Why Aviation Document Management helps Airlines support a reduced CASM

Aviation document management is one specific area of airline operational management that can help to reduce the cost per available seat mile (‘CASM’). An aviation document management system (DMS) that is built and supported by experts in data management with almost instant accessibility across every document you have can have a direct impact on the cost of operations.

Access To Information 

Throughout industry and business there is an increased requirement for access to information. This is evident in our attachments to the multiple PDAs (i.e. tablets, mobile phones, etc.) we use these days to stay connected. The accessibility to data, news, events, friends and families and other information which interests us is growing, and it is unlikely with the on-going worldwide digital transformation taking place in communities, business and within governments that there will be any reduction in that demand.

What will change is the way data is stored and made accessible. As a direct consequence the means to retrieve information is on a trajectory of ever-increasing speed and accessibility. Speed of information delivery is becoming a critical deliverable.

Aviation Operational Decision-making

In aviation better operational decisions are made on the basis of having access to the right data at the right time, so the demand for instant accessibility to information is a key driver towards improved operational aviation decisions and efficiencies. This is especially important for front line users who often have to make on-the-spot decisions and this along with a better use of data has a direct link to improving cost management, reducing costs and identifying future cost savings  within an airline or, in fact, other businesses in flight operations e.g. MRO organisations.

In the aviation industry there are many examples of when the inability to access information can have a detrimental effect upon the airline and indeed cost the airline revenue. Such situations happen every day.

For example, a pilot operating a multi-million-dollar corporate jet sitting on the ramp in a far-removed location has an issue with a nose wheel. The pilot knows there is a way to operate safely but needs assurance from the flight operations manual on how to comply with an accepted procedure. They look for the information but cannot find it. There are multiple manuals to reference and they simply have trouble referencing across the multiple documents to find the information they need.

Easy Access To Flight Operations Information – Cross Referencing and Search

The lack of cross-referencing capability across multiple flight operation manuals during critical phases of flight and while under pressure can be challenging. If in this instance the pilot cannot find the information they need then the flight must be cancelled. The executive misses the opportunity to make the flight and get to their meeting, there is a loss in terms of cost (which can be in the thousands), and there is reputational damage against the airline. The opportunity costs can be extremely large. All of this could have been rectified if information had been more accessible and easy to reference and apply.

Expert Aviation Document Management Systems

An aviation document management system that is built and supported by experts in data management and can provide almost instant accessibility across every held document will have a direct impact on the cost of operations. A great DMS  saves time, ensures accessibility, and keeps the flight operation moving. It can directly impact the Cost of Available Seat Mile (CASM) and Cost of Available Seat Kilometre (CASK) to the aviation company by providing critical accessibility to data for the operation to proceed safely and efficiently.

Structured Document – Data Intelligence

Structured documents that are organised and instantly referenced through an intelligent document management system are becoming ever more critical for day-to-day flight operations.  It is directly relatable to improved safety, efficiency and reduces cost in an ever pressed and unforgiving flight operations environment. There are countless examples to represent the value of a sophisticated highly capable document management system.

For any airline operation it is worth asking the following questions:

• Is your system of document management and accessibility adding to your cost or helping to reduce your cost?
  
  
• How many operational disruptions and delays can you afford to not make those investments in these capabilities?
  
• Does near instant online and offline search capability across all documents helpful to your operation?

For an airline to really improve and develop cost efficiencies in fight operations there has to be a clearly understood link between all aspects of the business. Document management and its impact upon flight safety, critical delivery of data and information and its ultimate effect upon revenue (and reduction in CASK / CASM) is an aspect that should not be ignored.

Image by Eva Darron (Unsplash)