SriLankan
Airlines has switched over to a sophisticated new flight
planning system to make on ground flight planning more streamlined
and cost effective.
The
new system, SITA flight planning, replaces an old text based
system and provides flight information in a computerized
graphic format.
Before
each flight, flight dispatchers (flight planners) provide
pilots with a comprehensive report of information on the
flight routes, including weather conditions, route options,
track, aircraft speed, elapsed time, flight level, closure
of airports en route (if any), fuel requirement etc.
With
SITA's advanced technology, flight planners have access
to much more flight information than before.
A
special feature of the system called GrafLite, indicates
up-to-date weather conditions right along the route from
origin to destination, on a 29 inch screen.
Another
special feature enables flight operations to be more cost
effective. The system displays overall costs of each route,
including over-flying costs, fuel consumption and operating
cost (i.e. cost of maintenance) of the aircraft in a cost
index, assisting flight planners to choose the most cost
effective route accurately.
The
SITA Flight Planning System also forecasts fuel burn more
correctly so that no more fuel than is necessary is uplifted
on a flight. The system also has the facility to link the
computerized flight plan to the Airline's fuel management
system, which will maximize the performance of the aircraft.
At present this link is with another provider.
The
system's weather options indicate the weather conditions
at any airport and cyclone conditions around the world.
The system also indicates winds and temperature at different
flight levels, taking into consideration the aerodynamics
of the aircraft and gives the optimum flight levels for
each sector.
SITA
is a London based flight plan system provider and used by
major airlines including Malaysian Airlines and Qantas.
Media
Relations department
SriLankan Airlines Ltd
6 August 2001
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