System and Method For the Automated Dispatch of Fueling Operations

Abstract

An intelligent solution for monitoring, assigning, and accounting fueling operations. An automated dispatch fueling system comprises a fuel management server populated with airport profile and dispatcher configurations. Utilizing information stored in the database and received from external systems, the automated dispatch fueling system can automatically assign and monitor fueling operations.

1 . A method for the automated control of aviation fueling operations, comprising the steps of:
 obtaining an aircraft identifier;   obtaining a fueling equipment identifier;   obtaining an estimated time to travel between at least two airport gates;   obtaining a fueling agent's work schedule;   obtaining a maximum number of consecutive fueling operations to be assigned to a fueling agent; and   automatically assigning one or more aviation fueling operations to the fueling agent based on the aircraft identifier, the fueling aircraft identifier, the estimated time to travel between at least two airport gates, the fueling agent's work schedule, and the maximum number of consecutive fueling operations to be assigned to a fueling agent.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining information on the fueling strategy to be utilized. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining information regarding whether to assign fueling operations for international aircraft. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining estimated fueling times for aircraft. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of analyzing historical fueling information to estimate the amount of time required to fuel an aircraft. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of automatically estimating a fueling time for an aircraft based on an amount of fuel to be loaded onto an aircraft. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining information regarding whether a fueling agent is trained to fuel a particular aircraft. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining information regarding whether a fueling agent is trained to use certain fueling equipment. 
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of obtaining information regarding whether certain fueling equipment is in service.