Real-Time Statisical Analysis Using User Dashboard Charts in Aviation Safety Software

Analyzing Statistics in Real Time Using Aviation Safety Software

Real-time statistical analysis of airline and airport safety data can be performed in many ways when data exists in a centralized database, such as SMS Pro. SMS Pro recently upgraded User Dashboard charts and offers more than 20 new charts that managers can arrange to create their own personalized dashboard. These dashboard charts have been built using the latest Web technologies.

Most User Dashboard charts are intuitive and require little explanation, such as dashboard maps plotting recently reported hazards. Some aviation safety managers have requested an explanation of this following chart, labelled "Types of Issue Statistics."

Airline/Airport Risk Management Statistical Reports

The above statistical analysis chart is broken down in three sections:

• Created Issues within last 30 days;
• Closed Issues within last 30 days; and
• Severity of Reported Issues within last 30 days.

Scanning down the left-most column, we see these following labels, that correspond to the types of issues managed in SMS Pro:

• Safety;
• Security;
• Quality;
• Compliance; and
• Environmental.

When using these real-time statistical analysis charts, tool tips appear when you hover over column titles and bars within the "Created," "Closed," and "Severity Average" columns.

Reported Issues Within Last 30 Days

Under the Created Issues section, the "#" column provides the raw number of issues reported within the last 30 days. The "%" column illustrates the percentage of issues in the corresponding row, whether they are safety, security, quality, compliance or environmental issues. Finally, the column labelled "Since last month" illustrates the rate of change within the past 30 days for each type of issue.

Issues Closed Within Last 30 Days

Under the Closed Issues section, the "#" column provides number of issues closed within the last 30 days. The "%" column shows the percentage of issues closed within the corresponding row, such as safety, security, quality, compliance or environmental issues. Finally, the Closed Issues column labelled "Since last month" provides the rate of change within the past 30 days for each type of closed issue.

Severity of Newly Reported Issues Within Last 30 Days

Under the Severity section, the "%" column provides an interesting number from 0 to 100%. SMS Pro developers map your risk matrix to a percentage value to provide an indication as to how severe your reported issues were during the past 30 days. 100% indicates that all reported issues were risk assessed as the most severe possible on your risk matrix. Each row will have a separate value to determine risk for each type of reported issues, including safety, security, quality, compliance or environmental issues. The column labelled "Since last month" provides organizational risk rate of change within the past 30 days for each type of issue.

The final column at the right of the chart shows users the average severity of reported issues within the past year for each type of reported issue.


More Information on User Dashboard Charts
Configurable Aviation SMS Dashboard Reporting Software

For more information on SMS Pro, visit this aviation safety management software (SMS) software website.

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.

Configurations for Reported Issues Notifications in Aviation SMS Software

Configuring Hazard Notifications in Aviation SMS Software

SMS Pro's recent December 2013 upgrade brought many improvements. Some enhancements are noticeable to all users, such as the "Automatic Logoff" feature that prompts users to continue their session after user activity ceases. Other aviation safety features are more subtle.

Here we discuss three features, two of which are new.

1) Disable Reported Issues' Emails Feature

SMS Pro support staff can migrate your legacy data into SMS Pro's aviation safety database software using scripts. We require that the data comes to us in an MS Excel spreadsheet, so we can analyze and prepare the data migration scripts.

Many airlines and airports have their legacy safety reports' data in MS Word or paper format. In this case, you will have to have data entry personnel enter in these reported issues manually. Data entry personnel have capabilities to enter reports on behalf of other employees in the system. It was as if the initial reporters submitted the issues when Data Entry personnel submit reports.

As you know, when issues are reported in SMS Pro, email notifications are sent to those reporting issues and managers configured to receive notifications of newly reported issues. When entering considerable numbers of legacy reports manually, users can become spammed mercilessly from the aviation safety management software.

New Feature to Disable Reported Issues' Emails

An enhancement now exists to turn off ALL email notifications for your aviation safety portal. Simply ask SMS Pro support staff to turn off all reported email notifications. Take your time and manually insert your legacy data. When you are ready to enable email notifications, simply contact SMS Pro support staff. This is an easy configuration for us. See image below.

2) Automatic Logoff Feature in Aviation Safety Management Software

Military and police organizations have strict Web security protocols that must be followed, such as SSL and automatic logoff of inactive users. A few airlines and airports may also have the need to automatically logoff inactive users after a certain period of inactivity. SMS Pro will now logoff inactive users 15 minutes after the last time a user refreshed the screen. See example below, requesting user to continue the session.

This automated logoff feature is similar to banking software behavior. If your SMS Admin feels that 15 minutes is too short, contact SMS Pro support staff and request a longer period. Available settings are:

• 15;
• 30;
• 45;
• 60; and
• 75 minutes.

3) Task Lead Time in Aviation Safety Software

The aviation safety management software SMS Pro notifies users when tasks are overdue, such as corrective preventive actions, assigned issues, work orders, etc. By default, notifications are sent out when the item is overdue. This is not a new feature, but work reminding SMS Admins about.

If your airline or airport wants to have "Lead Time" associated with these automated notifications, SMS Pro can send "warnings" to users when issues are about to become overdue. For example, your airline or airport personnel may want to be warned three days in advance that their assigned task will become due.

Contact SMS Pro support staff if you want to configure "Task Lead Time."

SMS Pro is a very full-featured, configurable aviation safety management system software application. If you don't see a configuration or a particular module, tell us about your needs and we'll work with you. Chances are the features are already built into SMS Pro.

Thank you for supporting SMS Pro and making SMS Pro one of the best aviation safety management software tools on the market. To learn more about aviation safety management software tools, see http://www.asms-pro.com

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.

Understanding User Dashboard Chart - Reporting Culture in Aviation Safety Software

Current Reporting Culture as of Today

Understanding your current reporting culture is an important exercise for any airline or airport safety manager. What perceptions toward your aviation safety management goals and objectives do airline and airport personnel currently hold? A question recently appeared regarding one of the new User Dashboard charts in SMS Pro's aviation safety management software. See the User Dashboard chart below:

Question: what does maximum 26 issues reported in 7 days relate to?

SMS Pro Fails to Make Intuitive Dashboard Charts

SMS Pro routinely creates new aviation safety software tools for airline and airport SMS programs. One measure of our success is when users intuitively understand the functionality or purpose of tools without further documentation. In this case, we failed and hope to explain this very useful dashboard chart. If you want to see the user-configurable dashboard to which this chart belongs, see User Configurable Dashboard in Aviation Safety Management Software

Explanation of Real Time Hazard Reporting Culture Chart

At the bottom of this aviation SMS charting tool are three radio buttons corresponding to three different result sets. The default selection is "7 Days." One can easily get another result set to fill the gauge and legend by selecting another option, such as "Month" or "Year."

For the current date the above aviation SMS chart was displayed to the user, 13 issues had been reported within the past 7 days. Result sets come from real time data and can change throughout the day. For the life of this particular aviation SMS portal, the maximum number of reported hazards (issues), not counting audit issues, for any given "7-day" time period was 26.

Reporting Culture Dashboard Chart Pulls Fresh Data on Demand

As mentioned, upon selecting "Month" or "Year," the legend changes to reflect:

• How many issues were reported within the "Selected Time Period;" and
• What is the maximum number of reported issues for the history of the portal for any "Selected Time Period."

Use Caution & Common Sense When Interpreting Hazard Reporting Data

The displayed metrics in this chart offer an indication of the current reporting culture in relation to the life of your SMS program. Several factors may affect these result for any given period, for example:

• Safety promotion newsletters increasing awareness and motivating employees to submit issues;
• Allowing contractors and customers to submit hazards and quality concerns using email and public hazard reporting tools;
• Providing aviation SMS training to airline or airport employees; and
• Organizational restructuring that causes sudden increase or decrease in number of active employees.

As with any data result, one has to be careful as to how you interpret this "snap shot" of your aviation SMS program. If a manager suddenly enters a large stack of paper-based reports, the result set will appear skewed.

We hope the above explanation satisfies any questions to the this User Dashboard chart. There are more than 20 User Dashboard charts in SMS Pro's user configurable dashboard. If you have any questions regarding other reports, please contact us and we'll provide a detailed explanation.

To see the configurable dashboard in action, follow this link:
http://aviationsafetysoftware.blogspot.com/2013/11/aviation-sms-software-configurable.html

Thank you for supporting SMS Pro and making SMS Pro one of the best aviation safety management software tools on the market. To learn more about aviation safety management software tools, see http://www.asms-pro.com

How to best help your
Aviation Safety Management System

Become an SMS PRO

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.

Aviation Safety Management Software - Aircraft Weight & Balance

Aircraft Weight & Balance Software Best for Cargo & Commercial Carriers

There are many free aircraft weight and balance software apps on the market today. They have several limitations, including accuracy and platform dependency, such as Apple specific, Android, etc. NWDS, makers of the popular aviation safety management systems (SMS) software SMS Pro have developed a new device-agnostic aircraft weight & balance software application called Perfect Balance v2.

All modern devices that support HTML5 can use this aviation safety software, including:

• IPhone;
• IPad;
• Android;
• Blackberry;
• Windows Browsers (after IE 8);
• Chrome;
• Firefox;
• Safari.

More information about Perfect Balance's aircraft weight & balance software can be found at: http://www.weightbalanceaircraftsoftware.com

Aircraft Weight & Balance Software Video

For more information on SMS Pro, visit this aviation safety management software (SMS) software website.

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.

Aviation SMS Software Configurable Dashboard Features - Video & Screenshots - NEW!!!

Aviation Safety Management Dashboard Features Coming Soon

Since 2010, SMS Pro's User Dashboard has remained fairly static. New User Dashboard features include approximately 20 reports to choose from, based on your user permissions. The new SMS Pro dashboard is configurable by managers and end users alike. Users position reports on their home screen and save their preferences. 

Short Video Preview of User Dashboard

To see a quick 3.5 minute video of the Aviation SMS Software Dashboard, see

http://screencast.com/t/8mISe9nOnI

Configurable Dashboard Saves Aviation SMS Report Preferences

User Dashboard preferences can be changed as new reports appear, or as needs change. For example, a manager may assume a new role as the Director of Training. Reports exists specifically for this role, which the user may wish to view each morning when he comes to work on his home screen. SMS Pro allows users to easily configure Dashboard reports without contacting IT support staff.

Focus on KPIs in Aviation SMS Reports with SMS Pro's User Dashboard

Below are examples of the types of reports available in SMS Pro's User Dashboard, which include your aviation safety performance indicators or KPIs:

• Reported Issues (several variations);
• User Login statistics;
• Top Reporters
• Map and Location Data regarding recent reports;
• Top Root Causes of Incidents;
• Training & Qualifications (expiring)

If you need a special report to put into your User Dashboard, contact SMS Pro's sales & support at techsupport@nwds-ak.com and put in your request.

Screenshots of SMS Pro aviation safety management system (SMS) User Dashboard

Users can drag and drop aviation safety reports to suit their needs.

Aviation SMS Software Dashboard Configurator allows users to easily manage dashboard configurations.

How to best help your
Aviation Safety Management System

Become an SMS PRO

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.

Aviation SMS Database Software Security

Ensuring Aviation SMS Software Data Security & Integrity

A customer recently asked: "Is the safety data-base properly secured and confidentiality of data adequately protected? I know you have this covered but do you have something I can put in my manual to keep my auditor happy."

Short background of SMS Pro team developing aviation SMS Software

Before SMS Pro was developed by NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) in Anchorage, Alaska, its software engineers spent several years developing enterprise-level Web applications for department of defense (DoD) contractors. They also participated in a few DoD Web security research projects that focused on best security practices for the Web.

Data Security for Aviation SMS Software

We are not able to divulge security protocols for SMS Pro as releasing this information is a security risk. However, we can provide this information:

Data is backed up nightly and stored on two different servers in two geographically distinct regions of the United States.

Server rooms remain locked and secured from unauthorized access.

Data is secured behind enterprise grade firewalls. Data access is based on Microsoft's role provider.

Database access is restricted to application security protocols.

SSL can be applied upon client request and at client's expense.

For more information on SMS Pro, visit this aviation safety management software (SMS) software website.

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.

Pilot Flight-Duty Time Configuration in SMS Pro

Pilot Flight-Duty Time Configuration in SMS Pro

SMS Pro's Web based aviation safety management software has an integrated pilot flight duty time module that automatically reports flight/duty time exceedances to airline safety managers and others who may be configured to receive such notifications. The Pilot Flight Duty Time module had many possible configurations, but recently, helicopter operators and scheduled airlines recently requested additional configuration parameters. In this short post, we look at the current configuration parameters in this Web based pilot duty time limitations software.

Current Pilot Duty Time Limitations Software Configurations

As you can see from the following screenshot, SMS Pro's pilot flight duty time limitations module has several sections, including

• Flight/Duty Time Threshold Settings;
• Minimum Consecutive Rest Hours;
• Flight Attendants Duty Time; and
• Manage Alerts and Exceedances.

Besides alerting pilots that their flight duty time is about to exceed, SMS Pro's flight duty time software reports exceptions in the Web based aviation hazard reporting software.

Many Airlines Don't Have Modern Pilot Flight Duty Time Software

We have been surprised at how many operators are managing flight duty time using paper or MS Excel spreadsheets or very archaic DOS software packages. If you are interested in looking at SMS Pro's Pilot Flight Duty Time module, contact us or visit the SMS Pro site to best learn how our aviation safety management software can help your operation.

Revised Flight Duty Software Settings (Dec 2, 2013)

For current SMS Pro users, please review the above configurations to determine whether they are suitable. If you need a special configuration, please notify SMS Pro tech support immediately so we can incorporate the settings.

How to best help your
Aviation Safety Management System

Become an SMS PRO

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About NWDS - founded in 2003 by six software engineers, NorthWest Data Solutions (NWDS) provides custom computer programming and systems design services. NWDS creates many types of software, including e-commerce, financial, defense, engineering, logistics, aviation and more. In 2007, NWDS developed SMS Pro™ a web based SMS application that supports an organization's overall SMS through safety reporting, safety documentation, safety risk management and safety assurance. SMS Pro™ is currently used by aviation organizations in the U.S., Canada, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East to help manage their SMS programs. NWDS continues to support SMS Pro™ and add new functionality. NWDS offers custom contract programming services in the U.S. and Canada and is managed by Chris Howell, one of the founders. Their headquarters is in Anchorage, Alaska. For information on NWDS visit their website at www.nwds-ak.com and www.asms-pro.com to learn more about SMS Pro™.