A Preliminary Problem Description for a Course Project

MIS 375

Fall 2003

October 29, 2003

Revised: October 31. 2003

Purpose: to provide an introduction to a problem requiring the application of data management skills and tools.

Introduction: Several years ago, two recently graduated college students started a small flight school at the Moorhead Airport. They purchased a small, trainer airplane (a Cessna 172) and gave instruction to student pilots who wanted a private pilot license. In addition to training, the school rented their airplane to their students, recent pilot graduates, and other customers. The two instructors also did some paid flying including sight-seeing tours, unscheduled delivery of packages to smaller area towns, and fire patrol. The name of their business is Vast Plains Aviation.

Their business has weathered some of the ups and downs of the aviation industry and they are currently enjoying an up-swing in the corporate aviation market. They have expanded their flight school to include 3 more instructors and have added several more training aircraft. On average, they have 30 to 45 active student pilots pursuing varying certificates and ratings. They maintain good customer relationships with former students and local pilots who rent their aircraft for pleasure flying or to maintain their flying skills. Their commercial operations have also grown and they now employ two full-time commercial pilots and have a few larger aircraft in their inventory. They regularly subcontract with UPS and local businesses to delivery small packages.

One of their biggest problems is tracking all of the different flights, instructors, corporate pilots, students, planes, and rentals. On more than one occasion, the same plane has been scheduled for different flights. Also, money has been lost when a flight was not recorded or the records where misplaced. The owners realize that they need help with organizing their business and are seeking help with their problems.

Some specifics: The core of this business is the flight school. In addition to the private pilot certificate, a student may pursue an Instrument Rating, a Commercial Certificate, a Multiengine Rating, or an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate (ATP). Students may also work towards an endorsement to flight different types of aircraft such as Complex, High-performance, or Conventional Landing Gear (tail-draggers). Private pilot and instrument students each have a primary instructor with whom they have the majority of their flights. However, they may fly with other instructors. Along with flying, students also receive ground instruction in a classroom. Students and instructors schedule instruction together in an aircraft or a classroom. Students may also train without an instructor if a student pilot has solo’ed or already has a pilot’s license. Depending on the area of study, a student may use one of several training aircraft. However, not all aircraft can be used in all areas of training. For example, a multi-engine student needs a multi-engine type airplane; an instrument student needs an instrument equipped airplane. Likewise, not all instructors can give instruction in every area. A Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) can train most student pilots but cannot give instrument instruction – that is done by a Instrument CFI (CFII). Likewise, a CFI needs to be Multi-engine rated to give Multi-engine instruction.

Customers are charged an hourly rate for aircraft rental and instruction. The cost of instruction varies with the level of instruction. Basic instruction for students getting a private pilots license is $30/hr, advanced instruction (other than private) is $35/hr, assuming you are using the school’s airplanes. If you are using your own airplane, the instruction rate is $45/hr. Ground instruction is $25/hr. The typical training aircraft are as follows:

Type	Identification	Rate ($/hr)	Usage
Cessna 152	N123X	50	Primary
Cessna 152	N234Y	50	Primary
Cessna 172	N701SP	100	Instrument
Cessna 172	N218SP	100	Instrument
Cessna 182	N182Q	110	Commercial
Cessna 182RG	N820R	120	Commercial
Piper Seminole	N345A	250	Multi-engine

More specifics: Some customers who are not regular students also receive instruction. The three most common types of “irregular” instruction are: biennial flight reviews (BFRs) – required for all pilots every 2 years; instrument proficiency checks – if an instrument pilot hasn’t flown recently; and, rental check-out – done for customers who want to rent the schools airplane but are not students nor recent graduates. Most of these check rides are 1 to 2 hours long. Another flight they give is an Introduction to Flight ride that gives a perspective student a feel for flight training. Intro rides cost $45 and last about 30 minutes.

The other half of Vast Plains’ business is corporate charter aviation. They still continue to take “odd jobs” like sight-seeing (often taking up a photographer) or fire-patrol. In addition they regularly flight freight or passengers to towns in the region. They have 2 full time corporate pilots. When they are available, the flight instructors may serve as corporate pilots along with other part timers that can be called in as needed. The cost these services varies. Most sight seeing is done in a Cessna 172 or Cessna 182; fire-patrol is often done in the Cessna 182. The pilot rate for sight-seeing and fire-patrol is $30/hr. The pilot must hold a Commercial certificate.

Charter flying can be done in several aircraft and all of these flights require the pilot to have a Commercial certificate. When chartering an aircraft for passenger transport or special delivery of freight, the entire aircraft is rented at its hourly rate. The pilot or pilots are also paid the charter rate of $50/hr. When transporting one or two passengers or freight weighing less than 400 lbs, a Cessna 182 or Cessna 182RG may be used. However for carrying more passengers or more freight, other aircraft must be chartered. These aircraft include:

Type	ID	Rate ($/hr)	Psngr	Cargo	Speed	Engines
Cessna 182	N182Q	110	2	400 lbs	110	1
Cessna 182RG	N820R	120	2	400 lbs	115	1
Piper Seminole	N345A	250	3	600 lbs	160	2
Piper Navajo	N77PN	350	5	1000 lbs	160	2
Beech King Air C-90	N567T	750	6	1200 lbs	220	2

The total charge for a charter flight is the hourly rates times the flight duration with a 25% markup for delays and the like. Some towns that are frequently visited by the charter service are listed below:

Town	Distance
Minot, ND	200
Bismarck, ND	170
Pierre, SD	205
Duluth, MN	180
St. Paul, MN	195
Rapid City, SD	300
Rochester, MN	260
Sioux Falls, SD	240

Freight is handled a variety of ways. A customer may charter an entire airplane for their own freight or they may purchase postage on a per pound basis. One King Air Regularly flies from Moorhead to St. Paul Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday evening. On each flight 150 pounds of freight is available for a customer at $2.00 a pound. On Mondays and Fridays, the same offer is available with a destination of Duluth. Typically, two or three customers send 30 to 50 pounds of freight each on these regular flights.

Some of the pilots currently employed by Vast Plains are:

Pilot	Ratings and Certificates	Hours
Sally Johnson	Private, Commercial, CFI, CFII, Instrument, Multi-engine	3447
Joe Smith	Private, Commercial, CFI, Instrument	876
Jane Olson	Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi-engine	1134
Susie Schmidt	Private, Commercial, Instrument, CFII	655
Jack Johnson	Private, Commercial, Instrument, CFI, CFII	2819
Jim “Bud” Nelson	Private, Commercial, Instrument, Multi-engine	5984
Jim “Big Jim” Nelson	Private, Commercial, Instrument, CFI, CFII, Multiengine	1766