United Airlines: Flight Planning Software
Client
United Airlines
Role
Digital Product Designer
Timeframe
6 months
Tools
Figma
Overview
A major airline company, United Airlines, needed to create a new flight planning and monitoring software solution for flight dispatchers. This software solution needed to combine the capabilities and functionality of their current tools (Sabre and Dispatch View) while improving overall user experience, productivity, and efficiency.
Business Goal
United Airlines needed a solution that will enable United Airlines dispatchers to generate exception-based flight plans which allows for greater focus on flight following, inflight support, and Air Traffic Control complexity. The design solution needed to improve efficiency and reduce delays as well as increase flight dispatcher production by releasing ~40 domestic flights per shift (currently releasing ~30).
The User
This software solution is designed for flight dispatchers.
Flight Dispatch Process
The flight dispatch process can be outlined in two phases.
User Flow
Current Flight Planning and Monitoring Tools
The flight dispatchers at United Airlines currently use two different tools for each phase of the process.
Phase 1 Tool: Sabre Flight Plan Manager (FPM)
The Sabre Flight Plan Manager (FPM) allows Dispatchers to create flights, plan them with current data according to regulations and company policies, file them with ATC (Air Traffic Control), view information pertaining to the flight, and prepare paperwork for the crew.
Phase 2 Tool: Dispatch View (DV)
Dispatch View (DV) is a web based graphical user interface used by Dispatchers as the primary tool for flight monitoring as defined in the Dispatch Operations Manual (DOM). DV interacts with other United Airlines operations applications. It provides a targeted situational awareness of identified flights, and provides the ability to communicate with the crews operating them.
User Interviews
I interviewed several flight dispatchers at United Airlines to identify major pain points within their current software and workflow.
Interview Synthesis
Design Solutions
With help from the SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) at United Airlines, my team and I were able to come up with a new design and user experience to solve the dispatcher’s pain points and replace the current flight planning and monitoring tools.
Solution #1
In order to effectively combine the functionality of two tools into one, we had to create a dynamic layout. On the Flight Plan Details page we split the page into two sections. On the left hand side of the page, the dispatchers can edit any information in regard to the flight plan. On the right hand side of the page, dispatchers can choose to monitor the flight path on the map or view flight planning information.
This page is built responsively. If a dispatcher wants to see more or less of one side of the screen, they can click on the black bar in the center of the page and drag it to the left or right to expand or minimize either side.
Solution #2
The Flight Plan Details side of the page displays the most important information about the current flight that dispatchers need to be aware of. In order for dispatchers to be able to make quick changes to information about the flight or flight plan, I created a Quick Edit section for the Aircraft and Fuel. Any changes made in this section will reflect in the Advanced Flight Details accordions and vice versa.
Solution #3
On the Flight Monitoring side of the page, dispatchers can view the route of the flight in real time as well as the vertical profile of the flight. When dispatchers toggle to view the Planning Info, they will see system generated information in regard to the flight. Dispatchers are not able to edit this information.
Conclusion
The new flight planning software solution that we designed resulted in a 5% increase in overall productivity. Flight dispatchers are now able to release an additional 15 flights per shift, thus improving efficiency and reducing delays.