Case study will be archived in 36 countries as leading example of how IT is used in general aviation to benefit society
Geneva, Switzerland - May 17, 2005 - Cessna Aircraft Company has submitted a case study on its innovative CESCOM Online that officially became part of the prestigious Computerworld Honors Collection on Sunday, April 3 when the 2005 Collection was formally presented to the Global Archives, and Cessna Aircraft Company was presented with the Medal of Achievement, at San Francisco City Hall.
Sybase, Inc. (NYSE: SY), a leading provider of enterprise infrastructure and wireless software and a member of The Chairmen's Committee nominated Cessna Aircraft Company for inclusion in the 2005 Business and Related Service Category. The case study now becomes part of a collection of case studies from 54 countries.
The 2005 Collection, which will now be archived in libraries, museums, and academic and research institutions around the world, will serve as primary source material for scholars and as a resource for individuals who hope to use information technology to create solutions to address their own challenges.
To help its customers ensure that their aircraft comply with government maintenance guidelines in the U.S. and abroad, Cessna Aircraft Company created the Cessna Computerized Maintenance System (CESCOM Online) using Sybase® products. This system allows customers to check maintenance records in real-time in order to keep their aircraft in compliance with maintenance requirements, and in service. Its real-time functionality enables customers to act on maintenance prescribed by the FAA and other authorities, and to submit mandated reports in a timely way that serves both their business interests and the overriding interest of aviation safety. Specifically, CESCOM Online has reduced the amount of time it takes for Cessna customers to receive their monthly reports from an average of 30 days to two minutes, and the time to process maintenance transaction reports from 27 days to less than nine hours. It also enables customers to create required reports for submission to the FAA in as little as 30 seconds.
Cessna's CESCOM was one of the first computerized aircraft tracking systems to be introduced in the industry. Continuing in that leadership role, Cessna is the first aircraft manufacturer to put an aircraft maintenance tracking system online. This is significant because Cessna knows precisely what is required to maintain Cessna aircraft and therefore can produce all of the reports, tracking and projections required by the FAA. Because Cessna has the largest general aviation fleet in the world, CESCOM Online tracks more aircraft than any other system.
"Each year, Computerworld Honors identifies and recognizes individuals around the world whose visionary use of information technology produces and promotes positive social, economic and educational change," said Bob Carrigan, CEO and publisher of Computerworld, the Voice of IT Management, and chairman of the Chairmen's Committee of the Computerworld Honors Program. "The innovators represented in this Collection have been recognized by the leading IT industry chairmen as true revolutionaries in their fields."
From more than 300 nominations submitted this year by the 100 industry chairmen and CEO's who serve on the program's Chairmen's Committee, 160 were honored as laureates at last night's ceremonies in San Francisco. Of these, 50 will be chosen by a panel of distinguished judges to attend the June 6, 2005 awards gala in Washington, D.C., where the 10 world finalists will be announced.
Case studies from the 2005 Computerworld Honors Collection are available at www.cwheroes.org, the official site of the Computerworld Honors Program, where the entire Collection is available to scholars, researchers and the general public worldwide. In addition, the Collection is distributed annually to the Honors Program's Archival Partners around the world. These partners include some of the world's finest research and scholarly institutions, each of which has generously agreed to include the Collection in its archives.
According to Dan Morrow, a founding director and chief historian for the Honors Program, "This year's laureates exemplify the very best in the creative use of IT in service to mankind. Their work and their stories are outstanding contributions to the history of the information technology revolution in every sense of the word, and, for the archives we serve all over the world, they are, truly, priceless."
Founded in 1988, the Computerworld Honors Program searches for and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated vision and leadership as they strive to use information technology in innovative ways across 10 categories: Business and Related Services; Education and Academia; Environment, Energy and Agriculture; Finance, Insurance and Real Estate; Government and Non-Profit Organizations; Manufacturing; Media, Arts and Entertainment; Medicine; Science; and Transportation. Each year, the Computerworld Honors Chairmen's Committee nominates organizations who are using information technology to improve society for inclusion in the Computerworld Honors Online Archive and the Collections of the Global Archives. The Global Archives represents the 100-plus institutions from more than 30 countries that include the Computerworld Honors Collection in their archives and libraries.
About Cessna Aircraft Company
Cessna Aircraft Company is the world's leader of general aviation aircraft. Since its founding in 1927, Cessna has delivered over 185,000 aircraft, including 4,200 Citations - the largest fleet of business jet aircraft in the world. More than half the aircraft flying today are Cessnas. Worldwide, Cessna employs over 10,500 people in the design, manufacturing, sales, marketing and support of its products. Facilities for operations are located in Wichita and Independence, Kansas, and Columbus, Georgia.
Cessna is a subsidiary of Textron. Textron Inc. is a $10 billion multi-industry company with 44,000 employees in 40 countries. The company leverages its global network of aircraft, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell Helicopter, Cessna Aircraft, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Greenlee, among others. More information is available at www.textron.com or www.cessna.com.
About Computerworld
Computerworld, the "Voice of IT Management," is the most trusted source for the critical information needs of senior IT management. Computerworld's integrated offerings form the U.S.-based hub of the world's largest (58-edition) global IT media network through its weekly publication, Computerworld.com Web site, focused conference series and custom research. In the past five years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 print and online awards for editorial and design excellence, surpassing its direct competition by an order of magnitude. Recognition includes the 2004 Magazine of the Year Award from the American Society of Business Publication Editors and a Jesse H. Neal Award for "Best News Coverage." In print since 1967, Computerworld is the source for information technology management, with a guaranteed rate base of 180,050, a total print audience of 1,138,000 (IntelliQuest CIMS 2004 Business Influencer Study) and an online audience of over 1 million unique monthly visitors (DoubleClick).
Computerworld is a business unit of International Data Group (IDG), the world's leading technology media, research and events company. A privately held company, IDG publishes more than 300 magazines and newspapers, including Bio-IT World, CIO, CSO, Computerworld, GamePro, InfoWorld, Network World and PC World. The company features the largest network of technology-specific Web sites, with more than 400 around the world. IDG is also a leading producer of more than 170 computer-related events worldwide, including LinuxWorld Conference & Expo®, Macworld Conference & Expo®, DEMO® and IDC Directions. IDC provides global market research and advice through offices in 50 countries. Company information is available at www.idg.com.