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There are a variety of constraints on aircraft flight, from bad weather, airport- and airspace-usage restrictions to equipment malfunctions and unstable political environments. It is the job of the Operation Control Center to monitor, analyze and respond to those factors on a real-time basis. The Operation Control Center coordinates the entire roster of approximately 700 domestic and 200 international flights in operation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
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Preflight Preparations
Though the flight crew operate the aircraft, flight operations demand more than their efforts alone. It is the role of the dispatcher to prepare a detailed flight plan so that the aircraft flies safely and efficiently. A qualified dispatcher prepares the flight plan by determining the flight path, altitude and fuel loading while taking into consideration factors such as meteorological conditions, airport-facility conditions and passenger and cargo weight. |
Controlling the Aircraft Inflight
The dispatcher constantly monitors whether the aircraft is flying normally. In cases where adverse meteorological conditions are anticipated along the flight path, such as heavy cloud, the dispatcher makes radio contact with the flight crew and directs them to take a safer flight path. When passengers hear inflight announcements regarding turbulence, these are based on information relayed from the ground. Where trouble arises as a result of instrument malfunction, following contact from the flight crew the dispatcher discusses with the crew the possibility of returning to the departure point or altering the port of landing. When unexpected conditions arise, such as the closure of flight paths and/or airports, the dispatcher carries out the necessary adjustments, including possibly altering the port of landing, in consultation with the flight crew. The Operation Control Center also updates web pages and mobile phones with data on alterations in destination and flights that are returning to the point of departure, on an as-needed basis. |
Aircraft Alternations and Adjusting Maintenance Plans
Apart from aircraft maintenance and inspections conducted on a flight-by-flight basis, a variety of maintenance operations are conducted on parked aircraft at night. There are cases, however, when aircraft alternations occur, as, for example, when it becomes necessary to carry out at Fukuoka maintenance originally scheduled for Haneda. In such circumstances as these, an experienced engineer stationed at the center handles the situation, handing down the appropriate directions so that the required maintenance plan is followed while keeping an eye on the day-to-day maintenance schedule and checking items on the inspection list. |
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