On December 17, 1903, Orville Wright lay prone between the wings of a biplane which he and his brother Wilbur had built, opened the throttle, and flew 120 feet in 12 seconds. It was an event that eventually spawned thousands of industries, created millions of employment opportunities, opened communication and transportation channels and became a dominant part of the American economy. In fact, by 1992, 16 of the world's 25 busiest airports were located within the United States. Together, they accounted for almost 8 million annual aircraft landings and turnarounds. Keeping these aircraft on time and in sound physical condition are major challenges for any airline. Flight problems, such as canceled flights and late departures, continue to be the leading passenger concern, accounting for over 30 percent of the complaints registered with the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Most airlines are acutely aware of the importance of passenger satisfaction, as evidenced by their constant efforts to improve "on time" records. With the help of AGE Logic, Inc., United Airlines has embarked on a multi-billion dollar plan to update aircraft maintenance procedures, improve turnaround time and reduce out-of-service aircraft throughout the airline's global system.
Although there are several complex phases to the project, one important area involves a computerized program, already installed in the maintenance department at two of United's United States hubs. The program is based on a customized version of AGE's XoftWare(/32 for Windows, which was introduced in December 1992 as the industry's first 32-bit X Window server software for 386/486 Microsoft Windows-based PCs. Working with United's development team, AGE engineers enabled the software to control multiple printers, allowing the airline to easily issue reports on dot printers and work orders on multiform printers.
Williams expects the relationship -- and the product -- to progress even further. "We feel that XoftWare/32 for Windows will increase in importance at United and will be extended into all aspects of the maintenance cycle. We also see exciting potential for the product in the hotel industry, where an easy-to-use multiprint capability can expedite a variety of procedures. In fact, since multiprint represents a common application for many different business environments, we will include it as a standard feature in a future version of XoftWare/32 for Windows."
For Peter Shaw, this latest and significant competitive win personifies the AGE philosophy. "We solve problems, not just sell products. This airline needed features other than those available in the standard box. We determined what features were missing and developed them. That is what distinguishes us from the rest of the players in this industry."
This philosophy of accommodation, and a demonstrated ability to introduce innovative products satisfying marketplace needs, have made AGE the leader in supplying software that enables the remote display of graphical information via the X protocol.
While much of its competition remains grounded at the gate, AGE Logic, Inc., continues to soar higher and higher, breaking new barriers and setting new performance records. Even the Wright brothers would be impressed.