ABSTRACT
To remain competitive in a commercial environment, constantly innovating and searching for efficiencies, sources of data are required that reduce the uncertainty associated with decisions and guide a path toward improvements in performance. This chapter explores the types and sources of data and methods of acquisition and analysis that are appropriate for the different conditions that aviation businesses might face now and into the future. With 35 million flight departures per year, data are critically important for any planning decision made by aviation management. The balance between the resources available and potential consequences is an important factor in determining the types of data acquired, the rate at which these data are acquired, and the nature of the response. Trend analyses are a key component in identifying and responding to conditions where there is a lag between an input and an output.
