“FileMaker Pro has enabled us to build an intuitive, staff-compatible, secure and reliable management tool,” said Frank Pellas, Business Manager — Division of IT, Engineering Environment, University of South Australia.

Benefits

"FileMaker Pro has enabled us to build an intuitive, staff-compatible, secure and reliable management tool that controls our flying training operation. FlightFile was operational right from the first time it was loaded onto the Academy Administrator's computer," said Pellas.

The UniSA Aviation Academy noticed the benefits of implementing FlightFile built in FileMaker Pro within the first three months of installing the new system. Some of the key benefits include:

Data entry is quick and intuitive. Instructors can easily enter all of their own flight data at the same time they enter the student's competency element scores. The creation of automated financial journal operations has streamlined the process and removed potential user error, cutting the amount of time spent on these reports in half.

All Academy details are now entered into the central system allowing for standard data requirements to be auto entered into CASA compliance reports. Information that was being handled up to five times is now dealt with once only.

All flight data and training competencies are entered directly into FlightFile by the instructors. Password protection and appropriate precautions are built-in to minimise data error.

All authorised employees have concurrent access to FlightFile across the Academy's entire network which comprises of four computers on site at Parafield and an additional three located at the University's base campus over three kilometres away connected to the network via VPN.

The cost of each flight is automatically calculated by FlightFile based on the aircraft used, flight duration and the number and location of all landings. These costs are then easily exported to the University's central Finance One system to be on-charged to each student.

The creation of CASA compliant reports ensure all relevant competencies for each flying lesson are recorded in accordance with CBT standards.

FlightFile has the ability to generate invoice requests on a UniSA standard request form for non-training flights. FlightFile also handles all GST-related issues to ensure that it is charged only when required. (NB: Flying training as part of acquiring a professional licence is GST free where all other flights attract GST)

The automated production of flight authorisation records prior to each scheduled training flight has improved report completion efficiency.

Training instructors can now record all flight details in a CASA compliant record template that is signed off by the student to ensure the instructor complies with best practice requirements.

Pellas concluded, "I am particularly impressed with the infinite number of report parameters now available to us. We can generate reports on student flying activity, student progress reports, competence-based training matrices for each student, aircraft fuel consumption and hours, instructor workload, daily flying schedules, finance journals, and many more all with ease and in less than half the time of before."