Good move
New air movements e-tool is on the way

Volume 48, No. 20, November 2, 2006

AFTER extensive planning, development and testing, the Directorate of Operational Capability (DOC) will release a new e-tool for the management of air movements by the end of this month. 

The Movement Request, Booking and Terminal Operations (MRBTO) program is a web-enabled tool, designed to replace Excel spreadsheets and correspondence by fax, a lengthy process currently used to record and facilitate the movement of passengers and cargo.

The new program will allow users to create new movement requests, use air schedule information to plan a trip, raise movement requests, book passengers and cargo items to flights, allocate them to an aircraft and handle the aircraft load.  The information is stored and managed centrally, enabling those using the tool to share the same data. As a result, all users are aware of any changes as they are saved into MRBTO. 

Air Operations Capability Logistics Officer FLGOFF Breanna Bowyer said “another key function of the e-tool is the ‘whiteboard’ capability which ensures staff with appropriate  access can attain a visual picture of all air movement activity both proposed and confirmed in the system”.

“This unique wide picture will improve logistical situational awareness on ADF operations and provide valuable insight to command staff and users both in theatre and at home,” she said.

Deputy Director of Command Systems WGCDR David Millar hopes that MRBTO will “be a first step in bringing ADF air movements into the 21st century”.

“In the longer term it will automate air movement processes, generating a speedy turnaround of air load management,” he said.

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