Savannah, GA, January 31, 2008 – All dedicated schedulers and dispatchers want to take their flight departments to the next level, but to do so, you need to first benchmark your operation, then apply industry best practices to enhance the quality of service you provide. Today’s Conference session titled “Upgrading Your Scheduling Function – Benchmarking” helped those seeking to improve their operation to begin the process.

A panel of four speakers – Shafie Sabry of FlightSafety International, John Frangipani of Meridian Air Charter, Michelle Spearman of Cable Vision and Jenny Asbell of Coca-Cola Company – taught participants how to provide more comprehensive services, such as flight plans, permits, international packages and other services that are above and beyond the ordinary scheduling support.

The presenters discussed the structure of flight departments and emphasized how all the various players must function as a team, adhering to federal aviation regulations and company policies and procedures (including the flight operations manual) while delivering superior customer service to passengers.

Schedulers play a key role in the successful functioning of any aviation department, serving as a liaison between passengers, pilots, maintenance technicians and outside service providers. The ability to communicate effectively and pay attention to detail are essential skills.

The session leaders reviewed the various factors schedulers and dispatchers must consider – such as which aircraft type or airport to use – when planning a trip. The presenters also highlighted the need to address, legal, safety and security issues related to flight operations.

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