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Delta completes transition to new cre rostering software
Navtech, Inc. and Delta Air Lines have completed the airline’s transition to Navtech's Preferential Bidding System (PBS), enabling this powerful crew rostering tool to be used by all Delta pilots for their January 2010 scheduling. This is the largest installed base of users for the Navtech PBS - close to 11,000 pilots, including 4,500 from the former Northwest Airlines (NWA). PBS consists of scheduling and bidding components and is best known for its ability to balance needs of airlines with quality of life requirements of crew.

"Navtech prides itself on its ability to meet our customers’ needs, even when the timeline is tight and the scale of the work is dramatic," said Mike Hulley, Navtech CEO. "We’re delighted that we were able to provide such a smooth, speedy transition for NWA pilots."

"Navtech made history today building pilot PBS lines for the world's largest airline. Navtech PBS built regular and reserve lines for nearly 11,000 pilots, in 62 categories, at Delta today. The pilots are especially pleased with how the system is able to accomplish this while honoring pilot seniority so well," said Dewey Jenkins, Sr. Principal Advisor, Pilot Resources & Scheduling, Delta Air Lines.

Delta has used Navtech PBS since 2005. It expanded its use to crew members of the former NWA after an evaluation of multiple products by Delta/NWA pilot groups and airline management. Live bidding with Navtech PBS began in August for NW’s September pilot’s schedule, going enterprise-wide just four months later. All pilots can now experience Navtech’s intuitive user interface, which enables them to customize their bid requests according to their preferences. Awards are easily accessed and include detailed pairing information and an industry-leading "Reasons Report" that explains the results of each bid preference, including why the preference was or wasn't awarded.

PBS Bidder works seamlessly with its Scheduler counterpart to create a Pairing and Reserve schedule that satisfies management's coverage needs and crew members' flying preferences. The PBS Scheduler gives administrators the ability to manage all of the information pertaining to crew members and the bid period, and then, balances it against important details such as the airline's rules, the seniority of the individual crew members, details for the bid period and more. The Scheduler gives administrators access to multiple reports on crew members, pairings and bid period information and also allows for swapping, substitution, and shuffling routines.

Vicky Karantzavelou - Thursday, December 24, 2009