Universal Announces Online Product, Service Enhancements at S&D 2008

Savannah, Ga. (January 28, 2008) – Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. will showcase several new enhancements to its suite of online scheduling and flight planning products and services under the theme "Click. Connect. GO...to your next successful trip" at the NBAA 19th Annual Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference.

The conference will be held in Savannah, Ga., Jan. 29-Feb. 1 at the Savannah International Trade & Convention Center. Universal's comprehensive presence, representing all of Universal's business units, will begin at exhibit 821 (Trip Support Services / Online Trip Services), and also includes exhibit 819 (FlightPak®), exhibit 817 (UVair®), and exhibit 815 (Universal Aviation(sm)).

"The new enhancements we are announcing at S&D are focused on empowering the scheduler and dispatch roles, as well as pilots, with the tools and resources they need to save time, enhance efficiency, and consistently produce a successful, event-free trip execution," said Randy Stephens, Director of Product Management, Universal®. Universal's new product and service enhancements include:

  • Enhanced Mobile Trip Planning - Reformatted interface allows users to easily connect with the revised flight plan format showing take-off weight, landing weight, payload weight, alternate, route ID and fuel over alternate—all while on the go, using a handheld mobile device.
    Key Features: direct access to UVtriplink(sm) Trip Status online flight management information, fuel quote requests, and an optimized screen view for the BlackBerry® interface.
  • New UVtriplink(sm) Trip Status Tools - The new Trip Status features include three new formats to view crew and passenger information, trip documentation embedded at the trip and leg level, and message history for clients who use the embedded E-mail Team feature.
  • Enhanced FlightPak® Scheduling Software - FlightPak® users can now send trip information directly to a crew's BlackBerry®. FlightPak® also now has full integration with real-time data from UVTripPlanner(sm). Other FlightPak® enhancements include the ability to submit trips from Trip Manager directly to a Universal® team with one click; the ability to cross-check all passengers in the Passenger/Requestors Database against the Transportation Security Administration's No-Fly List and Cleared List; and a new "View Map" button allowing users to view the locations of FBO, hotel, catering and transportation providers and print directions on www.mapquest.com. For more details visit FlightPak® at exhibit 819.
  • Enhanced UVflightplanner.com(sm) - Enhancements include the ability to:
    • E-mail PDA-friendly condensed flight plans accompanied by full text flight plans and PDF attachments with clients' comprehensive route brief package;
    • Request e-mail notification when filing flight plans to ATC:
      • For flight plans filed in the contiguous U.S: Receive a "Roger" back;
      • For flight plans filed in Europe: Receive Stansted Slot Office contact information;
      • For flight plans filed internationally outside of the contiguous U.S. and Europe: Receive ICAO flight plan with ATC sector filing addresses including notification of a change, delay, or cancellation of the flight plan;
    • Access automatically calculated NAV fees;
    • Provide general feedback about UVflightplanner.com(sm) to help drive future enhancements;
    • Provide specific feedback on SIDS, STARS, and other aspects of routes in UVflightplanner.com(sm).
  • UVair® Online Updates - More information and demonstrations of UVair's online updates and tools, such as online fuel setup, will be available at exhibit 817.
  • New Universal Aviation(sm) Web site - The new universalaviation.aero Web site features comprehensive information on all 60 Universal Aviation(sm)-branded ground support locations in more than 50 countries. The new site also allows users to make ground handling and ground support requests online. For more details, visit Universal Aviation(sm) at exhibit 815.

S&D Sessions Featuring Universal® Speakers

Media are invited to attend the following sessions featuring Universal® subject matter experts:

  • Jan. 30, 10:30 a.m. - noon: Building an International Itinerary - Presented by Buzz Gannon, Account Manager.
  • Jan. 30, 2 -4 p.m.: Mini IOC
  • Jan. 31, 1:30 - 1:45 p.m.: Fundamentals of Business Aviation/The Value of a Flight Department - Presented by Fred Towers, Services Enhancement Program Specialist.

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At Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., our goal is to become a vital extension of our clients' flight operations teams. Universal® offers a wide range of services designed to provide business aviation operators seamless service from start to finish. Universal's wide range of services includes flight planning, weather briefings, online tools, the UVair® Fueling Card, Universal Aviation(sm) worldwide ground support, UVdatalink® air-to-ground communication, and more. Universal has been facilitating successful trips for business aviation operators since 1959.

To learn more about Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., e-mail sales@universalweather.com,
or call (800) 231-5600 ext. 3300 (N. America Toll-Free) or (713) 944-1622 ext. 3300 (Worldwide).

Universal: Success from the word GO.

MapQuest is a registered trademark of AOL LLC.

BlackBerry is the exclusive property and a registered trademark of Research In Motion Limited with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
and may be pending or registered in other countries.

CONTACT:
Cindy Suggs
N. America Toll-Free: (800) 231-5600 ext. 5710
Worldwide Direct: (713) 947-5710
E-mail: csuggs@univ-wea.com


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