What technologies are implemented by Aeroflot? Interview with Kirill Bogdanov

Kirill Igorevich, how the IT budget of Aeroflot for 2013 in comparison with last year changed?

Kirill Bogdanov: In terms of money I cannot call indicators, but I can tell that the budget of IT department rose approximately 15%. Increase is connected, mainly with the fact that we now seriously undertook subsidiary companies. Last year as you remember, we consolidated a number of subsidiary companies -"Russia Airline", Donavia,Orenburg Airlines, Vladivostokavia, and SAT Airlines. In 2012 we had a development strategy of these airlines within group of Aeroflot calculated on five years which part was also a strategy in IT. 90% of its projects are planned in child airlines.

What key directions of this strategy?

Kirill Bogdanov: First, this development of the joint project of Aeroflot and SAP company which provides implementation of the innovative technologies of SAP in subsidiary companies, branches and divisions of the company. Application of these solutions in addition to the existing ERP system will give to airline a number of competitive advantages - operational, medium-term and strategic. The uniform IT platform helps to accelerate process of integration of the companies into group and to make it the most effective.

IT strategy also includes creation of a single platform of registration on all network of routes and a single platform of armoring and sale of tickets in child airlines only under a brand of Aeroflot based on the solution Sabre. In 2012 we specially under these purposes signed the five-year delivery agreement of solutions with this company. Now the systems of sales and armoring of tickets in our "daughters" are based on products of absolutely different producers.

In addition we are also going to create a single platform regarding service of aircrafts. It will include the database in which technical data sheets and all history of operation and service of each aircraft of Aeroflot will be stored. This platform, for example, will allow to perform purchase planning of spare parts taking into account the term of their service, breakdowns, etc. In February we summed up the results of the tender for purchase of the basic solution for this platform. the solution of the Swiss software developer for the aviation industry of Amos will become it. In addition to it SAP, Lufthansa Systems and one Canadian company also participated in the tender.

Also this creation of uniform DPC in Moscow. We have a DPC in Sheremetyevo with a total area of 262 sq.m in which is 331 physical and 166 virtual servers. We are going to optimize in it heat exchanging process and at the expense of it to increase number of physical servers to 445 pieces on the same square. This summer we are also going to bring the reserve DPC in Moscow located at distance about 10 km from the basic into operation.

What most significant IT projects of the company of 2012 can you select?

Kirill Bogdanov: First, this equipment of our pilots special tablets (Electronic flight bag) certified by Airbus and Boeing which do not influence work of the onboard systems. They contain in electronic form all comprehensive information on route, to spare airfields, etc. In addition the device helps the pilot in real time at any stage of flight to select the correct mode in terms of consumption of fuel and also the most optimal mode of take off and landing depending on weather conditions behind a board. Earlier pilots had to carry with themselves suitcases weighing more than 50 kg in which there were routemaps, spare airfields, approaches, landing at all points of following of the airplane, and now is a special tablet.

By this moment we equipped 45 aircrafts with these devices, on two notebooks aboard, and this year we are going to equip all plane fleet which in total we have 132.

Still it is possible to note implementation of mobile terminals (tablets) for our engineers servicing aircrafts on the platform. These are special tablets which on 3G and 4G to networks are connected in a single network. To each engineer his task for all day every morning is reset, and he, in turn, reports on the course of its accomplishment during the day. Thus, we can trace all technology diagram of engineers, to see at what stage there was a delay in execution of works, to keep track of their location on GPS. In addition tablets can be used for negotiations - as the radio set. Delivery of devices was performed by Datatel, in total we bought 350 pieces - on all engineers.

In 2012 we also began to use points with function of recognition of the movement of eyes for a training of pilots. With their help the instructor can trace on the screen of the computer in what point the pilot correct at some point looks at accomplishment of different tasks: for example, at plane landing. It happens so that in terms of actions the pilot executes everything correctly, but at the same time looks not there. We used the same points by optimization of the user interface of our website, watching the movement of eyes of participants of focal group.

And if to speak about internal, infrastructure projects of airline?

Kirill Bogdanov: Here, first of all, it is possible to mention implementation of a new system of accounting of revenues of Sirax based on technology of SAP. In fact it is the embodiment of best practices of the leading world airlines on accounting of income – work at it, for example, as Air France – KLM, the largest airline in the USA - Southwest Airlines and some more tens of known airlines. A system works in the automated mode, requiring participation of employees only for processing of wrong transactions. Taking into account a full integration with SAP, we received the closed guidance loop income and expenses of the company.

Who is the main IT suppliers of Aeroflot now?

Kirill Bogdanov: Sabre These are its solutions are used as a booking system and also for formation of the schedule of Aeroflot. SAP whose ERP system we use, and in terms of infrastructure is HP, including use of their solutions in our DPC. It is also possible to carry to our largest partners Microsoft. From the Russian companies it is possible to select especially the companies Technoserv and IBS Examination, with the last we work hard regarding innovations.

What innovations do you mean?

Kirill Bogdanov: Well, for example, in the summer we expect to take out the patent for development of the unique system "Head's Monitor", joint with IBS Examination, which represents the database of statistics for heads of all levels with access as via the web interface, and mobile devices. A system contains key indicators of a productive, financial and business activity of Aeroflot in evident digits and diagrams for different periods.

Statistics from different IT systems of the company according to the developed regulations of updating of information is flown down to the uniform data warehouse and automatically visualized. In "The head's monitor" also built-in system of differentiation of access rights of users only to that information which is necessary for implementation of their business processes.

Originally for a basis of implementation the solution of IBS "Medialogiya" for monitoring of media was selected. The idea of expansion of this functionality and its use for visualization of performance indicators of activity of all company came to our mind. The ready analog of such software product in the market was not found.

How do you estimate the current IT equipment of Aeroflot in comparison with the largest world airlines?

Kirill Bogdanov: I think that we are not leaders, but came very close to leaders. Recently Aeroflot got a number of awards regarding service of passengers including thanks to innovations and to implementation of the advanced IT technologies.