Get with the programme

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David Wakeling, Altea DCS product manager at IT company Amadeus, explains why carriers should update their flight and load management systems.

What is the Altea Departure Control System?

The Altea solution is a fully graphical representation of the aircraft hold. The process for handling the flight starts with the aircraft. You decide how much weight the aircraft will carry and where to place the load, which could be freight, mail or passenger baggage. Depending on what load factor you're carrying, you then calculate how much fuel you need to get from point A to B. For the old system, load controllers were highly trained, experienced people who would oversee the process by sending instructions to a computer. They would use long, cryptic commands to tell a computer system where to position the freight and how much fuel was needed.

How does the Altea DCS work?

Altea takes the information from external systems and automates the data that comes from other areas, such as the airline's cargo system. The Altea product has a planning system that knows - based on the route the aircraft will be taking, the height it flies at and wind speed - how much fuel will be required. It integrates this information and automatically calculates things like where the load should be positioned, the fuel distribution and which fuel tanks it should go in.

How is it better than the old system?

For the old system, the load controller would have to constantly monitor the progress. Now, the Altea system automates these activities and keeps a check on what's taking place. It will send a notification to the person responsible for the flight to say something has happened that needs to be investigated. The Altea system has improved the process by introducing high levels of automation for managing flight departures. With more precise calculations relating to weight distribution on the aircraft, airlines can carry more cargo on its flights and generate greater revenue. Historical data for each flight departure is stored and can be used when planning cargo loads for the same departure the following day.

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