Passenger service systemA PSS ("Passenger Service Systems"), is a series of critical systems used by airlines. The PSS usually comprises anAirline Reservation System, an Airline Inventory System and a Departure Control System (DCS). Overview[edit] Generally the PSS is made up of modules that are used to manage different parts of the airline’s business. The Airline Reservation System is the system that allows an airline to sell their inventory (seats). It contains information on schedules and fares and contains a database of reservations (or Passenger Name Records) and of tickets issued (if applicable). The Airline Inventory System may or may not be integrated with the Reservation System. The system contains all the airline’s flights and the available seats. The main function of the Inventory System is to define how many seats are available on a particular flight by opening or closing an individual booking class in accordance with rules defined by the airline. The Departure Control System is the system used by airlines and airports to check-in a passenger. The DCS is connected to the Reservation System enabling it to check who has a valid reservation on a flight. The DCS is used to enter information required by customs or border security agencies and to issue the boarding document. In addition the DCS may also be used to dispatch cargo and to optimize aircraft weight and balance. Major Systems[edit] Name Description Vendor Contact Info amelia Reservation Comprehensive PSS InteliSys Aviation Systems www.intelisysaviation.com Avantik Effective LCC & Hybrid PSS Provided by Bravo Passenger Solutions www.bravo.aero AccelAero Comprehensive PSS Information Systems Associates - ISA [1] A-DCS / A-SBS PSS A-ICE www.a-ice.aero Altéa Comprehensive PSS Amadeus IT Group [2] Crane PAX Full-fledged PSS Hitit Computer Services www.hititcs.com Zenith PSS Travel Technology Interactive www.ttinteractive.com SkyVantage Comprehensive PSS SkyVantage Airline Solutions www.skyvantage.com Navitaire Comprehensive PSS Navitaire www.navitaire.com Radixx Air Enterprise PSS Radixx Solutions International www.radixx.com HP Agilaire / HP Shares PSS HP www.hp.com iFlyRes PSS IBS Software [3] SabreSonic Customer Sales & Service Comprehensive CSS Sabre Airline Solutions [4] Horizon PSS SITA [5] ARCO PSS Alitalia [6] Travelport Meridian(TM) PSS Travelport [7] Sirena-Travel PSS Sirena-Travel [8] RESIBER PSS Iberia [9] Astral PSS Aer Lingus [10] Mercator (MARS) PSS Mercator [11] COMPASS PSS Aero Systems Indonesia www.asyst.co.id Takeflite Comprehensive PSS Takeflite Solutions tflite.net Kiu Airline Solutions Suite Comprehensive PSS Kiu System Solutions www.kiusys.com MRO software[edit] Main article: MRO Software In many organizations because of the number of devices or products that need to be maintained or the complexity of systems, there is a need to manage the information with software packages. This is particularly the case in aerospace (e.g. airline fleets), military installations, large plants (e.g. manufacturing, power generation, petrochemical) and ships. These software tools help engineers and technicians in increasing the system availability and reducing costs and repair times as well as reducing material supply time and increasing material availability by improving supply chain communication. As MRO involves working with an organization’s products, resources, suppliers and customers, MRO packages have to interface with many enterprise business software systems (PLM, EAM, ERP, SCM, CRM). One of the functions of such software is the configuration of bills of materials or BOMs, taking the component parts list from engineering (eBOM) and manufacturing (mBOM) and updating it from "as designed“ through "as built”, "as delivered", “as maintained”, and “as used”. Another function is project planning logistics, for example identifying the critical path on the list of tasks to be carried out (inspection, diagnosis, locate/order parts and service) to calculate turnaround times (TAT). Other tasks that software can perform: Planning operations, Managing execution of events, Management of assets (parts, tools and equipment inventories), Knowledge-base data on: Maintenance service history, Serial numbered parts, Reliability data: MTBF, MTTB (mean time to breakdown), MTBR (mean time between removals), Maintenance and repair documentation and best practices, Warranty/guarantee documents. Many of these tasks are addressed in computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS). Data standards have been developed around these activities, most notably EAMXML and MIMOSA. MRO Goods and Services[edit] MRO goods are typically defined as any goods used in the creation of a product but not in the final product itself. Examples include: 1. The machinery used to make a product 2. Spare parts for the machinery that creates the product 3. Items used to maintain the facility in which the product is made MROstop.com is an online supplier of MRO products. MRO services such as ecommerce websites provide access to millions of products at the click of a button. Previously customers would have had to buy goods via a catalog or parts supplier over the phone. New forms for online businesses in the MRO space are making the access to goods and services more convenient. Rotable: Anything that needs periodic replacement. Engines, generators, pumps, actuators, tires, etc. Repairable: Any component that is typically repaired and returned to service as repaired/overhauled or "as new" conditon. Engines, generators, pumps, large actuators, many electric motors, etc. Expendable: Any component that is discarded at the end of its useful life, i.e is not worth repairing or cannot be repaired or overhauled due to it's construction. Hoses, some brake components, small actuators, switches, etc. Expendables can normally be removed from service on one aircraft or assembly and reused if still in serviceable condition. Consumable: Any component that is rendered unsuitable for reuse when it's installed. Gaskets, sealants, compression fittings, etc. However, what determines if the item is a Rotable (needs periodic replacement) is the maintenance program that the aircraft is on. All commercial aircraft have a maintenance program that is approved (in the US) by the FAA, and it is strictly adhered to. It is typically generated by the manufacturer. In Boeing and Airbus' case, the document is called "Maintenance Planning Data" commonly referred to as the MPD. The larger air carriers are allowed to deviate from this by using reliability data that they develop over the years of experience with the aircraft. In either case, they may require that certain parts are routinely overhauled in order to prevent problems with them during usage. An example of this would be a rotoray actuator on the leading edges of a B757- 200. These units (there are 2 per slat, for a total of 20) must be replaced with overhauled units every 20,000 cycles. Rotables : any part with a tracked serial number. Repairables: anything above a set dollar amount that has overhaul criteria and is tracked by records. It does not need to be a serialized part. (tracked by batch number) Expendable: any part below a set dollar amount that does not have repair criteria or it is cheaper to buy than repair. Consumable: any part that is used once and then discarded. Our parts tags, equivilant to an 8130, list parts as; R- rotables- engines, actuators, avionics boxes, flight controls, etc. F- repairable- structural fittings, exterior panels, etc E- expendable- hoses, o rings, gaskets, rivets, hardware, etc Source(s):