- Programme to be rolled out to all 2,500 Qatar Airways pilots by Autumn 2014
- Application saves paper, reduces costs and is extremely convenient
DOHA, Qatar, 2014-04-2 — /Travel PR News/ — Qatar Airways has begun the rollout of QLOUD, an internally developed mobility application for iPads, which will provide real time and decision-relevant information to the airline’s pilots. Over 500 pilots have already embraced the new technology with 500 more set to begin using QLOUD over the next few weeks. All 2,500 Qatar Airways pilots are expected to be using the QLOUD system by September this year.
Qatar Airways has been innovatively using mobility technology in its various business functions for over three years, ensuring that its workforce, whether on the ground or in air, are able to retrieve decision-relevant information in real time, and in turn improve operational efficiency and enhance customer service.
QLOUD allows pilots to check-in for duty and retrieve important pre-flight information, such as their schedules, flight plans, maps, weather information, details of the crew they are flying with, hotel and destination information and dispatch briefs. This information is accessed at a time and place of their convenience ahead of the flight departure.
Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer, His Excellency, Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are continually investing in mobile technology as a means to provide our workforce with real-time information, when required. Qatar Airways has always been, and continues to be, at the forefront of implementing technology for the purposes of increasing workforce productivity and efficiency, as well as enhancing customer service. We have already rolled out an internally developed iPad-based mobility application called QRUISE for our cabin crew which has been extremely successful.”
QLOUD also provides Qatar Airways pilots with easy access to operational documentation. Hard copies of flight operational manuals and regulatory documentation, which can easily run into thousands of pages, will become obsolete as soft copies will be made available on the iPads. Updates to these documents will be completed automatically by distributing relevant operational manuals and updates to all the pilots through QLOUD programming, which includes acknowledgment of receipt from the pilot. In addition, all the paper-based forms, which were being filled out manually by pilots, have been replaced with electronic forms as part of QLOUD.
QLOUD also aids pilots in scheduling their training, keeping track of their certification and fully supports eLearning. The platform provides easy access to all corporate applications required by pilots, including their email, providing everything needed by the flight crew community on a single device wherever and whenever they need it.
With Aviation Authorities approving iPads for use in the aircraft deck, Qatar Airways intends to enhance QLOUD to supplement and support on-board Electronic Flight Bag technology.
Over the next few months, the Qatar Airway’s network will grow further with Philadelphia, USA (April 2, 2014), Larnaca, Cyprus (April 29), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Turkey (May 22, 2014), Edinburgh, Scotland (May 28, 2014), Miami, USA (June 10, 2014), Haneda, Japan (June 18, 2014) and Dallas/Fort Worth, USA (July 1, 2014).
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For images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/qatarairways/sets/72157643303060033/
Notes to Editors:
Qatar Airways is the national carrier of the State of Qatar. Currently undergoing rapid expansion, Qatar Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world. Now in its 17th year of operations, Qatar Airways has a modern fleet of 131 aircraft flying to 137 key business and leisure destinations across six continents.
On October 30, 2013, Qatar Airways joined the oneworld Alliance, becoming the first Gulf carrier to join a global airline alliance, enabling its customers to benefit from almost 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,000 daily departures.
Award-winning carrier Qatar Airways was presented with three honours at the annual Skytrax 2013 World Airline Awards held during the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, France, last June. The airline was awarded World’s Best Business Class, World’s Best Business Class Lounge and, for the second consecutive year, Best Airline Staff Service in the Middle East.
During the 2013 Dubai Air Show the airline placed orders for more than 60 new aircraft – a mixture of Boeing 777X and Airbus A330 Freighters. In total the airline has 300 aircraft on order worth more than US $50 billion. The airline will move into its new hub and home, Hamad International Airport from early 2014. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com.
For further information contact:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +974 40222072, Fax: +974 40225350
E-mail: qrmedia@qatarairways.com.qa
Website: www.qatarairways.com
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QLOUD, a Qatar Airways designed application, provides pilots with real time and decision-relevant information