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Airline Planning & Operations

Unit Code: HES2915




Duration

Contact Hours

Campus

Prerequisite

Corequisite


One Semester

48 hours

Hawthorn


Nil


Nil

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

A unit of study in the
Bachelor of Aviation,

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Aims & Objectives:

This unit facilitates an understanding of the functions, processes and relationships involved in planning and executing airline operations. The unit examines some of the complexities of planning, coordinating, and controlling a modern airline fleet in the context of operational and commercial environments.
 
At the completion of this unit students should be able to:
  • Identify key airline strategies and business models
  • Describe the characteristics of a market and a route analysis
  • Describe the characteristics of fleet selection in terms of schedule and operational control
  • Describe the inter-relationships among numerous operational and commercial areas of an airline.
  • Demonstrate an ability to construct a schedule
  • Demonstrate an ability to solve operational problems
  • Practise effectively in a team

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Teaching Methods:

Classroom based plus a voluntary site visit to a major airline, airport or aviation facilities organisation (voluntary and self funded by students).

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Assessment:

Two Individual/group components (worth 60%)
Examination (worth 40%)

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Generic Skills Outcomes:

  • teamwork skills, 
  • analysis skills,
  • problem solving skills, 
  • communications skills, 
  • ability to tackle unfamiliar problems, and 
  • ability to work independently.

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Content:

Airline operational strategy and objectives
Regulatory Operational Framework
Direction setting of airline operations

Planning operations
Route structure, route planning and route market analysis
System Connectivity
Fleet Planning
Passenger and Freight operations
 
Network Scheduling
Operational Control
Planning and Current day control, Port Co-ordination
 
Crew Scheduling
Technical and Flight Attendant Crewing - tours of duty, restrictions
 
Maintenance Scheduling
Maintenance release hours, line and hangar servicing
 
Aircraft Ground Handling
Ramp, Despatch, Gate/block functions, Ground servicing, Catering, Cabin cleaning, Refuelling, Passengers and baggage and Freight unloading/loading
Reservations, scheduling, crewing and operations
 
Aircraft Load Planning and Load Control
Review of a (narrow body) ‘Weight & Balance Manual’ (envelope, maximum structural weights, fuel curves, cabin configuration, galley etc)
Load report for airlines – curtailing envelopes (fuel, passenger movement, potable water, flap/gear movement, seat row or zone
Load Control systems – computer and manual load sheets.

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Textbooks:

Nil prescribed text

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References:

Bazagan, M. (2004). Airline Operations and Scheduling, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Clark, P. (2007), Buying the Big Jets, 2nd ed, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Holloway, S. (2002), Airlines: Managing to Make Money, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Holloway, S. (2003), Straight and Level: Practical Airline Economics, 2nd ed., Ashgate, Aldershot
Rapajic, J. (2009). Beyond Airline Disruptions, Ashgate, Aldershot.
Shaw, S. (2007), Airline Marketing and Management, 6th ed, Ashgate, Aldershot.

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