Star Wars themed airplanes have become an increasingly popular way for airline passengers to express their affinity for the space opera franchise. Arguably one of the most iconic entertainment properties of all time, Star Wars holds a special place in the hearts and minds of so many people around the world, and this has been especially evident in the airline industry.

In 2015, Air New Zealand released a modified Boeing 777 emblazoned with a mural depicting the First Order of the Galactic Empire and a Star Wars-themed safety video. The plane was aptly christened the “Star Wars Airlines” — a fitting title as the craft evoked comparisons to the famed intergalactic vessels of the beloved series.

The exterior of the plane featured the image of the galaxy-spanning warships of the First Order, made famous in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which had recently premiered in theaters. The colors and detailing of the design were chosen to reflect the fictional vehicle, taking inspiration from the main body of the First Order’s vessels. In addition, “Star Wars” was written across the top of the plane’s wings, giving the plane an extra dose of fandom branding.

Interior-wise, the plane was outfitted with special Star Wars-themed logos, artwork, and colors. The airline’s iconic red seats were decorated with custom Star Wars fabric, and the overhead bins were adorned with the airships of the First Order. The plane also featured an onboard library that contained books, games, and merchandise related to the beloved space-faring franchise. The interior design of the plane harkened back to the aura and atmosphere of the Star Wars films, aiming to bring a bit of intergalactic ambiance to the flying experience.

In a further attempt to make the plane more immersive, the airline invited various celebrities from the films to take part in the inaugural flight. Star cast members from the latest Star Wars films, including Lupita Nyong’o and Mark Hamill, were among those who attended the special launch event. Once onboard, passengers were treated to interactive elements, such as on-board trivia and competitions, a Jedi training session, light saber-wielding lessons, and a dramatic fanfare to mark the airplane’s official take-off.

In short, the Star Wars Airlines concept encapsulates the ultimate fan experience when it comes to plane travel. From the eclectically designed exterior to the specially tailored onboard experiences, the plane serves as an effective tribute to the world-renowned franchise, and it appeals to diehard and casual fans alike.

In today’s world, collaboration between businesses is becoming more and more prevalent as organizations look for ways to increase efficiency and drive better results. One example of successful integration is the partnership between Locatory.com and ERP.Aero. This new integration automates inventory listing and updates, allowing customers to receive RFQs directly into their ERP.Aero’s RFQ Module.

By streamlining the process of uploading inventory to the Locatory.com Marketplace platform, this integration enables suppliers to shift their focus to more strategic tasks, freeing up valuable time and resources.

“ERP.Aero and Locatory.com Marketplace are a great match. With Locatory.com, we’re excited to grow together as a professional and experienced team.” Slava Zadorognuk, Vice President of Business Development

Additionally, the ERP.Aero integrations allows suppliers to better manage their inventory, ensuring adequate parts availability and efficient sales.

“Our customers benefit from this integration in three primary ways. Firstly, we improve the efficiency of the quoting process. Secondly, automatic updating and listing of inventory. Finally, searching within their ERP systems for repair capabilities and availability.” Anton Andrusenko, Product owner at Locatory.com

About ERP.aero

ERP.Aero is a cloud platform specially designed to provide aerospace manufacturers, suppliers, and MRO organizations with integrated ERP/CRM software to manage the purchase, lease, exchange, repair, and sale of aircraft parts.

Its cloud-based ERP/CRM system provides a readily-available, fully-featured, online operational environment for your entire organization, seamlessly integrating with leading marketplaces.

In other words, a feature-rich operational environment for the entire organization provides a state-of-the art integration with leading marketplaces to fortify and streamline the aerospace industry’s operational fabric.

The integration between Locatory.com and ERP.Aero transcends conventional business partnerships. It represents a fusion of technological prowess, industry expertise, and a shared vision for the future. As this collaboration continues to evolve, it is poised to redefine how businesses operate in the aerospace sector, setting new benchmarks for efficiency, innovation, and customer satisfaction.

MRO supply chain management is critical for the effective operation of organizations, as it involves the restocking of production materials, spare components, and consumables. Pain points in this supply chain have been identified and typically include lengthy approval processes, complex supply network, incomplete data, order backlogs, and inventory accuracy issues. By addressing these pain points, organizations can ensure a more reliable and responsive supply chain that meets customer demand.

One of most common pain points of MRO supply chain is the complexity of the supply network. As components and materials become increasingly global, the complexity of the supply chain increases due to factors such as sourcing, pricing, lead time, and availability. This leads to difficulty in tracking and managing the supply network, increasing the risk for organizations and creating additional barriers for effective MRO supply chain management.

Incomplete data is a major pain point in such supply chain, as it can lead to price spikes, inventory shortages, and operational inefficiency. Incomplete data could include out-of-date records, missing documents, inaccurate asset information, errored standard operating procedures, and long order backlogs. Without accurate and accessible data, operations run the risk of disruption and cost overruns due to incorrect or inefficient orders.

Order backlogs are another key pain point in the MRO supply chain, as they often result in delays in ordering and delivery. The backlogs can be caused by a number of factors such as overbooking orders and poor forecasting, insufficient capacity to meet demand, or incorrect planning and execution of orders. These backlogs can lead to increased manufacturing downtime and risk of fines or penalties for missed delivery requirements.

Finally, inventory accuracy issues are a pain point in the MRO supply chain. Often, organizations will struggle to effectively monitor and manage their inventory due to errors in stocking, storing, and ordering components and materials, or due to the inability to accurately forecast or plan for future needs. As a result, organizations can overstock or understock, wasting funds and leading to production insulation.

By addressing these key pain points in the MRO supply chain, organizations can ensure a more efficient and cost-effective supply chain. With effective implementation of organizational policies, improved communication, and accuracy of data, organizations can realize greater operational agility, while reducing costs and increasing customer satisfaction.