Overview

H-E-B Grocery Company operates over 455 stores across Texas and Mexico. For more than a century, H-E-B has been recognized for innovation, community service, and delivering fresh food and quality products. Its Part 91 flight department serves as a strategic resource, supporting the company’s mission and growth.

Challenge

Maintaining exceptional service in corporate aviation requires eliminating complacency and ensuring crews are consistently prepared. H-E-B’s flight department identified the need for a standardized, technology-driven approach to improve efficiency and safety while supporting continuous improvement.

Solution

H-E-B implemented a methodology centered on standardization and integrated systems:

• Technology Integration:
  • Portside’s BART scheduling system is integrated with VOCUS FlightRisk for risk assessment and preflight briefings.
  • Collins Aerospace ARINCDirect for flight planning and operational support.
• Risk Management & Customization: Once the flight schedule is loaded into BART, the integration with FlightRisk enables the center of the preflight briefing to focus on the Risk Assessment that is created. In addition to the out-of-the-box risk advisories they receive, HEB has also created custom rules for various airports, runway conditions, and operational reminders in specific regions or locations. This provides the crews with critical information that they need to know for each particular flight. Then, when the flight plan is made, the Risk Assessment in FlightRisk is regenerated again, enabling the most up-to-date assessment to inform the pre-flight briefing.
• Post flight debrief: “In addition to the rules engine, we also highly leverage the Risk Ratings in FlightRisk to debrief our flights and document tips to pass along to future crews which provide an invaluable ‘heads up’ to crew members who might not have been there before,” said Sedlacek.
• Training & Standardization:
  • SOP-driven processes combined with integrated systems enable quick onboarding and ensure crews are well-prepared. New team members are really impressed with the flight department’s approach when they first arrive and enjoy the speed with which they get comfortable and integrated into the operation.
  • Continuous improvement through preflight briefings and post-flight debriefs are the key to success. The process allows a closed-loop approach to constantly assess and adjust for an even better experience on the next flight. “With frequent trips to common destinations, Flight Risk is instrumental to eliminate complacency and present real time hazards and mitigation strategies to ensure no small detail goes unnoticed,” said Andrew Sedlacek.

Results

By leveraging integrated technology and a culture of continuous improvement, H-E-B’s flight department delivers exceptional service while minimizing risk and operational inefficiencies.

“FlightRisk has provided our department with a central data hub to collect, organize, and present all key elements to ensure the safety of our operation. Not only does FlightRisk save time, but it standardizes and enhances both our pre-flight and post-flight briefings to keep us on the path of continuous improvement,” said Sedlacek.

“The integrations and automation remove a lot of the labor-intensive work that allows our crews to find time to do the little things that help us go from a 4-star to a 5-star service.” – Andrew Sedlacek