Professional Pilot, July 2020

Screenshot from the ITPS app ISPs such as International Trip Planning Services are constantly vetting and updating capabilities of local handling services around the world PROFESSIONAL PILOT July 2020 15 Choosing the best ISP When choosing an ISP the first step is to determine the level of support you need Are you running a small 1 or 2 aircraft flight department with a single scheduler Are you a large operation with multiple aircraft and dispatchers on the job 24 7 Should something go wrong overseas how will you deal with it and what are your options In such cases you may benefit from using an ISP who is both an effective problem solver and is familiar with the regions in which youll be operating Once youve assessed your needs look for an ISP that is not only fully accessible 24 7 but has stringent processes in place for selecting and verifying ground handlers and 3rd party service vendors and can access credit around the world In Ethiopia and parts of central Africa for example services are normally paid for with cash It may not be easy to set up credit directly and youll usually be better to piggyback on ISP credit If youre looking for a full service ISP be sure that theyre easy to reach if things go wrong Will you be assigned a particular trip support specialist or trip support team Or will you have to repeat who you are and explain your situation to everybody youre transferred to Whether you choose to work with a large ISP a smaller boutique style operation or one that has specific strengths and presence in a particular region communication is key The ISP needs to have a robust profile on your operation and and understand your needs and preferences fully in order to be able to deal effectively with critical short notice situations This relationship cannot be built overnight says Jeppesen Business Consultant Nance Pierce If you start early and develop a relationship with your selected ISP theyll be better positioned to take action fast and assist appropriately when a day of operation event calls for it Keep in mind that success of an international mission is not just avoiding the hazards of a ground handler malfunction a denied permit or an impounded aircraft From the passenger perspective the success of a trip depends on all the little details involved in the flight says Pierce If the local transport does not show up on time this can be a real problem But something as simple as getting whole milk instead of preferred 1 milk having mayonnaise on a sandwich or not uplifting sufficient ice can cause a trip to be perceived by passengers as a failure Small vs larger ISPs While excellent ISPs exist throughout the spectrum operators may perceive pros and cons in terms of dealing with a large established ISP versus a newer or start up operation With larger ISPs you know what youre going to get and they tend to offer better pricing and more software options notes Kang Getting personalized help however may be an issue at times Smaller ISPs may not have all the software options so they must win based on service Theyre often start ups with guys who used to work for the bigger companies and they can at times be more knowledgeable with a higher level of personalized service One drawback of smaller ISPs may be a lack of physical resources and less flexibility on pricing If youre just flying to CSL Cabo San Lucas Mexico the differences really do not matter Its important to do your own due diligence Everyone will promise the same thing but its not all the same advises LeDuc Get recommendations from other flight departments which require the same types of services you require consider an ISPs areas of strength its footprint around the world and its local connections Some ISPs do not have the ability to highly tailor a service so you may need to fit into their struc Photo courtesy ITPS