Documentation system for the aviation industry – gds GmbH and IT Flight Ops Solutions AB develop WingDox

Partnership between gds GmbH and IT Flight Ops Solutions AB
Modular, open, XML-based documentation and training system for the airline industry
Editorial management system, content delivery system, interactive, virtual learning platform

Sassenberg, December 16, 2020 – Quick, cost-efficient, and low-risk: The new WingDox solution makes it easier to draft, edit, and use documentation in the airline industry. To this end, gds GmbH is cooperating with its business partner IT Flight Ops Solutions AB, a subsidiary of Virtual eTraining Software AB, a renowned expert in the field of Virtual Training software such as TAGGIS. The shared objective was to combine the eLearning authoring tool, TAGGIS, and the Digital Document Distribution System, DocBrowser, with the Review and Approval Portal, ARC-Desk, and the Editorial Management System, XR/aviation, from gds GmbH. The result is a modular platform that works without the need to change to other media platforms and which closely interlinks airlines, enabling the seamless drafting, review, and distribution of manuals, documentation, and training contents.

“WingDox is an open, flexible, and modular documentation management and distribution system that optimally meets the technical and regulatory requirements specific to the airline industry,” says Klaus Fenchel who is responsible for the areas of Aviation and Defense at gds GmbH. The solution is based on an optimized and uninterrupted XML workflow so that it is both quick and cost-efficient, plus it reduces the risk of information loss to a minimum. The aviation document lifecycle has so far been associated with having to change media platforms several times. Even with electronic drafting via PDF file, hardcopy-based review, approval, and document delivery were required, which in turn lowered the quality, slowed the process, and incurred high costs.

WingDox helps resolve these problems. WingDox consists of several modules that can be used individually or in combination with one another. This concept caters to the needs of the airline industry which already works with partial solutions and would like to continue working with these. Based on the open architecture and the XML-based information management system, existing systems can be combined with the modules in WingDox to form a high-performance overall system. “We are excited that we were also able to integrate the cloud-based authoring platform, TAGGIS, with our partner,” explained Fenchel. TAGGIS is used to create a visual and virtual environment featuring a 360-degree panoramic view where workflows and sequences can be interactively and realistically practiced.

Four tools – one platform

The WingDox solution comprises two tools each from gds GmbH and IT Flight Ops Solutions AB that work together. gds has contributed the XML Component Content Management System, XR/aviation, and the Review and Approval-System, ARC-Desk. IT Flight Ops Solutions has brought to the table the DocBrowser Suite and it also provides support with TAGGIS from Virtual eTraining Software AB.

The seamless passing on of information among technical experts, technical writers, and users is supported by the web-based Review and Approval portal, ARC-Desk. ARC-Desk helps everyone involved in the airline business to propose, review, and approve changes relevant to the technical documentation. As soon as a proposed change has been reviewed and approved, the requirements are implemented with XR/aviation accordingly. The future-oriented editorial management system is used to assist airlines with specific features tailored to quickly, cost-effectively, and safely satisfy the requirements of the aviation authorities. The system for drawing up and managing XML-based contents supports dealing with revisions and changes, facilitates meeting compliance requirements, and enables providing the user with information that is specific to the aircraft and the target group. All proposed changes are approved and released by the competent national aviation authority before the revised manual is published.

Using DocBrowser, information that is regularly modified is passed on to the end-users: pilots, cabin crew, technicians, and/or administrators. Access to the currently valid documentation version is possible via a web portal or an iPad app. Information can be filtered according to the aircraft or the target group. The administration portal enables stipulating highly detailed specifications as to who is permitted to view or has to view which information, whether a read confirmation is required, and when the information is valid or becomes invalid. Technicians, pilots, and cabin crew members can easily complete the required training using TAGGIS. TAGGIS and DocBrowser are integrated so that it is possible to access relevant training sessions from the source documentation or go from the training sessions to the source documentation.

The process of creating a manual for aviation purposes has been enormously simplified thanks to the development of WingDox in collaboration of gds with IT Flight Ops Solutions AB. This helps save time and money, and above all, it ensures safety. “I see great and unique synergy potential between the companies and their products,” says Patrick Sävström, CEO of IT Flight Ops Solutions AB. “Our new platform enables technical writers to work seamlessly without the need to change media platforms. End-users can directly access the information. Plus, much of the content can be interactively practiced thanks to the integrated training system.” The uniform, consolidated WingDox platform provides for a safe and quick information lifecycle while it optimally supports various target groups. gds together with documentation experts specialized in the field of aviation also offer the option of outsourcing a part of the documentation or reducing workloads during peak periods. Two types of the WingDox program are offered: licensing with the option of in-house installation, or leasing the software program as a service. The core features of the systems can also be tested in a trial version environment.

More information at: www.wingdox.com