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Flight Operations System (FOS) Overview and
Features CTA’s Flight Operations System (FOS) is a
comprehensive flight operations management and support system for
corporate, charter and government aviation, as well as regional
airlines, aircraft management and fractional ownership companies.
FOS for Windows is the latest version of the FOS. No aviation
software can match the speed, ease of use, and functionality of FOS. It
can be set up as a
powerful client/server (both LAN and WAN support) or PC (single user)
application that meets the needs of the most demanding flight
department. FOS truly represents the next generation in aviation
software.
System Features
- List-oriented display
- Notebook-style windows with tabs
- Consistent operation for all related tasks
- Consistent use of all interface devices such as menus and
buttons
- Easy-to-use printer, fax and E-mail interface
- Data lookups
- Lookup case and punctuation insensitive
- Lookup phonetic (sounds-like) option
- Easy access to any data from anywhere in the system, usually
with a single click
- Variable size comments (up to 4,000 characters)
- High performance in both processing and navigation
- Context-sensitive online help
- Operating system platform for emerging technologies such as
multimedia, image, pen and voice interfacing
List-Oriented Displays
To select a particular record from the list, just click anywhere on
that line and then click on the right mouse button to display a pop-up
menu of Actions – New, Copy, Delete or Edit. Click "New" to create a new
record: blank data pages will appear for new input. This is an example
of the intuitive interface found throughout the system – it all works
the way you expect it to work, eliminating the need for extensive
training.
Most list displays have six selections in the top section – Sort, Lookup
Filter, Report, Options and Help – which activate
dropdown menus, e.g.,
by clicking on "Sort" you can sort the items in the list. Other displays
may have additional selections.
Notebook-Style Data Pages (Windows)
Most people are accustomed to organizing information in notebooks with
tabs dividing the information into logical groups. For all modules and
data functions, FOS begins with a list, and after you select from the
list, presents a notebook with logically organized tabbed pages.
Every notebook has tabs that mark the grouping of similar data. Some
software has so much data squeezed together in one window that the
displays become difficult to read and are often filled with data you
don’t need. CTA took a different (and better) approach. Throughout FOS,
data is divided into easy-to-read notebook pages.
Tabs in a data notebook are always visible. FOS ensures "readability" by
keeping notebook pages uncluttered and by making every page sizable and
movable. In addition, entry fields are in regular font; required data
fields are in bold. List buttons are always gray squares to the right of
the field.
Coded fields cause no confusion – most codes are user-definable so that
you can establish codes meaningful to you, and one click of the mouse
brings up the list of codes, along with their (user-defined)
definitions.
Data Lists--Point and Click
Any time there is a set of values from which to choose, FOS makes the
list available to you with a click of your mouse. Three types of lists
are used depending on the type of data being displayed in the list. The
simplest is the standard drop down list containing system-defined
values.
A square button containing a question mark to the right of a field
always brings up a list of user-definable codes. Just double-click on
the code you wish to select. Users with appropriate rights can also edit
codes or descriptions from this window.
When a data list (rather than a code list) is appropriate, e.g. when a
field requires an aircraft type, one click on the square button (with a
question mark) to the right of the field brings up the appropriate data
list.
Once you have selected from the list, the value is displayed. Once
displayed, you have easy access to all data associated with that value.
Wherever a field name is shown as a button, clicking on that button will
open the notebook associated with the value in that field. This provides
convenient access to data at any time from anywhere it is referenced. In
addition to selecting or viewing data, you can edit the data pages if
you are authorized to do so.
Date Formats and Calendar
There are various date formats: month-day-year, day-month-year, and
year-month-day; FOS allows you to use the format you prefer. In
addition, FOS fully integrated pop-up monthly calendar lets you select a
date visually as a convenient alternative to entering the date manually.
Of course, you can key in the dates directly if you choose.
Comments Windows
With most software it is easy to run out of room for comments. Not so
with FOS, where you have up to 4,000 characters available per comment. A
full function text editor (including cut and paste, word wrap, etc.) is
available for comment entry. There is a Comments Page with each
notebook, as well as within specific notebook sections wherever you
might need space for comments.
Time and Distance Calculations
FOS calculates Great Circle distance for each trip leg. It shows
departure and arrival times in GMT, home base and local times. It
includes and shows time zone changes and accommodates Daylight Savings
Time. Estimates flight time based on a aircraft performance data and
includes seasonal winds adjustment in the calculation. FOS/NT estimates
fuel burn. Calculates and shows aircraft costs automatically, based on
cost profiles for each aircraft. Bases each ETE on aircraft
type-specific data. Includes departure and arrival airport delay time.
Includes fuel stops in total time estimate. Allowances are made for
diversions around restricted airspace. Checks runway length and
endurance and issues warnings if a runway does not meet the aircraft
type, and the duration of the leg exceeds the endurance of the aircraft.
Airport Data
- FAA Landing Facilities Data Worldwide (all U.S. - 18,778
locations)
- Universal (r) Worldwide Airport Data, FBO and Hotel Data
- Look-ups by identifier (ICAO & IATA), city, and name
- Geographical search for airports in vicinity of selected airport
or in vicinity of any selected place (from Places Data)
Places Data
- Included is a database of over 2 million named places around the
world enabling a user to search for the airports closest to any
destination
Aircraft Data
- No limit or number of aircraft or types
- Owner, description, configuration, times, rates and logbook
- Documents, Credit Cards
Passenger Data
- Address, Phone and Fax telephone numbers (home and office)
- Travel Planner information
- Passport information
- Comments
Personnel Data
- Address, Phone, and Fax telephone numbers (home and office)
- Crew Qualifications
- Passport Information
- Crew Currency
- Logbook Data
Vendor Data
- Address, Phone, and Fax telephone numbers
- Contacts
- Notes
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