Sun Air has invested US$700 000 in a revenue collection system to manage the bookings of more than 1 million passengers a year. Computer Configurations is responsible for the supply of the hardware and systems integration skills. The software will be supplied by Emirates` IT arm, Mercator.
Sun Air has bought a Promaster 8400 server and an Orca high-capacity data storage system from Computer Configurations as part of the first phase of the project. The server will run Mercator`s Rapid revenue collection system.
Paul Pavlides, IT manager at Sun Air, maps out the airline`s IT strategy: "Until 1998, Sun Air was catching up with the implementation of mission-critical systems. Now we intend leading in the airline industry, and we are partnering with suppliers which give us that edge. Unlike older airlines, Sun Air has no legacy systems so we have been able to start with a clean slate. We look for best-of-breed for our hardware as well as our software solutions.
"Emirates is an international award-winning airline, and Sun Air has achieved local recognition as the best domestic airline for the past few years," comments Pavlides. "Our profiles are therefore similar. We wanted a robust client-server application with a Windows front-end. We also need sophisticated reporting to support our finance team`s analysis requirements. The evaluation team was impressed with the functionality of Rapid and its intuitive use."
The Promaster 8400 holds up to four processors with 4GB memory, while the Orca adds significant data capacity with the potential for up to 24 drives, ranging from 4GB to a certified 18GB.
"Computer Configurations` consultant spent hours with us, getting to understand exactly what our hardware and software requirements are," says Pavlides. "Performance is critical and we will have large volumes of data online."
The server is being shipped to Mercator in Dubai, to have the financial software installed and tested. Nico Ungerer, a senior field support engineer from Computer Configurations, will accompany the equipment to Dubai and assist with the installation. He will provide hands-on support and maximise the efficiencies of the Orca. A team of Sun Air`s key business staff are being trained in Dubai, and will be the champions for the system at Sun Air.Sun Air has grown significantly since 1994 when it began scheduled operations domestically in South Africa. In a short space of time its staff complement has grown from 100 to 700-plus, and bookings have grown from 5 000 a year to more than 80 000 a month. This is reflected in the changing fleet profile. Previously Hawker-Sidley, Citation and a Gulfstream aircraft were used; today 11 jet aircraft, including McDonnell-Douglas and Boeing, are in service.
Share
Editorial contacts