Imperial Holding`s transport and logistics group Safair, has contracted TCM to supply, implement and maintain a new AS/400 720e Integrated PC Server platform running a specialised aeronautic and inhouse-developed software application, integrated existing NT Servers on the AS/400.
The contract includes a fully comprehensive maintenance agreement, which covers hardware and software services as well as Internet and email support.
Safair specialises in leasing and chartering passenger and cargo aircraft to domestic and international operators offering maintenance, aircraft leasing and the supply of flight crew amongst others. Safair recently acquired the National Airways Corporation (NAC) and Streamline.
Safair information services senior manager Robert Vogel says the requirements include a high availability environment. "We run mission-critical applications covering logistics, full aircraft maintenance and flight scheduling between head office and destinations across the globe," he adds.
TCM was selected because of a well-planned project schedule providing Safair with steps, guidelines and detailed project meetings for the implementation.
"TCM has integrated existing NT Servers on the AS/400e Integrated PC Server platform, demonstrating the ease of integration of NT with the AS/400," Vogel explains.
"Bundled together on the AS/400 as an enterprise solution, NT provides added redundancy, easier consolidation and management, harnessing the cost benefits of NT with the reliability of the AS/400."
TCM marketing executive Jorge de Campos says the latest AS/400e hardware enhancements and the newest version of the AS/400 operating system, OS/400 Version 4 Release 4 (V4R4), have been engineered to provide the performance and tools needed to obtain a quicker return on investment in critical areas such as e-business, enterprise resource planning, business intelligence and server consolidation.
TCM`s monitoring and paging software TCMECS also contributes to lower management and supervisory costs. It now includes cellular messaging to assist with unattended backups and remote monitoring of the hardware and applications.
"In terms of development, using TCM`s LANSA for the Web, Safair is in the process of e-commerce application development in conjunction with TCM. and is in the process of signing up TCM in a co-sourcing agreement covering SAFAIR`s UNIX, AS400 and NT infrastructure. In the near future satellite communications will also be implemented to link all outstations across Africa and other remote areas." Vogel concludes.
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