Nowadays, most aviation startup airlines are seeking to outsource their operations to an Operations Control Center (OCC). But what exactly does an OCC do and why are more and more startup airlines utilizing this service? In this article, we’ll dive into what an OCC is and explore its vital role in the world of aviation startups.
General Overview of an Operations Control Center (OCC)
An Operations Control Center, often abbreviated as OCC, is the nerve center of an airline’s operations. It serves as a centralized hub where a dedicated team of professionals will monitor, coordinate, and manage various aspects of an airline’s daily activities. From flight scheduling to crew management and from aircraft maintenance to real-time decision-making, the OCC plays a pivotal role in ensuring safe, efficient, and on-time operations.
The Role of OCC in Aviation Startups
The role of the OCC for startup airlines is huge. Here’s how an OCC helps to get a startup airline, up and running:
1. Flight Planning and Scheduling
Critical to the success of a startup airline is ensuring optimal flight planning and scheduling. The OCC uses advanced software and real-time data to create efficient flight schedules, considering factors such as aircraft availability, crew schedules, airspace restrictions, and weather conditions. This ensures that the startup airline maximizes its operational capacity while minimizing costs.
2. Crew Management
Managing flight crew can often cause a headache for flight operations departments with plenty of planning needed. The OCC ensures that all staff are compliant with the regulations and that they are receiving the correct amount of rest. Having an optimized crew management setup in place ensures the startup can maintain a reliable flight schedule and keep disruptions to a minimum.
3. Real-time Monitoring and Decision-making
In the fast-paced aviation industry, you never know when you are going to be stuck with an obstacle to overcome. The OCC monitors flights in real-time, keeping a close eye on factors like weather changes, air traffic congestion, and maintenance issues. This allows startups to react quickly, whether it’s altering flight paths to avoid turbulence or rerouting due to unexpected closures of airspace.
4. Maintenance Coordination
Aircraft maintenance is absolutely vital to ensure the safety of everybody involved. The OCC can oversee maintenance schedules, coordinates unscheduled repairs, and ensures that aircraft are airworthy before each flight. Staying on top of this is crucial and should be taken seriously by all organizations.
Typically, aviation startups are operating with a small or tight budget, and operational inefficiencies can quickly lead to difficult financial situations. The OCC’s ability to optimize resources, reduce fuel consumption, and prevent unnecessary downtime contributes to cost savings and overall financial stability. The main aspect of the OCC being able to efficiently manage and optimize operations, means startups can rest easy knowing their business is being managed and maintained in a way that propels the startup forward.
Conclusion
The Operations Control Center (OCC) is the heartbeat of aviation startups, ensuring that all operations run smoothly, efficiently, and safely. From flight planning and crew management to real-time decision-making and maintenance coordination, the OCC’s role is multi-faceted and critical for the success of startup airlines. By harnessing advanced technology, data-driven insights, and a dedicated team, aviation startups can establish themselves as reliable and competitive players in the dynamic airline industry.
FAQs
The OCC uses advanced software and real-time data to create efficient flight schedules, considering factors such as aircraft availability, crew schedules, airspace restrictions, and weather conditions. This ensures that the startup airline maximizes its operational capacity while minimizing costs.
What is the operations control center of an airline? ›
What Is OCC in an Airline? “OCC” in the context of an airline typically stands for “Operations Control Center” or “Operational Control Center.” The OCC is a central command and control facility where airline operations are monitored, managed, and coordinated.
What is airport Operations Control Center? ›
Airport Operation Control Center solution is a focal system to manage operations, security processes, disruption, and crisis response. AOCC systems provide data integration to equip airport staff and airport stakeholders with updated information for their efforts in coordination, reporting, and analysis.
What is an airline operations controller? ›
As an Airline Operations Controller you will:
Track global weather conditions and interpret METAR and TAF data to advise on significant weather impacts on flight operations. Utilise Eurocontrol's Network Operations Portal to predict and plan for aircraft delays or disruptions.
What is operational control in aviation? ›
According to the official FAA definition, the term operational control “with respect to a flight, means the exercise of authority over initiating, conducting or terminating a flight.” In layman's terms, it simply means who is responsible for safety and regulatory compliance for a particular flight.
What are the airline operations control AOC primary functions? ›
An AOC should be capable of performing the following tasks: ✪ Develop the component strategy and requisite planning products. ✪ Task, execute, and assess day-to-day component operations. ✪ Plan and execute intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasks appropriate to assigned missions.
What is the full form of AOCs in aviation? ›
Attitude and Orbit Control Systems, systems used in the control of spacecraft. Aviation Officer Candidate School.
What is SOCC in aviation? ›
SOCC (Station Operational Compliance Check) is a recurring self-audit compliance check for ground stations, allowing them to define sets of comprehensive checks, along with their required frequency.
How much do operations controllers make? ›
An entry level operations controller (1-3 years of experience) earns an average salary of R971,064. On the other end, a senior level operations controller (8+ years of experience) earns an average salary of R1,776,197.
What is operational control in simple words? ›
Operational control involves control over intermediate-term operations and processes but not business strategies. Operational control systems ensure that activities are consistent with established plans. Mid-level management uses operational controls for intermediate-term decisions, typically over one to two years.
Organizational control systems allow executives to track how well the organization is performing, identify areas of concern, and then take action to address the concerns. Three basic types of control systems are available to executives: (1) output control, (2) behavioral control, and (3) clan control.
What are the three areas of operations control? ›
Operations management includes three levels: strategic, tactical, and operational. The strategic level defines company goals, and the tactical level outlines a plan to implement that strategy. The operations level contains the daily operations required to produce the desired outcome.
What are examples of operational controls? ›
Examples of Operational Controls
- Standard Operating Procedures.
- Contract language.
- Labeling of materials.
- Signage.
- Log books.
- Check lists.
(d) Each pilot in command of an aircraft is, during flight time, in command of the aircraft and crew and is responsible for the safety of the passengers, crewmembers, cargo, and airplane.
What is operational vs strategic control? ›
Strategic control focuses on the overall performance of the organization, while operational control focuses on the performance of specific departments or functions. Strategic control involves making decisions about resource allocation, while operational control involves managing the use of those resources.
What is the difference between operational and management control? ›
Management control is exercised at the middle level to implement strategies. Operational control ensures efficient task completion at the lower/shop floor level. Planning involves rough estimates for the future, while control uses accurate current data to monitor performance against objectives.
