Cloud computing continues to converge with in-flight systems, now making sure everyone has their bespoke food menu on time at a lower management cost thanks to systems like AeroChef Lite.

Private jet services, amenities and in-flight VIP bespoke cuisine can often be overlooked as an inconvenience to be tackled “someday” when your company gets itself a logistics department, but luckily cloud computing is still imparting its many gifts to private aviation, including our lunch menus. We took note of a new announcement from AeroChef, a VIP catering company pioneering logistics software to smoothen the process of private flight owners reaching agreements with their caterers as to when, where and how much. AeroChef Lite, a new feature, promises to take advantage of the app economy and place decisions like in-flight catering nearer to the hands of the flight owner, should they so desire.

Previously, the Airline Catering Management Systems available from AeroChef were provided on a “site install” basis only. The end result meant more manpower and staff time dedicated to processing bills and menu designs, in order to ensure everyone had their bespoke lunches on time for that Hawker 4000 flight out to the East coast. Now the cost of time and space is being driven down by software such as AeroChef Lite, that can be used on handheld devices anywhere to drive through simple catering decisions.

A flight owner or lessor could find themselves with spare time before landing, to open up their flight management system screens and decide what bespoke menu will really tie up the next in-flight business deal. AeroChef provides a solution that generates quotes, customer orders, invoices, job sheets for caterers, delivery notes, security certificates and label printing. The data history can also be stored on the client’s cloud computing network to keep track of passenger history, preferences and deliver the finishing touches to a notoriously demanding facet of the private jet and VIP experience. If anyone should ever argue the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach, they could well try chances informing a coast-to-coast flight full of 8 executives that there will be no on-board meal today and observe their chances of success.

AeroChef will continue to provide an on-site installation solution, in addition to this new web-based hosted model that only requires any flight manager or owner to have an internet connection and access to a browser. Kott Software, the software company behind AeroChef, provides customer support through their network in Maryland, San Jose, London, Zurich and Cochin. An AeroChef press release focused on the move as being beneficial for owners and managers to increase their time “on the move”, which will be music to the ears of any player in private aviation management.