Software Gauges Suitability Of Charters, Corp. Craft

For corporations trying to determine whether a charter or business aircraft is a sensible alternative to commercial airlines in specific markets, there have been few options for easing the task of comparing schedules and costs. Now, one organization is trying to fill that gap with a new software product.

Introduced in October by the National Business Aircraft Association, the software, called TravelSense, uses an automated interface that links through Compuserve to one of the major CRSs. Corporate travel departments can compare the costs of charters, business aircraft and commercial airlines by incorporating adjustable data on pricing, en route productivity and salary of travelers, flexibility, type of aircraft, lodging and meal expenses.

Since its release, 240 companies have purchased Travel Sense, which costs $695 for non-members and $495 for members.

NBAA would not identify which CRS is providing a feed, but the organization did say the interface allows people to use the software in a Windows format without the knowledge of CRS codes.

"The opening line in the manual for this software is: 'What would happen if the cost of employee travel time were considered in the overall business travel equation?,' " said David Almy, vice president of communications for NBAA.

Naysayers would ask how can one trust this software when it was developed by an association that clearly represents the interests of one of the software's three possible choices. But Almy said that NBAA is taking a disinterested-party stance. "It's not NBAA's opinion about which way to go that matters; the user defines the values and figures," he said. "I often tell people you can use it to triple the size of your flight department or to close it."

According to Duane Futch, president of the Chesapeake, Va.-based Aviation Business Systems consultancy, "this is the premium software that's out there right now. It's so specific that it accounts for what the FAA says is or isn't a commercial flight and how the IRS taxes you there versus if someone uses the plane for non-business purposes. The only thing it doesn't do is keep the names of who was on board for personal versus business flights, which would be helpful since personal flights are a compensatable event."

Mark Johnson, travel manager for Cessna and vice president/treasurer for the National Business Travel Association, uses the package internally and shows it to customers as well. "When you factor in the time saved, it makes a big difference," he said. "The business jet wins more frequently with this software, and if carried through to a real improvement in travel practices, Travel Sense can help with the intangibles, such as employee morale if a night's hotel stay is saved."

Although it is perhaps years away, this kind of software could be linked to corporate booking software so that a company can integrate its fleet and commercial air options, and travelers simply book the most cost-efficient and timely alternative, Almy noted.

As an example of a decision that can be made today using Travel Sense, Almy said, "consider two senior vice presidents flying Chicago-Jacksonville. At the same time, there are eight engineers traveling from Medford, Ore., to Charleston, W.V. Who gets the company jet?"

Corporations can download a test version of Travel Sense off NBAA's Website, www.nbaa.org, which also offers information about NBAA membership, publications, seminars and conventions.

Some automated tools buyers can use to help themselves find charter companies include The Charter Search Network (www.guides.com/acg), Air Charter Jet (www.aircharternet.com) and InterJet Online Services (www.interjet-osi.com).