred to as malware, where they can be harmful to computer or even a network and cause either destruction or any other computer related problems to the infected computer device or network.

11

Page 12: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Denial of Service attackA denial of service attack is an attempt to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended user. The attack prevents legitimate users of a service to using that particular service. Denial of service attack is one of the ways which hackers use to attack.

Hackers use unsuspecting computers called zombie to execute attack on other systems. These attacks can cause communication break down within the Company where important information need to be shared for the safety of an aircraft. Hence, the DOS attacks can cause fatal effects if not prevented or dealt with as soon as it occurs.

System FailureSystem failure is a system malfunction. It can occur from hardware failure or severe software issue. A system failure will cause system to freeze, reboot or stop functioning. System failure can also be caused by aging hardware, natural disasters or electrical power disturbance.

System failure can cause a lot of consequences in an computing and IT dependant departments like flight operations including flight control, air traffic control, flight dispatch and so on. It can cause loss of hardware, software and also loss of important data.

System Protection.

Anti-virus softwareAnti-virus software is a software program which identifies and removes computer viruses in a system. It also protects the system against the viruses, worms and Trojan horses. The anti-virus software reads the virus signature which is the specific pattern (algorithm) of virus code. This pattern is also called virus signature.

Air Asia uses Anti-virus software in order to protect their systems from virus and other malware attacks. Among the popular Anti-virus programs include, AVG Anti-virus, Norton Anti-virus, McAfee Anti-virus, F-Secure Anti-virus etc.

Creating a Recovery DiskA recovery disk is removable disk that contains uninfected copy of key operating system commands that enables computers to restart. The recovery disk is also called a Rescue disk. Once computer restarts, antivirus program attempts to repair damaged files.

Files Back-upA back-up is a duplicate of a file, program or disk to another disk in order to save the files in case of System failure or corrupted files. Individual can restore the files by copying to original location.

Like any other Organisation, Air Asia practices a backup procedure. Back-up procedure is regular plan of copying and storing data and program files. Apart from the backup procedure,

12

Page 13: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

there’s also a disaster recovery plan. This is a written plan for restoring computer operations in events of disaster.

Air Asia, as one among the great Organisations which operate in Aviation Industry also keeps a Computer Security Plan. Computer Security Plan summarises in writing all safeguards in place to protect company’s information.

Message encryptionSince Air Asia’s flight dispatchers communicate crucial information with their pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Weather agencies as well as other dispatchers it is important that they secure their information so that any other unauthorised party to be unable to access that information.

Hence, Air Asia together with other Aviation departments encrypt their messages so that they secure the information.

13

Page 14: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Human Computer Interaction (HCI)Human Computer Interaction or Human Computer Interface are define as the decision, evaluation and implementation of interaction computing systems for human use and with the study of major phenomena surrounding them. There are 3 components in Human Computer Interaction or short term as HCI, firstly there is the human, computer and the interaction. Humans are the individual user, a group of users that work together and use the technology. It is also a sequence of user in an organization each dealing with some part of the task or process. However, computer are not just computer like desktop or laptops, but also the other technology ranging from general desktop to a larger scale of computer system. It is a process control or an embedded system. Lastly, interaction is the communication between the users and the computer. The computer system is design to support the people who are working there so that they can carry out activities productively and safely.

Human Computer Interaction (HCI) in AirAsia’s Flight Operation SystemThe human computer interaction or HCI in AirAsia’s flight operation system is that it concerned with the user performance and produce usable and safe system as well as functional system too. That is not all, the HCI in this system also improve safety, utility, effectiveness, efficiency, usability and simplicity. It is important for the flight operation system to remain its simplicity and still provide great performance. Simplicity helps the users to conduct activities or operations efficiently and with the ease of mind. Because the more clutter of the system, the users tend to lose attraction easily and by that, functionality and the performance output will decrease. The risks of system failure in this flight operation system are very low, because there is always a backup plan with all else fails. However, most errors or failures occurred due to human factor instead of technical factors. Flight operation system operates 24/7, because it covers many areas in flight operation, for an instance, the departure and landing of an aircraft, weather and GPS reports, communication from the air tower to the aircraft, sending information to the pilots via internet and so on.

Health Concern from Human Computer Interaction (HCI)Due to the constant operating system, it cannot be shut down for any purposes, thus, the people working in this department have to monitor and regulate it for long hours constantly. Some typically had consumes most of their time on the computer and monitor screens, causing some health concerns towards it.

Computer Vision Syndromes (CVS)The risk of Computer Vision Syndromes or CVS, which means the eye and vision problems, like blurry vision, would increase.

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

14

Page 15: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Despite the increase risk of Computer Vision Syndromes or CVS, there is also another increase risk of health towards the long hour users. It is called Repetitive Strain Injury or for short, RSI, due to the repetition of activities for long hours. There is 2 types Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI. Firstly, there is the Carpal Tunnel Syndromes which it causes inflammation of nerve that connects forearm to palm due to the pressure on the median nerve, especially when the user’s wrist is bent down (your hands lower than your wrist) or even making the same wrist movement repetitively. The feelings of tingling, numbness, weakness, or even pain in the fingers or hand are the symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndromes. Some people even experience pain in their arm between their hand and their elbow too. However, most often it occurs in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the ring finger. It is also a sign that if your little finger is fine but having problem such as pain or so on, on your other fingers. By shaking your hand may help to get relief from it. The other type of Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI is called tendonitis. It is an inflammation of tendon also due to repeated motion, for example, using computer mouse for a long period of time and so on. Here are some of the symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI. It often causes pain in the tissues surrounding a joint, especially after the joint is overused during work. In addition, the injured area may also be red, swollen and warm to be touch plus the feeling of weakness is also the main symptoms of Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI. One of the most common symptoms is the pain at the back of the wrist, near the base of the thumb.

Pains In The Back And NeckThere are also other heaths concerns of computer usage, other than the one that mentioned above, there are also high possibilities of back and neck pains due to the improper use of chairs and wrong ways of positioning keyboards and/or display screen.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)In the flight operation systems have lots of electrical devices, thus, the electromagnetic fields or EMFs are very strong due to the waves of electrical and magnetic energies generated by those electronic devices.

NoisesNot to mention the noises generated by those devices too.

ErgonomicsHuman Computer Interaction or HCI also covers the area of ergonomics. Ergonomics are applied science devoted to comfort, efficiency, and safety in workplace. In AirAsia’s flight operation systems, the workers had their keyboard at an optimum height which is 23”-28”. That is not all, they even had an adjustable backrest and seat with 5 legs to provide stability and comfort for the users who is going to work for long hours. While working in this flight operation system, most of the users practise good ergonomics, they had their feet flat and elbows 90 degree plus arms and hand parallel to the floor. However, green computing is not

15

Page 16: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

practice in this flight operation system. Most computers and electronic devices are always not turn off and running overnights.

PreventionsHowever, preventions are better than cure. There are ways to prevent the risk of the following above like Repetitive Strain Injury and Computer Visions Syndromes. By doing simple activities helps to prevent the risk above mentioned, for example, taking a 10-15mins break, look into the distance and focused on that object for 20-30seconds. Not just that, blinking every 5 seconds, resting your eyes for 1 minute and rolling your eyes also helps to prevent the risk of it. Try warming up the wrist before begin operating, because it is important to cool down and stretch after finishing operating. By learning and maintaining a good body posture also helps to prevent Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI.

16

Page 17: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Internet ApplicationsAir Asia is one of the low cost airlines which is a trademark of the ASEAN Countries. It is also considered the best low cost airline in the world. Flight Operations System of Air Asia is highly dependent on the internet applications it uses in the control tower and in the inflight functions. Basically all the communications in between the flight and the control tower is through the internet which sends two way signals enabling both the pilots in the aircraft and the people in the control tower to have effective communication.

Being the frontrunner in Low cost Transporter airlines Air Asia has made it obvious that they are installing Teledyne Controls Wireless Ground link Quick access Recorder (WQAR) on 25 new Airbus A330 aircraft and retrofit on 2 Airbus A-340 aircraft. Air Asia has also selected Air Asia’s flight Data Monitoring System (FDM) services for the replay and analysis of their flight data.

Air Asia X will organize Teledyne’s confirmed wireless technology through their complete fleets to automate the recording and air to ground wireless transmission of their aircraft statistics. The WQAR will also allow Air Asia X to transmit their ACMS (Aircraft Condition Monitoring System) reports from the aircraft inexpensively, at a fraction of the cost of sending the same information via ACARS

A significant new feature of Teledyne’s WQAR is the new Download on Demand (DoD) feature. This function will allow Air Asia X to remotely command flight data download wherever they need. Earlier acess to flight data, regardless of the airport destination, designated hub or gate. With the WQAR’s capability, the airline can collect critical flight data much faster from almost any airport worldwide and respond to potential issues in record time.

There is effective communication through the internet that provides cockpit email and SMS connectivity during the flight, flight following both downstream (i.e. the aircraft reporting automatically back to flight dispatch. Also it provides this service upstream which includes these components.(TAF/METAR, NOTAM, graphical SigMET, graphical SatWx updated in a push mode (no need for the pilot to request data they function automatically), system-internal hand shakes to promise completeness, accuracy and confirmed delivery of data, engineering and maintenance data support, AOC messaging,There are supplies in the method to support CPDLC data transmission, if essential at a later stage. All this can be supported by the present "low bandwidth" connection. There is nothing in terms of real-time connectivity missing that would be mandatory for a comprehensive clarification.While competence is one part, low operational cost is another, because AirAsia has succeeded in cutting their communications cost at the same time.

17

Page 18: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

It is vital to note that the airborne capability goes hand-in-hand with a "no cost" (in terms of data transmission) airport connectivity. This is the key, because today, many arguments for "broadband" are based on substantial data that is effectively transmitted from or to the aircraft at airports. A captain of Air asia was interviewed and he stated :For this I am briefed that there is no reason why KU or KA band "broadband" should be necessary for cockpit or engineering, neither from the cost nor from the capability point of view. Customer amusement is a different problem, but we favor to strictly isolate traffic here anyway. For hardware, In Air Asia, the drag induced by KU or similar antennas incurs a hefty petroleum/freight penalty. An Additional point to note is the simplicity of installation- the Iridium narrow-band system AirAsia uses employs a very small antenna only (flat, about 10cm diameter), and operates on low-power equipment. All this contributes to lower cost- while still giving 100% of the capability that is required, adjustable in 12h end to end. These are the applications that Air Asia uses which are namely Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system, the Teledyne’s Control Wireless Ground link Quick Access Recorder (WQAR) and Flight Data Monitoring System (FDM). These systems were developed under high level of supervision which enhance the communications between the flight dispatch department and the flight. It ensures greater reliability, efficiency and easy for the operators of the concerned

flight.

18

Page 19: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Conclusion

According to the research the author has gone through, it has been figured out that Flight Dispatch system is a very important department in the Aviation Industry and it is very critical in terms of security as well as Economics. Airline Companies like Air Asia are implementing Computing and IT in the workplace in order to improve the efficiency of the Operations. Also, Airline Companies are putting a lot of effort in the department of Flight Dispatch to ensure smooth operations of the company. Among these efforts which Airline Companies like Air Asia are taking to includes High Salary to the Flight Dispatchers.

In this report, the author has also realised the importance of Security in the field of Computer and Information Technology as well as Aviation Industry. Nevertheless, it has been realised how important Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is in the workplace. The human computer interaction in a workplace is extremely crucial not just for personal health purposes, but also the efficiency and safety of an individual and the organization.

19

Page 20: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

ReferencesAir Asia’s Corporate profile [Online], Air Asia, available at http://www.airasia.com/my/en/corporate/corporateprofile.page [Accessed 25 June 2012]

Air Asia’s profile [Online], Centre of Aviation, available at http://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/airasia-ak [Accessed 25 June 2012]

Airline Dispatcher work environment [Online], World Airline Dispatcher Schools, available at http://www.fltdisp.com/TheDispatchCareer/WorkEnvironment/tabid/58/Default.aspx [Accessed 25 June 2012]

Flight Dispatcher Jobs [Online], Avjobs.com, available at http://www.avjobs.com/careers/detail.asp?RecID=72#.UAy4nbQe55c [Accessed 25 June 2012]

Sitatex [Online], SITA, available at http://www.sita.aero/product/sitatex-software-developer%E2%80%99s-kit [Accessed 26 June 2012]

Virus [Online], Webopedia, available at http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/virus.html [Accessed 28 June 2012]

Computer worms [Online], Virus or Hoax? Available at http://virusall.com/computer%20worms/worms.php [Accessed 28 June 2012]

How to prevent and remove viruses and other malware [Online], Microsoft Support, available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972 [Accessed 28 June 2012]

Denial of Service Attacks [Online], CERT, available at http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/denial_of_service.html [Accessed 1 July 2012]

Denial of Service (DoS) [Online], Search Software Quality, available at http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/denial-of-service [Accessed 1 July 2012]

System failure [Online], Computer Hope, available at http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/systemfa.htm [Accessed 5 July 2012]

Intelihealth.com (1870) Tendonitis - Diseases and Conditions | Aetna InteliHealth [online] Available at http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10841.html [Accessed: 21 Jul 2012].

Webmd.com (2010) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Exams and Test for Carpal Tunnel [online] Available at http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-topic-overview [Accessed: 21 Jul 2012].

20

Page 21: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

Air Asia Flight operations [online] Slide Share (2012), Available at:

http://www.slideshare.net/search/slideshow?lang=%2A%2A&page=2&q=Air+asia+-

+flight+operations&searchfrom=header&sort=relevance [Accessed: 15 -july - 2012].

AirAsia X Selects Teledyne Controls' Wireless GroundLink? System and Flight Data Analysis Services to Support their Flight Data Monitoring Program [online] Teledyne-controls.com (2009) Available at: http://www.teledyne-controls.com/newscenter/2009/AirAsiaX.asp [Accessed: 15 Jul 2012].

21

Page 22: CITW in Flight Operations/Flight Dispatch

AIR ASIA FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN FLIGHT DISPATCH 2012

22