MARKET REPORT - Saab Aircraft Leasing

MARKET REPORTREXINTRODUCESELECTRONICFLIGHT BAGAustralian-based Regional Express(Rex) has introduced flight decktablet computers called Saab FlightBags (SFB). The SFB enables pilotsto complete the aircraft weight andbalance, flight planning, as wellas download and print pre-flightbriefings. Currently, this preparationis done in dispatch officeslocated inside the airport. With thenew SFB, the need for the FirstOfficer to travel to the dispatchoffices is completely eliminated,thereby allowing all crew toremain together at the aircraft toprepare for an efficient turnaround.Development of this systemstarted two years ago, andinvolved intense co-operationbetween the Engineering, FlightOperations, Airports and IT departments.The existing Rex FlightPlanning and Load Control System(FLaPS) had to be upgradedto incorporate the passengermanifest import function fromthe Sabre reservation system. Thisdirect import function allows theflight crew to import and populatethe seat map of the aircraftwithin FLaPS from the passengermanifest within Sabre. Previously,the flight crew was required tomanually load each passenger intothe system in order to produce thenecessary trim and flight planningpaperwork. Five generations ofprototypes were built before thefinal configuration was selected.The SFB includes a tablet computer,Zebra thermal printer, mobileinternet card and a state-of-the-artcustom designed power supplywhich has a microcontroller con-MARKET REPORT | October 200913