In the Aviation Industry there exists a number of planning puzzles. Together with our partners we are able to support several of these complex planning processes.On any airport, for any airline, the efficient planning of ground activities is crucial to performance. This starts with Gate planning, deciding on which plane is handled at which gate, from here all dependent ground activities need to be scheduled: Baggage Services, Passenger Gate Services, Push Back Services, Water Services, Catering Services, Tanking, De-Icing Services, etc.. i.e. all the services that are performed around the turnaround of a plane.

We can provide solutions for the planning of specifically skilled or certified resources, such as planning of ground crew, and cabin crew, but also planning of Air Traffic Control officers. In this type of planning we create optimal schedules taking into account all legislation and business rules.

As well as the above processes we have experience in the efficient planning of Aircraft Maintenance. Supporting not only an ABC-check approach, but also supporting an aircraft tailored maintenance program, depending on its actual and planned flight schedules. In this ‘tailored approach’ we managed to significantly reduce both the maintenance effort and the use of spare parts.

Tailored Maintenance example. Suppose we have to replace a certain hydraulic valve every 4 months, since for this aircraft its A-check is performed every month, the B-check every 3 months, and the C-check is performed once every 18 months, the valve will be put into the B-check work package. After one year flying and maintaining the aircraft the valve will be replaced 4 times, 4 new valves are used and 4 times labour is spend. A better planning and control mechanism would have put the valve action in the A-check, only to be executed every third A-check, this would –after one year- use 3 valves and 3 times the needed labour. A 25% saving on material and labour.