Professional Documents
Culture Documents
INTAKE CODE: UC1F1203IT DATE ASSIGNED: Week 2 DUE DATE: 23 JULY 2012
MEMBERS NAMES: HUSSEIN SAID SEIF AL-WAHAIBI JEFFREY BOEY IBRAHIM ANWAR
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Disadvantages of Flight Dispatch System .............................................................................................. 9 The daily plan is never flown completely as expected ....................................................................... 9 Impacts of Flight Dispatch System ......................................................................................................... 9 Minimisation of Delays....................................................................................................................... 9 Minimisation of schedule disruption................................................................................................... 9 Safe Flights ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Security Issues: ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Viruses, worms and Trojan Horses ............................................................................................... 11 Denial of Service attack ................................................................................................................ 12 System Failure .............................................................................................................................. 12 System Protection. ............................................................................................................................ 12 Anti-virus software ....................................................................................................................... 12 Creating a Recovery Disk ............................................................................................................. 12 Files Back-up ................................................................................................................................ 12 Message encryption ...................................................................................................................... 13 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) ..................................................................................................... 14 Human Computer Interaction (HCI) in AirAsias Flight Operation System .................................... 14 Health Concern from Human Computer Interaction (HCI) .......................................................... 14 Ergonomics ................................................................................................................................... 15 Internet Applications ............................................................................................................................. 17 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................ 19 References ............................................................................................................................................. 20 2
Marks Allocated
Marks Given
a) Documentation
Materials are presented professionally using correct grammar, punctuation spelling and length. Addressed report guidelines.
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GROUP (70%)
b) Coursework structuring
Introduction Main body Conclusion/ Recommendation
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d) Argument Coherence
Paragraphs are in a logical sequence to the whole and flows logically into the next.
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Group Analysis
Justifications and analysis Current scenario Functionality Advantages & disadvantages Impact of the technology
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S1
S2
S3
INDIVIDUAL (30%)
f) Individual Analysis
The similarities and differences with the lectured covered in this module
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70 30 100
Air Asia
Air Asia is a Malaysian based low cost airline based at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. The carrier was formed out of Tune Air in 2002 and is led by CEO Tony Fernandez. Air Asias extensive domestic and Regional network includes services within Malaysia and to China, Southeast Asia and the subcontinent. Air Asia is also Asias leading airline with a dream of making flying possible for everyone. It operates scheduled domestic and international flights to over 400 destinations in 20 countries.
Flight Dispatch
Flight Dispatchers are those responsible for keeping airplanes operate on schedule in an airline. Both the airline captain and the flight dispatcher are held jointly responsible for the safety of the flight. In cooperation with the pilot, the flight dispatcher creates a flight plan that enables the aircraft/airplane to arrive its destination on schedule with maximum payload and the least operating costs considering en route and destination weather, winds aloft, alternate destinations, fuel requirement and traffic flows. A Flight dispatcher also known as Aircraft dispatcher authorises, regulates, controls and terminates aircraft flights in accordance with company and governmental regulations and policies to ensure safety. Flight Dispatchers are also responsible for the economics, operational control and passenger service requirements for daily flight operations. An aircraft Dispatcher is authorised by FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to delay, divert or cancel a flight if unsafe conditions pose a threat to safety of the aircraft, passengers, cargo or flight. They monitor weather conditions, aircraft positions reports, aeronautical navigation charts, aircraft radio calls to evaluate the progress and safety of the flight.
Functionality
Each airline has one central facility from which it manages its flight activities. As for Air Asia, this main hub is at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. All decisions regarding the airlines daily operation are made in the operational control centre by FAA licensed Aircraft Dispatchers working together with airline management and flight crews. Flight Dispatchers use both Software and Communications in their operations. Communications include internet communications as well as radio communications like HF/VHF. In Flight Dispatch operations, the dispatchers use SITATEX software to communicate with airline captains and pilots. SITATEX is a client-based software application that generates and receives Type B messages (the standard format for messaging in the aviation industry). It provides critical operational communications for the worlds airlines, ground handlers, GDS, airfreight and aerospace companies. With SITATEX, messages and documents can be communicated via the Internet, IP networks and dial-up connections. These tasks are accomplished through an easy-to-use interface designed for the ATI operational messaging environment. Flight Dispatchers in Air Asia also make the use of CIT in their work place for computerised flight planning, accessing weather information and NOTAMs (Notice to Airmen) which is used to notify airmen the whereabouts of their next departure aerodrome. NOTAM is a scenario used in the Flight Dispatch Operations. One of the software they use for the flight planning is SABRE. An Aircraft Dispatcher prepares flight plans with information including maximum allowable takeoff and landing weights, weather reports, field conditions, METARs, TAFs, NOTAMs, PIREPs (all these are aviation scenarios and procedures), and other information required for the safe completion of the flight.
2. Flight Planning.
Flight Planning is one of the important procedures done in Flight Dispatch operation system. In flight planning, which is done by the Flight dispatcher together with the respective aircraft captain, both flight dispatcher and aircraft captain considers en-route weather conditions, destinations weather condition, alternate destinations in-case of emergencies and so on. All of these help in ensuring safety of the journey, on schedule flights and helps the Airline Company in knowing the requirements of the flight as well as minimise operating costs at the same time ensuring safety of the flight. Hence, the use of Computing and Information Technology in the flight planning processes contributes a lot in this field of aviation (The field of Flight dispatch and flight operations).
3. Economic Planning
Another important task in the flight dispatch system which is one among the parts of Flight Operations in an Airline company like Air Asia is the Economic Planning. This is done by the Flight Dispatcher/Aircraft Dispatcher when scheduling and planning flight routines and path ways. Considering the air traffic, en-route and destination weather conditions, aircrafts maintenance and other factors, flight dispatcher is enabled to cut costs of the flight by planning the best possible route to minimise the operational costs.
4. Flight Safety
It is said that the safest transportation in the modern world is the air transportation. This is actually true because there are a lot of individuals working together as a group and communicating each minute to keep the aircrafts on air safe and reach their destinations on scheduled without colliding with one another. This is done by the Air Traffic Controllers at the air ports control tower, TRACON (Terminal Radar Control Approach) and also the flight dispatchers. Flight Dispatchers communicate with pilots in the Aircraft all the time to ensure safety of the flight but also to notify them on weather changes, routes as well as emergencies.
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Minimisation of Delays
In the past years, the percentage of air traffic delays has decreased. This is due to the great impact of Flight Dispatch system in Airlines working together with Air Traffic controllers. Flight dispatchers have helped airlines to minimise delays in the airports hence reduce inconvenience to the passengers as well as the Airports management. Nevertheless, the reduction of delays by Airlines has resulted to avoid significant additional operational costs whereby delays of over 15 minutes can cause so. The increase in percentage of delayed flights is caused in increasing air traffic due to the growth of Aviation Industry and air travel. Hence, Flight Dispatch system has resulted a huge impact in minimisation of such problems and Computing and Information Technology has played a great role to catalyse that.
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System Failure
System failure is a system malfunction. It can occur from hardware failure or severe software issue. A system failure will cause system to freeze, reboot or stop functioning. System failure can also be caused by aging hardware, natural disasters or electrical power disturbance. System failure can cause a lot of consequences in an computing and IT dependant departments like flight operations including flight control, air traffic control, flight dispatch and so on. It can cause loss of hardware, software and also loss of important data.
Files Back-up
A back-up is a duplicate of a file, program or disk to another disk in order to save the files in case of System failure or corrupted files. Individual can restore the files by copying to original location. Like any other Organisation, Air Asia practices a backup procedure. Back-up procedure is regular plan of copying and storing data and program files. Apart from the backup procedure,
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Message encryption
Since Air Asias flight dispatchers communicate crucial information with their pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, Weather agencies as well as other dispatchers it is important that they secure their information so that any other unauthorised party to be unable to access that information. Hence, Air Asia together with other Aviation departments encrypt their messages so that they secure the information.
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Computer Vision Syndromes (CVS) The risk of Computer Vision Syndromes or CVS, which means the eye and vision problems, like blurry vision, would increase. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Despite the increase risk of Computer Vision Syndromes or CVS, there is also another increase risk of health towards the long hour users. It is called Repetitive Strain Injury or for short, RSI, due to the repetition of activities for long hours. There is 2 types
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Ergonomics
Human Computer Interaction or HCI also covers the area of ergonomics. Ergonomics are applied science devoted to comfort, efficiency, and safety in workplace. In AirAsias flight operation systems, the workers had their keyboard at an optimum height which is 23-28. That is not all, they even had an adjustable backrest and seat with 5 legs to provide stability and comfort for the users who is going to work for long hours. While working in this flight operation system, most of the users practise good ergonomics, they had their feet flat and elbows 90 degree plus arms and hand parallel to the floor. However, green computing is not practice in this flight operation system. Most computers and electronic devices are always not turn off and running overnights.
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In this report, the author has also realised the importance of Security in the field of Computer and Information Technology as well as Aviation Industry. Nevertheless, it has been realised how important Human Computer Interaction (HCI) is in the workplace. The human computer interaction in a workplace is extremely crucial not just for personal health purposes, but also the efficiency and safety of an individual and the organization.
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Airline Dispatcher work environment [Online], World Airline Dispatcher Schools, available at http://www.fltdisp.com/TheDispatchCareer/WorkEnvironment/tabid/58/Default.aspx [Accessed 25 June 2012] Flight Dispatcher Jobs [Online], Avjobs.com, available at http://www.avjobs.com/careers/detail.asp?RecID=72#.UAy4nbQe55c [Accessed 25 June 2012] Sitatex [Online], SITA, available at http://www.sita.aero/product/sitatex-softwaredeveloper%E2%80%99s-kit [Accessed 26 June 2012] Virus [Online], Webopedia, available at http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/V/virus.html [Accessed 28 June 2012] Computer worms [Online], Virus or Hoax? Available http://virusall.com/computer%20worms/worms.php [Accessed 28 June 2012] How to prevent and remove viruses and other malware [Online], Microsoft Support, available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/129972 [Accessed 28 June 2012]
Denial of Service Attacks [Online], CERT, available at
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http://www.cert.org/tech_tips/denial_of_service.html [Accessed 1 July 2012] Denial of Service (DoS) [Online], Search Software Quality, available at http://searchsoftwarequality.techtarget.com/definition/denial-of-service [Accessed 1 July 2012] System failure [Online], Computer Hope, available http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/s/systemfa.htm [Accessed 5 July 2012] at
Intelihealth.com (1870) Tendonitis - Diseases and Conditions | Aetna InteliHealth [online] Available at http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/9339/10841.html [Accessed: 21 Jul 2012]. Webmd.com (2010) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Exams and Test for Carpal Tunnel [online] Available at http://www.webmd.com/painmanagement/carpal-tunnel/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-topic-overview [Accessed: 21 Jul 2012]. Air Asia Flight operations [online] Slide Share (2012), Available at:
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AirAsia X Selects Teledyne Controls' Wireless GroundLink? System and Flight Data Analysis Services to Support their Flight Data Monitoring Program [online] Teledyne-controls.com (2009) Available at: http://www.teledyne-controls.com/newscenter/2009/AirAsiaX.asp [Accessed: 15 Jul 2012].
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