FREQUENTIS improves flight planning for Australian airline Qantas

Operational and fuel savings possible with Frequentis aeronautical information management system 

Frequentis has provided its Navigation Data Management System (NavDB) to Qantas, allowing them to gather global aeronautical data including digital NOTAM. Based on this data, flight planning and flight plan optimisation is performed for pre-flight and in-flight phases, as well as post-flight analysis. The success of the solution is also thanks to core modules from the smart4Aviation product suite and the University of Sydney’s flight plan algorithm.

The Frequentis AIM solution is based on smartAIM, AIXM 5.1 database including workflow management, and allows Qantas to increase efficiency and quality through automation. The solution is an entire system landscape that consists of modular components, fully integrated with third-party systems to ensure complete interoperability along the digital aeronautical data chain.

“The data from the Frequentis Navigation data management system is the lifeblood of the entire solution and critical to both the safety and optimality of flight plans in an ever-changing environment”, says Mike Riegler, Manager Flight Operations System Support Qantas.

The system also supports fuel consumption optimisation by making use of Australia’s Organised Track Structure (AUSOTS), a free flight concept called Flex Tracks managed by Airservices Australia. Instead of limiting flight plans to a fixed route structure, Airservices Australia is able to produce tracks which obtain reductions in an airline’s fuel use by positioning the tracks depending on weather or wind conditions resulting in the equivalent of on-demand route planning. Additionally, using Flex Tracks helps to enhance the management of air traffic control separation gaps.

“This implementation marks the first introduction of AIXM 5.1 for an airline, as the model for all navigation data. By enhancing data management workflows operational costs can be reduced, while the automatic inclusion of Flex Tracks, enables precise flight planning and fuel calculation, in turn also reducing the costs for carrying excess fuel. Frequentis’ NavDB provides the high-level of dynamic NOTAM information required for detailed planning.”, said Dirk Withake, Vice President, Aeronautical Information Management, Frequentis.