The Third GroundStar Users Conference attracted more users than ever

The goal was high: To beat the success of the first two Users Conferences and to exceed all expectations of the users who attended this year’s conference at the Grand Hotel Esplanade in Berlin.

For two evenings and two days 140 GroundStar users, INFORM- partners and employees gathered in Berlin to discuss experience, exchange opinions and learn about the future of INFORM’s resource management systems. Selecting Berlin as the conference venue created a unique opportunity for the users to combine theory and practice: GlobeGround Berlin, sponsor of the conference offered live demonstrations to present its solutions to the participants. GlobeGround Berlin was the first INFORM client who has implemented the full GroundStar suite.

Professor Mijksenaar, of the Technical University in Delft, the Netherlands and principal of Bureau Mijksenaar, held the keynote speech at the beginning of the conference. His design agency specialises in the creation of visually oriented information systems. He presented his concepts about intelligent signage at large airports and the solutions his company had implemented at Schiphol- (Amsterdam), and the New York Airports.

The first conference day focused on new developments within the GroundStar suite. Thomas Schmidt, Director of INFORM’s Airport Systems Division, introduced the ongoing development and future concepts of the GroundStar product line. The d elegates were able to participate in different workshops on topics such as the GroundStar application packages for planning, rostering, and real-time allocation of mobile resources, including data radio solutions. Other workshop topics were on immobile resources (gates, stands, check-in counters, gate rooms, baggage belts etc.), new functionalities in RosterControl and web based solutions for contracting, billing, flight schedule management and quality control.

The second day was dedicated to GlobeGround Berlin’s GroundStar implementation at the Tegel- and Schönefeld airports. During the live presentations at Tegel Airport the users followed the RealTimeControl implementations for operations control and disposition of ramp- and passenger services. In a parallel session the new GroundStar reporting functionality (see the article “ Successful Cooperation to be Reported”) was introduced. Jochen Kröhan, Director of GlobeGround Berlin (GGB), described the business of the largest ground handler at the Berlin airports. According to Kröhan GGB plans to expand to European airports with attractive offers especially in the LCC market. The partnership with INFORM forms a part of this strategy enabling GGB to add GroundStar information technology, hardware platforms and ASP solutions to its portfolio.

At night the GroundStar users discovered Berlin by water from the Grand Hotel’s fabulous conference ship MS Esplanade on the River Spree. During this four-hour boat ride the participants had the opportunity to take a look at some of Berlin’s marvellous sights, the capital being one of the fastest developing cities you can find in Europe.

At the end of the conference Asa Bellander Ahmann from SAS spontaneously held a speech to thank the INFORM team for the successful conference on behalf of all delegates.

INFORM says thank you to all participants! We are looking forward to the next Users Conference in the year 2006!!!

Otto Weber