Integral DCS

Passengers check-in is the most important stage of technological service. It is exactly the stage when commercial load of aircraft is being formed and that means profit of passenger terminal. Besides, promptness of check-in considerably determines general efficiency of passenger terminal and passengers’ ability to bring non-aeronautical revenue to the airport — the quicker and simpler check-in will be the more prolonged time passengers will have for visiting shops, cafes and restaurants.
For passengers check-in is often an unpleasant process, especially if they have special needs, travel with skis or bicycle, little kid or dog. Properly organized technology of passenger terminal and its core — passenger check-in and departure control system IS-DCS — helps to service such passengers quickly.

The main goal of IS-DCS system is to increase efficiency of passengers’ check-in, control over loading of aircraft and preparation of commercial documentation. IS-DCS system deals with the following tasks:

• Passenger and reservation lists management
• Printing of boarding passes and baggage tags
• Finding seats for passengers in the cabin of aircraft
• Control of loading and weight and balance calculation
• Control of passengers’ boarding an aircraft
• Preparation of commercial documentation for aircraft’s departure
• Receiving and sending standard IATA messages

Advantages

Peculiarities of the system that are worthy to pay attention to:

• Average time of passenger and baggage check-in — less than 1 minute
• Free passenger and baggage check-in at any counter or self-service kiosk
• The system is built by people and for people so it has a simple and friendly interface
• Optimized choice of seats on the basis of weight and balance calculation, priorities and structure of the transported passengers

Check-in for less than 1 minute

Short check-in time is achieved due to high level of automation of technological process and ergonomical arrangement of workplace of carrier service agent.

Check-in for less than 1 minute enables:

• To shorten waiting time in line for passengers and total time of passengers’ passing through to the sterile zone
• To cut space allocated for lines
• To reduce quantity of technological equipment: check-in counters, introscopes
• To use existing technological equipment efficiently
• To make configuration of baggage handling system simpler
• To set passengers «free» quickly for creating non-aeronautical revenue by visiting cafes and restaurants

Free Check-in

Unlike check-in that is attached to particular counters of airlines free check-in enables to arrange lines of passengers efficiently and to reduce total number of necessary check-in counters by 20% – 30%. For small and medium airports this opportunity helps to avoid inefficient practice of renting check-in counters to airlines and to offer passengers’ check-in as a service to airlines.

Free check-in enables to reduce number of necessary check-in counters or to use existing ones more efficiently. For example: simultaneous check-in for two Boeing 737 flights of different airlines typically needs 4 check-in counters – 2 counters per flight (1 counter for economy class and 1 counter for business class).

With IS-DCS system and free check-in only 3 check-in counters (2 counters for economy class and 1 counter for business class) will be needed.

Simple Interface

Simple and intuitive interface is one of the factors contributing to quick passenger and baggage check-in. IS-DCS system supports data input via touch screen what makes the process of search of passenger in the lists and baggage handling much simpler.

Simple interface helps to save time and energy during airport specialists’ training. New employees of carrier service learn to use IS-DCS check-in system quickly.

The system is supplied in two variants: host and local. In both cases the interface looks identical.

Optimal Choice of Seat

IS-DCS system offers to passenger and baggage check-in agent an optimized passengers’ seating plan prepared in advance on the basis of passengers’ list data (PNL) and aircraft’s center of gravity calculation. The agent only needs to ask passengers about their preferable seats (at the window or near the aisle) and to choose out of the offered variants.

During preparation of recommended seating plan IS-DCS system takes into account the following groups of passengers in order to seat them comfortably and with optimal weight balance for take-off:

• Passengers with children
• Groups of passengers travelling together
• Passengers with special needs and their attendants
• Couples of spouses
• Passengers with special service requirements (SSR)

Technology of passenger Departure

IS-DCS check-in system provides efficient organization of technology of passengers’ check-in and preparation of aircraft for departure by airport’s carrier service:

Passengers check-in agent

Automated workplace for passengers’ check-in agent is installed at the check-in counter and is connected with weighing device of conveyor.

After start of check-in passenger comes to check-in counter, puts his baggage onto weighing conveyor and gives his passport to check-in agent for inspection. The agent scans passport and finds the passenger in passengers’ list for the flight, then chooses a seat in the aircraft’s cabin and inputs data on the passenger’s baggage (weight is automatically read by IS-DCS system from weighing conveyor). After baggage data are fed into the system, IS-DCS prints baggage tags and boarding pass for the passenger.

Equipment:

• Baggage tag printer
• Boarding pass printer
• Passport scanner

Passenger self check-in kiosk

Passengers’ self-check-in kiosk offers an opportunity to check-in for the flight and to print boarding pass independently.

With the help of touch screen passenger types his ticket reservation data (surname and number of reservation). After that the system, in case of necessity, asks the passenger to scan his passport for visa check. Check-in process is completed after a seat in the aircraft’s cabin has been chosen and boarding pass has been printed.

Equipment:

• Passport scanner
• Boarding pass printer
• Credit card reader

Online Check-in

Special application placed at the airport’s homepage enables passenger not only to check in for the flight but also to pay for additional expenses, to order additional service: baggage transportation, special food, taxi, hotel booking. When checking in online passenger prints his boarding pass himself or gets it via e-mail to his smart phone.

Mobile App for passengers check-in Is-MyAirport

Mobile app IS-MyAirport enables passenger to check in for the flight via his smart phone or tablet and also to use his smart phone as a boarding pass to get to special control zone and boarding gate.

In order to check a passenger just has to input reservation data into IS-MyAirport application and to choose a seat in the aircraft’s cabin. If reservation data are received by passenger via e-mail then IS-MyAirport application will find reservation data itself when it will become possible (usually 24 hours prior to the departure).

Excess baggage handling and additional payment for the baggage

System IS-DCS has data on airlines’ baggage transportation norms depending on class of service, thus during check-in of passenger with baggage of excess weight or dimensions the system automatically marks him in the database as a passenger who has to pay for additional service. The passenger has to pay for extra baggage weight otherwise he will not be permitted to enter special control zone. This payment can be made at the special counter with installed workplace «Cashier for excess baggage payment» that prints standard MCO (Miscellaneous Charges Order) forms.

Equipment:

• Excess baggage forms printer

Boarding pass checking attendant

Automated workplace for checking boarding passes is installed at the workplace of aviation security duty agent at the entrance of special control zone. The workplace is equipped with baggage tag reader.

Passenger gives his boarding pass to the agent who puts it against the reader. Then IS-DCS system checks whether the passenger has come to the right gate at the right time, whether he has unpaid baggage, whether there are any objections from aviation security and customs officers concerning the inspected baggage. Basing on these data IS-DCS system makes decision on access of the passenger to pre-flight formalities zone and notifies security duty agent about that.

Equipment:

• Boarding pass reader

Electronic gate for boarding pass reading Is-Egate

The gate is equipped with boarding pass reader. It allows access to pre-flight formalities zone only to checked in passengers whose baggage was successfully passed special and customs control in the baggage handling area.

Passenger comes to the gate, puts his boarding pass against the reader. Then IS-DCS system checks whether the passenger has come to the right gate at the right time, whether he has unpaid baggage, whether there are any objections from aviation security and customs officers concerning the inspected baggage. After that IS-DCS system makes decision on access of the passenger to pre-flight formalities zone and opens the gate or shows the reason for access rejection at its LCD monitor.

Equipment:

• Boarding pass reader
• LCD-monitor for providing information for passengers

Boarding gate duty attendant

Automated workplace of the attendant is installed on the boarding gate counter – at the boarding bridge or near the exit to apron bus.

Passenger gives his boarding pass to boarding gate duty attendant who puts it against the reader and puts a mark in IS-DCS system that the passenger is present at the flight. In case of necessity IS-DCS system also notifies the attendant that documents of the passenger should be checked, if they have not been checked before (transfer passenger).

After boarding has been completed attendant can print all commercial documentation of the flight: loadsheet, passenger manifest, baggage manifest and other documents for passing them to the crew of the departing aircraft.

Equipment:

• Boarding pass reader
• Passport reader
• Printer for pre-flight documentation

Electronic boarding gate Is-Egate

The gate is equipped with boarding pass reader and is designated for passengers who have already checked in and have gone through pre-flight inspection and now are ready to board their aircraft or apron boarding bus.

Passenger comes to the gate, puts his boarding pass against the reader. Then IS-DCS system checks whether the carrier service and security permitted this passenger and his baggage to go for this flight. IS-DCS system makes decision on access of the passenger to pre-flight formalities zone and opens the gate or shows the reason for access rejection at its LCD monitor.

Equipment:

• Boarding pass reader
• LCD-monitor for providing information for passengers

Dispatcher of passenger carrier Service

Automated workplace of dispatcher of passenger carrier service is designated for check-in process management: assignment of check-in counters, opening and closing check-in for the flights, preliminary calculatuion of aircraft’s load, baggage redispatching, additional cargo and mail loading, managing pool of waiting passengers, managing pool of containers.

After boarding and baggage loading has been finished the dispatcher prints final documentation: loadsheet, passenger manifest, baggage manifest, aircraft loading instruction for loaders.

Equipment:

• Printer for pre-flight documentation

Message Broker

Message broker enables to automatically process incoming and outgoing IATA messages via SITA channel or via common e-mail. First of all, IS-DCS system receives data from ticket booking system or from airline about passengers of the flight, free seats in the cabin of aircraft as well as information on passengers who checked in in advance and special service requirements (SSR).

Broker works with IATA messages in accordance with actual effective IATA PSRM document. Broker supports all standard SSR messages and allows adding SSR of new type specific for a particular airline (not included into IATA documents).

Broker can be flexibly tuned for transmitting messages via SITA channel, ARINC, e-mail, via local net as well as to import and export data in xls, csv, xml formats. Such opportunities help to save on SITA addresses rent and on payments for messages traffic.

Passport and visa checking

Automated passport and visa checking by IS-DCS enables to eliminate participation of airlines’ representatives in document checking and exclude cases of turning back passengers rejected by their destination country. When passenger checks in at the counter his passport is scanned and IS-DCS system notifies check-in agent about necessity to check visa in passenger’s passport in case it is necessary.

IS-DCS system monitors checking documents of passengers who checked in not only at the counters but via Internet, at self-check-in kiosks or via smart phones. In all cases passenger will be offered to input visa data for checking.

Document checking is performed automatically via database IATA Timatic that holds actual data on all types of passports and visas. With the help of IATA Timatic database any agent of carrier service, who may not know all details of law, will be able to figure out which visa is needed for certain passport and to make decision on access of this passenger for boarding.

According to IATA data, automated passport and visa checking helps to cut airline’s expenses on handling each passenger by 0.50$
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Airline migration master

Airline’s migration master solves the main problem in organizing free check-in in airport’s passenger terminal that is airline’s switching to IS-DCS check-in system. The master enables to input all airline’s data and peculiarities of flight service step by step: from logo and SITA addresses to the park of aircraft, maintenance standards and non-standard SSR, through check-in.

After master’s work has been completed, all data on peculiarities of the airline’s work will be in IS-DCS and the system will be able to handle flights in convenient and habitual way, corresponding to all interior standards of the airline.

Migration master enables to organize free check-in for passengers and to offer check-in as a service for airlines. This approach helps to cut expenses both for airport and airlines: for airport there will be no necessity to implement expensive CUPPS (CUTE) platform and airlines can avoid the necessity to permanently rent check-in counters.

Transfer passengers service

Processing of PTM and BTM messages helps to organize convenient service for transfer passengers. The system supports work with already checked in passengers who already have boarding passes for their connection flights or it allows transfer passengers to check in at separate counter in sterile zone.

Functionality

The main goal of IS-DCS system implementation is to increase efficiency of passengers check-in, control over loading of aircraft and preparation of commercial documentation for departure.

Depending on conditions of application IS-DCS system is supplied in two variants: host and local.

In local IS-DCS version the system’s server is placed in airport’s local network. It helps to maintain the system’s work in case of temporary problems with Internet access and even if there is no access at all. In this variant the system uses Internet only for IATA messages exchange. Local IS-DCS version is recommended to be used in airports.

In host IS-DCS version server is placed at the cloud server of our company and access to the system is supposed to be via Internet. In this case the system totally depends on Internet connection. Host version is recommended to be used by airlines.

IS-DCS system corresponds to all recommendations of actual effective versions of IATA AHM and IATA PSCRM documents.