Technical Disruptions In Airline Operation Management
Abstract
important process of researching, obtaining and selecting options to be used at the right time and at the right place in relation to the activities to be carried out to achieve a certain goal. Organizations have certain decision levels in a hierarchical structure. These are in the form of strategic decisions, managerial decisions, and operational decisions and are also valid for airline companies.
In airline operations management, which is the general subject of this study, the aim is to contribute to the goals of the airline business by making decisions in line with strategic and managerial decisions. It can be observed that airline companies operating in an intense competitive environment are seeking solutions to eliminate problems that may arise during the operation period and thus gain an advantage in the competition. With the necessity of managing the operation more effectively, the AOCC (Airline Operation Control Center) units were established.
The AOCC aims to identify and eliminate problems or factors that may turn into problems with operations process employees such as team planning, revenue management, dispatch, technical follow-up, aircraft assignment, and monitoring the units performing the operation with devices such as computer programs and radiofrequency. In short, they keep track of the operation. Thus, by trying to prevent problems from turning into disruptions, the operational costs are kept at an optimum level and strategic goals of the airline business are contributed to. One of the operation monitoring units within the AOCC department is the technical follow-up desk. This unit monitors the technical operation performed in the apron and the aerodrome and tries to solve the problems that may arise before they turn into a disruption.
The purpose of this study is to create a general algorithm for solving technical problems during the operation period of AOCC (72 hours before departure time) and especially in the 5-hour period before departure time. To create this algorithm, 20 participants working in the AOCC technical monitoring unit at airline companies in Turkey operating with a fleet with more than 10 aircraft with a capacity of 20 or more seats were interviewed and they were asked to create an algorithm for solving technical problems and malfunctions in OCC operation period. As a result of these interviews, the algorithm specified in the findings section has emerged. This algorithm shows certain technical problems can be solved before they turn into a disruption, and in some cases, the disruption is inevitable. Thus, it can be concluded that AOCC can reduce operation costs by managing technical problems at an optimum level and thus contribute to the achievement of the strategic goals of the airline business. In addition, it has been concluded that technical service agreements in non-base aerodrome due to insufficient aircraft resources have significant importance. For the same reason, it can be said that the problems in the aerodromes outside the base that are solved with aircraft source will result in disruption. Because in general there is no aircraft source in non-base aerodrome of the airlines. Finally, it is thought that later this study will be developed and converted into a computer program to contribute to the elimination of problems in airway management.
