UX Case Study

OPS135 Operator Crew & Aircraft Scheduling Dashboard

Client: ONEflight operator partners (Part 135 Operations)
Product: OPS135 Operator Dashboard
Role: Lead Product Designer (UX/UI)
Platforms: Web (Desktop-first, operations-facing)

Overview

Private aviation operations require precise coordination between aircraft availability, crew assignments, maintenance windows, and client trips—often changing in real time. I led the design of a crew and aircraft scheduling dashboard that gives operators a clear, at-a-glance view of weekly operations while allowing them to dynamically toggle critical information without overwhelming the interface. The result is a scalable, color-driven scheduling system that reduces operational errors, improves dispatch efficiency, and supports fast decision-making under time pressure.

The Problem

Operations teams were managing schedules across multiple disconnected tools, making it difficult to quickly answer questions like:

• Which aircraft are available this week?
• Where are crew gaps or conflicts?
• How does maintenance affect upcoming trips?
• Can this trip be reassigned without violating duty limits?

Key challenges included:

• High information density across multiple dimensions (aircraft, crew, maintenance, trips)
• Rapid context switching during live operations
• Risk of human error due to unclear availability states
• Need for flexibility across different operator workflows

Goals & Success Criteria

User Goals

• Instantly understand aircraft and crew status
• Identify conflicts and gaps without manual cross-checking
• Toggle views based on task (dispatch, maintenance, crew planning)

Business Goals

• Reduce scheduling errors and delays
• Improve operational efficiency
• Support scaling across fleets and aircraft models
• Provide a single source of truth for operations teams

Solution

I designed a calendar-based operator dashboard that visualizes crew and aircraft schedules in a weekly timeline, with layered information that can be toggled on and off based on user needs.

Key Features

• Aircraft-based rows to anchor scheduling around the asset
• Color-coded event types (Client, Repo, Maintenance, Crew)
• Crew assignment indicators with role visibility (PIC / SIC)
• Status toggles to filter the calendar without losing context
• Clear availability markers for future planning
• Search and date controls for fast navigation

This approach balances information density with clarity, allowing operators to focus only on what matters in the moment.

Interaction & Information Design

• Color as system language:

  • Blue: Client trips
  • Yellow: Repositioning flights
  • Orange: Maintenance
  • Green: Crew duty blocks
  • Red alerts: Missing crew or conflicts

• Progressive disclosure:

  Operators can toggle visibility for Client, Repo, Maintenance, and Crew layers—reducing cognitive load during time-sensitive tasks.

• Inline crew context:

  Crew names, roles, and duty status are visible directly within schedule blocks, eliminating the need to cross-reference separate views.

UX Decisions That Mattered

• Weekly time horizon was chosen over daily views to support strategic planning and conflict detection.
• Left-anchored aircraft list reinforces asset-first thinking common in aviation operations.
• Consistent block sizing and hierarchy improves scanability under pressure.
• Dark UI theme reduces eye strain for long-duration operational use.

Impact & Outcomes

• Reduced time to identify scheduling conflicts
• Improved clarity around crew coverage and availability
• Faster dispatch decisions during live operations
• Scalable framework that supports additional aircraft, crews, and operational rules

Internal feedback highlighted improved confidence in decision-making and reduced reliance on secondary tools.

Next Steps

• Predictive alerts for upcoming crew or maintenance conflicts
• Role-based views for dispatchers vs. maintenance planners
• Mobile-optimized “snapshot” view for on-the-go operations
• Deeper integrations with duty-time and compliance systems