What is the current state-of-the-art in PBS?

Until SmartPref™, the state-of-the-art in Preferential Bidding Systems hadn't changed much in 20 years. The old state-of-the-art generally consists of two modules - an automated Internet Bid Entry System, which allows crewmembers to enter their bid electronically, and a batch-driven automated allocation engine using either formal or heuristic logic to build the crewmembers' lines.

Often the award provided by the batch process does not meet the expectations of the crewmembers because the pilot did not "bid" correctly or the system "rated" his bid incorrectly. Furthermore the crewmember is too often mystified as to how his schedule was built and, in many cases, doesn't have a clear audit trail to follow.

What makes SmartPref™ different from other PBS applications?

SmartPref™ gives you transparency of the process, real-time information, and complete control all via the web. No other application does this.

Unlike other PBS systems, the SmartPref™ process does not stop after you have entered your bid. SmartPref™ allows you to continue the bidding process right up until the last minute of bid closing. With SmartPref™, you'll know how the crewmembers senior to you are bidding, you'll know what trips are still available to you, what days off are still available to you, and the days when the system is critical. With the dynamic up-to-the minute status that SmartPref™ provides, you can and will bid more knowledgeably.

In the end, this knowledge will result in schedules that better suit a crewmembers life. Access to information is the key to a better way of working and SmartPref™ makes it simple.

Crewmembers or administrators alike agree that once you've experienced SmartPref™ you'll never be satisfied working with other systems.

Who developed SmartPref™?

SmartPref™ was developed by Christian Boegner who is credited with developing the first PBS system in the 1970's. During the 80's and early 90's, He and Candler Brooks, with whom he founded Crewing Solutions, developed and implemented several PBS systems. Together they have developed and implemented crew pairing, bid line, fair assignment, and PBS and/or crew management systems in approximately 110 airlines worldwide.

More recently Crewing Solutions began development of the revolutionary real-time online PBS that would become SmartPref™. The founders came to the realization that the superior system which they had developed needed to be integrated into an equally superior complete package. Crewing Solutions undertook the challenge of seeking out a multimedia and internet application design partner to help them achieve that goal.

ICV Digital Media, Inc. and James Fasso, one of its founders 18 years ago, accepted the challenge and partnered with Crewing Solutions to apply ICVDM's web application experience to the design and development of SmartPref™. ICV Digital Media developed the interactive Flash based interface and web based architecture of SmartPref™. ICVDM is a full partner in Crewing Solutions LLC.

Can the SmartPref™ approach be offered by other vendors?

No, SmartPref™ is a completely new way of processing, interacting with and assigning bids. Because of its revolutionary approach Crewing Solutions has applied for Patent protection and therefore it cannot be copied or imitated by others. Both the method of processing and the underlying building logic are under Patent protection. SmartPref™ is unique in the market place

No other vendor in the PBS arena can offer this kind of novel approach, now, or in the future.