The control of helicopter operations in the Brazilian oil industry: Issues in the design and implementation of a computerized system

In Brazil the helicopter is largely used for the transportation of passengers between the continent and offshore oil exploration and production platforms. A typical flight transports passengers from the continent to the platforms and from these back to the continent. In this paper the authors discuss important issues that arose in the design and implementation of a computerized system to control these helicopter operations, concentrating on an interactive algorithm designed to route the helicopters. The difficulties that occurred in several phases of the project, and particularly in the implementation of the algorithm, are related to the difficult relationship client/OR analyst and to the particularities of conducting Operational Research OR projects in developing countries.