Aviobook is a software platform for pilots, dispatchers, cabin crew and others involved in the day-to-day operation of flying.
Between 2010 and 2012 I’ve designed the basics of Aviobook while employed at an agency called Nascom. Later in 2014 I joined the aviation startup full time as more services and modules were being added.
Over time I worked on various platform modules such as aircraft performance calculations, fuel orders, global weather maps and digital flight documentation.
In this case study we will focus on the weight & balance + load planning for the aircraft.
Aviobook is extremely robust, user friendly and one of the most comprehensive EFB suites in the market. The advanced user interface and the embedded workflow elements allow our flight crews to work more efficiently.
An aircraft that is not in balance might tip on its tail and cause great danger, damage and costs. Pilots need to carefully review how the holds are loaded.
Digitize the loading process and ensure a safe digital sign-off flow between loadmaster and captain before take-off.
Worked with 1 product manager, multiple pilots and engineers for 4 months 60% of my time on the module before it was ready to develop.
Currently over 60 airlines use the module in their live operations, and more than 25.000 flights each week are reviewed with Aviobook.
Passengers check in overweight bags, strollers and other items last minute which weren’t accounted for while booking the ticket. All this information and extra weight has to be processed and communicated to ensure a safe flight.
To learn more about the process of loading an aircraft, I traveled to Norway where loading an aircraft is a form of art.
When people live on islands – like in Norway – they heavily depend on the supply of goods from the mainland. Last minute free seats on the aircraft are often put to good use by loading up a few extra crates of soda for the local supermarket.
However, all cargo is planned and logged as flying with a small aircraft in sometimes challenging Scandinavian weather can turn out to be difficult.
During a full day of shadowing loadmasters, I learned all about luggage & cargo intake, loadsheets and the aircraft loading process.
During a full day of flying - 6 short flights hopping islands - I learned about reviewing loadsheets and the aircraft’s weight & balance.
The flow of information between various persona’s didn’t require the use of new devices as first assumed.
A new web-based module for Aviobook Base combined with a module in the Aviobook Flight app was scoped as the MVP.
With acquired insights from the field study, I could create a detailed process map and visualize required tasks & communication.
This served as my mental map to start on the new page models and information architecture for the load management system.
After exploring flows, epic user stories and structure, I double checked them with all stakeholders to make sure I understood everything correctly and didn't make any mistakes.
Based on everything I learned, I created a functional document signed off & validated by various airlines, outlining all the features and screens needed.
The proposal was integrated in the wider Aviobook Base platform. The visual design was inherited from Aviobook Base and its design system.
At the time Aviobook had a partnership with Microsoft to promote its Windows 8 platform in the aviation vertical.
For this partnership I delivered a redesign of the pilot app, including the loadplanning’s weight & balance module based on the Metro design language.
I worked closely with a Polish development team on the first version remote and traveled to Poland frequently to oversee key milestones deliveries in the development.
