Business is taking off across the Tasman of Adelaide scanning
specialist Practical Programs after its DataViewer software
helped turn half a tonne of technical drawings into a briefcase
full of CDs for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
Practical Programs was enlisted to improve the usability
of RNZAF's aircraft engineering drawings, recently converted
to electronic form. The company tailored DataViewer to enable
the thousands of electronic drawings to be viewed from standard
computers, a function previously not available.
DataViewer has extended the RNZAF's ability to support and
maintain aircraft through dramatically improved retrieval,
storage and usability of this sensitive and complex information.
Previously, each aircraft type had only one set of engineering
drawings held on aperture cards, which were not permitted
to leave the base, making off-site maintenance difficult.
RNZAF Flight Sergeant Paul Taylor, who was in charge
of the DataViewer project, said the software had improved
off-site maintenance of the fleet by providing technicians
with instant access to engineering drawings that were
previously unavailable. "This
has made a big difference for example the Iroguols helicopters
currently in service in East Timer can be more easily services
on site without costly and inefficient communication with
the base in New Zealand," he said.
Practical Programs developed its DataViewer software
with assistance from South Australian IT&T industry
growth initiative Playford Centre, which included funding
for research and development, product development and
export assistance through its export program.
Practical Programs' Managing Director Richard Bates
said Playford Centre's assistance had contributed to
the company's success. "Playford Centre's funding was valuable as
it helped prepare the company for the next stage of growth
which we're currently experiencing," he said.
Practical Programs also recently won the contract to implement
a business document management solution for Air Services
Australia, beating several multinational companies in the
process.
Flight Sergeant Taylor said DataViewer had commercial application
within the civil aviation industry as a result of its customisation
to meet the RNZAF requirements.
"A lot of maintenance is outsourced, so non-Air Force
personnel can now have easier access to this information
also," he said.
Photocopy of the article...
