| Frequently Asked Questions |
Is your STAR software approved by the FAA for weight and balance and runway analysis?
Is STAR easy to use?
What type of training is required with STAR?
Will STAR integrate with my core operating system?
What hardware investments are required to run STAR?
Can ASAP provide a complete package of hardware with the STAR program installed?
How is your STAR software kept up-to-date?
If an airport is not found in the STAR system, how do we acquire it?
How is the STAR software updated if we do not have Internet connectivity?
How can ASAP STAR help increase my operational revenue?
How can ASAP STAR increase flight safety?
How does ASAP STAR reduce paperwork?
How does ASAP STAR help maximize payload?
How does STAR support the needs of Chief Pilots?
How does STAR support the needs of Directors or VPs of Operations?
How does STAR support the needs of Safety Directors?
Why should Dispatch Managers be interested in STAR?
How does STAR support the role and needs of Pilots?
Why should Fleet Managers be interested in STAR?
How can STAR help Load Planners?
Why does it make sense for me to use ASAP printed manuals?
Why would I want to spend the money to upgrade from printed manuals to electronic software?
I cannot find my aircraft/engine type in your available list. How long will it take for you to build a new one into your program?
How often is your airport data updated?
How does ASAP handle NOTAMS?
What airport characteristics factor into your runway analysis data?
When are turn procedures for obstacle avoidance available?
Is information for intersection departures available?
Can you provide runway analysis in kilograms?
How large/small are your customers’ operations?
How do you assist with revision control regulations for paper manuals?
Your weight and balance substantiation reports are done with the working manifest and tables in the Adjusted Weight Method. What is the Adjusted Weight Method?
Does ASAP maintain our OEW?
Is your product approved by the FAA for weight and balance and runway analysis?
Yes. Our software has been FAA approved and is being used by carriers world-wide.
Is STAR easy to use?
Extremely easy. STAR features pilot input intuitive touch screens in a system layout. For example, the user can change the number of passengers on board, and instantly the system recalculates the entire weight and balance load manifest and ensures that all limitations are satisfied.
What type of training is required with STAR?
STAR requires minimal training (no more than two hours) in the overall procedure.
Will STAR integrate with my core operating system?
Yes, the system is Microsoft-based with open database architecture.
What hardware investments are required to run STAR?
STAR runs on standard off-the-shelf PCs for flight operations personnel and on all Electronic Flight Bags.
Can ASAP provide a complete package of hardware with the STAR program installed?
No. We rely on dedicated hardware providers and can refer accordingly.
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How is your STAR software kept up-to-date?
The system will look for an internet connection and automatically update the software and databases if needed.
How is the STAR software updated if we do not have Internet connectivity?
We can send updates to the system via CD or other media type on a monthly basis.
If an airport is not found in the STAR system, how do we acquire it?
We offer 24/7 services. Simply call us and we will enter the airport data and then you can download the information from our secure online extranet.
How can ASAP STAR help increase my operational revenue?
STAR increases operational revenue by maximizing payload, reducing engine maintenance and fuel cost, reducing fuel costs through more fuel-efficient center of gravity loading procedures, reducing the time required to perform manual data input, enabling faster turn times, and reducing the risk of FAA-related penalties.
How can ASAP STAR increase flight safety?
- Computerized Weight and Balance combined with Runway Analysis Performance ensures that all limits are in compliance. The computerized STAR system ensures accurate takeoff speeds, thrust settings and stabilizer settings without human error.
- Any changes in passengers, cargo, fuel, mel/cdl, or atmospheric conditions can be quickly input, with calculations returned instantly so that crews have exact data. This feature eliminates both the potential rushing of manual calculations and the temptation to make assumptions that the numbers are approximated with sufficient accuracy.
- Flight crews are removed from having to manually calculate performance data or corrections, thus freeing more time to concentrate on other areas.
- Non-standard engine failure turn departure procedures are displayed, when applicable, requiring the user to physically view the procedure before receiving the final performance data. This ensures that the crew is aware of any non-standard procedures for their flight.
- The system maintains each aircraft's Operational Empty Weight and checks each time for updates to the system. Correct Operational Empty Weights are always being used.
- Airport data is automatically updated for each revision cycle immediately. Crews can be assured that they are using the most up to date information.
- STAR ensures FAA compliance in weight & balance and runway analysis performance data calculations.
- STAR removes human error in determining if all limitations are met. A recent cargo airline survey determined that 80 percent of all manual weight and balance manifests were incorrect by exceeding a loading limitation.
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How does ASAP STAR reduce paperwork?
Electronically stored forms and transmitted electronically to the airline server for archive purposes. Using STAR means a paperless cockpit, an FAA priority. It also eliminates the need for cockpit paper maintenance.
How does ASAP STAR help maximize payload?
Computerized placement of cargo ensures the best loading scenario for maximized payload. Exact calculations of runway analysis performance data give maximum performance limits without conservative adjustments for atmospheric conditions and MEL/CDL items.
How does STAR support the needs of Chief Pilots?
STAR helps Chief Pilots through a number of specific features and benefits, including:
- Standardization of weight and balance and runway analysis across multiple fleet types. The STAR system ensures that pilots have correct takeoff speeds, thrust settings, flap settings, and stabilizer settings for the exact aircraft configuration and atmospheric conditions.
- Manual flight crew calculations are removed and replaced with accurate computer calculations.
- The STAR system quickly calculates all weight and balance and runway analysis performance data, thus reducing possible flight crew departure delays.
- The system is easy to use and intuitive by nature, meaning that everyone involved in pre-flight planning can obtain accurate weight and balance and runway analysis performance data.
How does STAR support the needs of Directors or VPs of Operations?
The STAR system assists Directors and VP-Operations in the following ways:
- The STAR system ensures uniformity of the entire workforce, as well as offering a complete solution to an airline's complete weight and balance, and runway analysis performance needs.
- With STAR, all airport data is self-contained within a worldwide airport database, and is updated automatically through the ASAP web site, thereby eliminating the need for multiple personnel, complex procedures, and possibility of human error inherent with maintaining paper manuals.
- STAR permits flight crews to instantly reduce runway length due to last minute NOTAM shortening, thus eliminating costly flight delays. STAR produces all necessary information at a flight crew’s fingertips to avoid costly delays.
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How does STAR support the needs of Safety Directors?
The STAR system helps Safety Directors by contributing to increased flight safety in a number of ways, including:
- Computerized Weight and Balance combined with Runway Analysis Performance ensures that all limits are in compliance. The computerized STAR system ensures accurate takeoff speeds, thrust settings and stabilizer settings without human error.
- Any changes in passengers, cargo, fuel, mel/cdl, or atmospheric conditions can be quickly input, with calculations returned instantly so that crews have exact data. This feature eliminates both the potential rushing of manual calculations and the temptation to make assumptions that the numbers are approximated with sufficient accuracy.
- Flight crews are removed from having to manually calculate performance data or corrections, thus freeing more time to concentrate on other areas.
- Non-standard engine failure turn departure procedures are displayed, when applicable, requiring the user to physically view the procedure before receiving the final performance data. This ensures that the crew is aware of any non-standard procedures for their flight.
- The system maintains each aircraft's Operational Empty Weight and checks each time for updates to the system. Correct Operational Empty Weights are always being used.
- Airport data is automatically updated for each revision cycle immediately. Crews can be assured that they are using the most up to date information.
- STAR ensures FAA compliance in weight & balance and runway analysis performance data calculations.
- STAR removes human error in determining if all limitations are met. A recent cargo airlinesurvey determined that 80 percent of all manual weight and balance manifests were incorrect by exceeding a loading limitation.
Why should Dispatch Managers be interested in STAR?
STAR helps Dispatch Managers by:
- Using a Dispatch function to determine runway analysis maximum weight calculations for the Departure, Arrival and Alternate stations all on one easy to use screen, thus reducing manpower workload.
- Reducing errors by eliminating the need to look at runway analysis manuals. The system provides an automatic method of calculating the data for non-standard situations and inoperative equipment compared to today having the dispatcher manually calculate the data for non-standard situations with human error involved.
- Paper updates are also eliminated, which take time and can be missed all together. The STAR system automatically updates the data through an Internet connection.
How does STAR support the role and needs of Pilots?
Pilots benefit from the STAR system by:
- Instantly accessing runway analysis and weight and balance data through a simple online method.
- Pilots no longer have to graph the final zero fuel and takeoff center of gravity and ensure the aircraft is loaded within limits. With STAR, data on all variables is computer-calculated using exact atmospheric conditions, aircraft inoperative systems, aircraft icing, etc. This removes the human error, greatly reduces the time involved, and frees up time for the pilot to accomplish checklists; discuss departure procedures, and other pre-departure items.
Why should Fleet Managers be interested in STAR?
STAR benefits Fleet Managers by:
- Ensuring that correct, up-to-date Operating Empty Weight data is always being used.
- Eliminating the problems of transposing numbers from tables and manuals to the weight and balance manifest. With STAR, the system completes these tasks automatically and can electronically store the manifests for mandatory archiving and retrieval of historical data and valuable trends.
How can STAR help Load Planners?
For Load Planners, STAR represents a reliable tool to determine placement of cargo for efficient loading and ensures that all limit restrictions are accounted for. Today the Load Planner may have to rework the manifest many times to achieve loading of the aircraft within limits. With STAR, this is no longer a concern.
Why does it make sense for me to use ASAP printed manuals?
ASAP printed manuals offer up-to-date, highly reliable information regarding:
- Runway Analysis
- Weight & Balance
- Extensive Database on Aircraft Types, Runways
- Obstacle Avoidance Procedures (Turn Procedures)
- Managing NOTAMS (Notice to Air Men)
- FAA Certification
Why would I want to spend the money to upgrade from printed manuals to electronic software?
ASAP’s STAR software for Runway Analysis and Weight & Balance provides exact calculations based on continuously updated and verified data. By upgrading from printed manuals to the STAR software, customers may be eligible for discounts. The STAR software provides up-to-date, highly reliable information on:
- Runway Analysis
- Weight & Balance
- Airport Data
- FAA Certification
ASAP’s STAR software is PC and Mac compatible, ACARs transmissible, and Windows-based. It is compatible with most flight bag hardware, and provides real-time updates of all runway and aircraft data through around-the-clock online access.
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I cannot find my aircraft/engine type in your available list. How long will it take for you to build a new one into your program?
Upon receiving your AFM and related documents, we will provide an estimate. It usually will take 3 or 4 weeks.
How often is your airport data updated?
Airport characteristics are updated monthly. If a customer has new information on a specific location before a revision is issued then that can be changed in the database/analysis.
How does ASAP handle NOTAMS?
We monitor NOTAMS and issue analyses based on long-term NOTAMS in revisions. Short-term NOTAMS can be easily created by the customer using our software.
What airport characteristics factor into your runway analysis data?
Obstacles, slope, elevation, and runway lengths (including TORA, TODA, ASDA, LDA).
When are turn procedures for obstacle avoidance available?
Many general engine-failure procedures are built into the ASAP airport database. Further development of general and/or custom turns will be handled in a timely manner.
Is information for intersection departures available?
Hundreds of intersection lengths are already in our database. Customers can contact us to create new intersection analyses or build it themselves through the NOTAM function.
Can you provide runway analysis in kilograms?
Yes.
How large/small are your customers’ operations?
We provide services to a wide range in size of flight programs.
How do you assist with revision control regulations for paper manuals?
We use multiple checks and balances to assure matching dates and revision numbers throughout the updates.
Your weight and balance substantiation reports are done with the working manifest and tables in the Adjusted Weight Method. What is the Adjusted Weight Method?
The weight and Center of Gravity (CG) units are combined into one number. The weight is rounded to the nearest 100 or 10 pounds with the CG units being the last three digits.
Does ASAP maintain our OEW?
Yes. As changes are made to the aircraft, we will take the weight report and compile a new appendix containing the OEW for each configuration.
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