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HeliQwest’s helicopter fleet has one of the “We realized that we had a larger problem
highest utilization rates in its industry. The when we were conducting a safety audit and
high volume of usage combined with piloting fell short on documentation. We passed the
the helicopters into forest fires and remote audit without any problems, but definitely
areas creates a high-risk working confirmed that our old system wasn’t reliable
environment. Because of this, HeliQwest is or accurate enough to meet our needs,” says
dedicated to ensuring the safety of it pilots, Simonneau.
ground personnel and clients. Today
HeliQwest boasts one of the best safety HeliQwest wanted a digital solution that
records in the helicopter industry. would mirror its old system but allow its pilots
to easily fill out and track their forms. The
To ensure this safety record stays intact, solution also needed to eliminate the need
HeliQwest employs a detailed safety for fax machines and allow for near real-time
inspection process. Pilots report potentially transmission of the forms back to the head
hazardous situations, inspection results, office regardless of where pilots were
worksite health hazards, incident reports and located.
other issues by filling out a selection of paper-
based forms stored in binders. Upon entering Solution
a new job site, pilots would be required to In March 2008 HeliQwest contacted Cortex
manually fill out specific inspection forms and Software, a Microsoft® registered partner,
then fax them back to the head office. after conducting research on mobile form
solutions. The company was immediately
However, HeliQwest pilots often find interested in Cortex Software’s FieldCenter
themselves working in small towns or application.
extremely remote locations where sending
paper forms in a timely manner is difficult, FieldCenter is a software platform that lets
simply because there is no access to fax companies create tailored mobile
machines. In addition, because the pilots are applications such as mobile inspection or
constantly mobile and not working in an data collection, and transmit data to a central
office environment, misplacing the paper location for reporting purposes. The software
forms and binders became an increasingly consists of three main components:
common problem, which led to reporting
issues. 1)A Web-based form authoring application
that lets users build data-collection forms
“Some of our pilots may spend weeks in targeted to mobile devices, without
locations like an oil field camp that have no programming;
fax or telephone access. Staying in contact
2)A mobile application installed on Windows custom forms. In bigger organizations, IT
Mobile-based handheld devices used for departments are using FieldCenter because
downloading digital forms, inputting data, and it’s fast, flexible and cost effective” says Joe
transmitting completed forms to Cortex’s Jabour of Cortex Software.
hosted Web application powered by SQL
Server® 2005 database software. Benefits
Since deploying FieldCenter, HeliQwest has
3)A Web-based dashboard that allows eliminated paper-based forms and fax
FieldCenter users at the head office to access machines from its safety procedures. The
all the completed forms transmitted from the company is also experiencing a number of
mobile devices in the field. Users can then additional benefits.
download, print or e-mail forms and reports to
relevant recipients. Ease of use
Because HeliQwest’s pilots submit their
After two days of a trial evaluation, HeliQwest safety forms digitally into Windows Mobile-
purchased licenses for FieldCenter and put based devices, the problem of pilots
the solution into action. Because the entire accidentally misplacing the old paper forms
service is hosted by Cortex, HeliQwest didn’t has been completely eliminated. In addition,
need to invest in any additional infrastructure the pilots don’t need to worry about carrying
or install additional servers. HeliQwest was around binders or ensuring they have enough
already using Windows Mobile 6.0 devices copies of the paper forms on hand to do their
purchased through TELUS, so Cortex was able job. All information is centrally stored on their
to activate the service subscription and push handheld devices and they have an unlimited
the FieldCenter software to HeliQwest’s supply of digital forms at their fingertips.
devices over-the-air via the TELUS High
Speed EVDO network. “Thanks to the portability of FieldCenter and
our Windows Mobile-based devices, we now
“TELUS operates on Canada’s largest High have a more complete and accurate record of
Speed network and allows HeliQwest to our safety procedures,” says Simonneau.
access broadband-like connections via their “Our pilots are happier now because they
Windows Mobile-based devices,” says Jim have one less thing to worry about in the
Senko, vice-president, Mobility Solutions, field.”
TELUS.
Streamlined office processes
Following this initial installation, HeliQwest The introduction of the Windows Mobile-
created digital versions of its safety forms based FieldCenter solution has made filling
using a form creation system provided by out forms an easier process and streamlined
Cortex. The forms took approximately 10 processes at HeliQwest’s offices. The need to
minutes each to develop and were available manage faxes from pilots has been
to HeliQwest pilots almost immediately. eliminated and all data sent in from the field
is conveniently available from any Internet-
“FieldCenter is designed to appeal to enabled PC via the FieldCenter Web
customers of all levels of technical capability, interface. Filing and organizing the safety
which makes it suitable for companies of all forms has become a simpler, more efficient
sizes, big or small. Many of our customers process that allows HeliQwest to call up
have no technical staff and use FieldCenter specific information on demand.
because it empowers them to build their own
“Having our information available on demand window into what the pilots are actually
means that we have a clearer picture of experiencing at their locations, something
what’s happening with our pilots in the field. that may not have been accurately captured
Rather than searching our records for the using the limited fields available in the
forms a particular pilot has sent in, we can standard safety forms. In addition, the pilots
now call up an instant snapshot of their can send large files quickly thanks to the
situation based on the information they’ve bandwidth capabilities and speed of the
transmitted via FieldCenter,” says TELUS EVDO network.
Simonneau.
“For insurance and safety purposes, the
Simplified synchronization ability to capture photos or videos using the
FieldCenter has also helped automate the built-in cameras on our Windows Mobile
data transmission process by enabling devices is extremely beneficial,” says
completed forms to be synchronized with the Simonneau. “For example, let’s say one of
online FieldCenter Web application via the our pilots is driving a truck to a site, backs
TELUS High Speed EVDO network. The into a tree and bends the bumper. He can
HeliQwest pilots simply need to push a button now fill out the incident report as usual and
to activate the synchronization process. include firsthand photos of the damage. After
the syncing process, I can access the report
“The hands-off synchronization process is a and print it off in PDF format along with the
major time saver for us. Our pilots don’t need photograph all in one shot. It’s brilliant.”
to worry about anything now except filling out
the forms properly,” says Simonneau. “Even Overall HeliQwest is very pleased with the
the data entry process has been streamlined. performance of its Windows Mobile-based
Filling out the paper-based forms used to FieldCenter solution. The company is
take an average of three to four times longer currently testing additional handheld devices
than inputting information into the digital to be deployed in the field and is planning to
forms via the Windows Mobile devices.” introduce additional reporting capabilities
such as maintenance and operational
Do it yourself customization reporting, client billing and daily flight reports.
FieldCenter enables HeliQwest to easily
customize the application to meet the
changing needs of the company. As new
safety protocols are added to HeliQwest’s
procedures, new forms will need to be
created. FieldCenter’s simplified interface
allows users to easily create an unlimited
number of new, customized forms within a
matter of minutes. This ensures that as the
company grows and evolves, the software will
continue to remain current and relevant.