Q: Why does only one person at SimAirline.net approve PIREPs rather than each VA Manager?
A: This process began when we first started in 2000 and we only had a management of one. PIREPs were originally all standardized format emails and had to be tabulated manually before editing a web page containing the roster. Despite the shift to a database-centered roster system, there are still some good reasons for having one person approve all PIREPs:
-Consistency in approval standards: one manager might opt to allow a PIREP that arrived unusually early, while another might not.
-Consistency in approval time: one manager might approve PIREPs every day, while another might take longer.
-Better treatment of returning pilots: pilots that flew with us in the past often don't mention that they previously flew for us, so they don't request that those hours be credited. My memory is good at recognizing names, and has let to hours credited for pilots that haven't flown for us in years.
-Maintain database integrity and security: PIREP approval often requires database access to edit or delete PIREPs. This can be complicated to do and also raises security risks.
-Schedule knowledge: SimAirline.net's airlines fly over 20,000 flights per day. While it's impossible to know all of the schedules, it is possible to tell quickly if a PIREP has an obvious problem. This is the goal of checking PIREPs, and it's difficult to pass this skill (acquired over the last nine years) on.
-Efficiency: because of a deep schedule knowledge, I am able to approve PIREPs at a very fast rate. Presuming the PIREP is straightforward, I can approve around ten PIREPs per minute, much faster than a VA Manager who might have to look every flight up.
Based on recent input from pilots on the Message Boards, the management team is discussing whether a change in procedures should be made. If so, we'll be sure to let you know.
Sun, 5. April 2009
Q & A: PIREP Approval
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