Emirates | FOIP & FTR

 ICT Security 

We are happy to inform you that CrewLounge AERO is fully compliant with EU GDPR regulations and also with Emirates' ICT security protocol. You should never share your credentials with third party app developers!

When you enter the login credentials in the CrewLounge AERO apps, your username and password are not shared with CrewLounge AERO! They are stored securely and encrypted on your local phone.

When you press the DOWNLOAD button, the credentials are only used in your phone's local memory. Unlike other 3rd party apps, your credentials do not go through the CrewLounge AERO cloud server! CrewLounge AERO's download process is identical to the web browser apps (Safari, Chrome, etc) on your phone, that store and recall your login details when you visit any webshop or website, also your company's crew portal. In this way we comply with all security standards as well as privacy legislation.

How to download your roster from FOIP

Download your planned roster and historical data straight from the Emirates FOIP web portal.  The interface retrieves all events from your roster, including simulator training, ground duties and off-days.

Pilots reported that the aircraft registration is often missing for historical flights.  The issue is inherent to the FOIP web portal, it's out of our control.  As a workaround, import the FTR file (see below).

Training Codes are being processed by CrewLounge and converted into Instructor & Examiner time.

The FOIP interface is available from the mobile apps only.

Microsoft Authenticator

When establishing the connection with FOIP, you must approve the sign-in request from Microsoft Authenticator.  

As soon as you receive the notification (as shown in the image below), you must :

1. switch to the AUTHENTICATOR app on your phone
2. approve the sign-in request
3. come back to your CREWLOUNGE app

The CrewLounge app will then continue automatically!  You will see the message "Working on it..." appear after a few seconds.

App hangs at 20%

Some crew members reported that the CREWLOUNGE app does not continue automatically after approving the sign-in through the MS Authenticator.  Investigation revealed that this issue is caused by a conflict in the AUTHENTICATOR process.  

If you notice that the CREWLOUNGE app hangs at 20% for longer than 30 seconds, simply click the red CANCEL button (shown in the image below) and restart the process.

If the problem with MS Authenticator persists, or if the MS Authenticator notification does not appear, you can also proceed manually, as follows:

1) click the link "I can’t use my Microsoft Authenticator app right now":

2) select "Use a verification code from my mobile app":

3) Open the MS Authenticator app and get the code

4) Insert the code in the CREWLOUNGE app and press the Verify button

5) Wait a few seconds and let the CREWLOUNGE app continue by itself

App returns "Invalid Session"

Should you encounter an "Invalid Session" error when connecting with FOIP, you must change the iOS permissions for the CrewLounge AERO app, as follows:

1. close the CrewLounge app
2. go to iOS Settings
3. in the left column, scroll down and select the CrewLounge app (CONNECT / PILOTLOG)
4. enable "Allow Cross-Website Tracking" close iOS Settings and restart your CrewLounge App

App does not connect to FOIP

Some crew members reported issues with establishing connection with the CrewLounge AERO Cloud Server. Typically for the UAE, this issue is often caused by restriction through your ISP (Internet Service Provider).  Try again by using a VPN connection.

How to import your FTR

Download your FLIGHT CREW RECORDS - Flight Time Report (FTR) excel XLS sheet from the Emirates FOIP web portal, and save the file to your desktop or mobile.

Next, use the off-line import function from CrewLounge PILOTLOG (desktop) to import the XLS file.  You could also "share" the file with the mobile app.

This FTR file provides the following flight data :

• aircraft model and registration number
• pilot names (no cabin crew)
• training codes (instructor time, examiner time)
• task PF/PM (pilot flying, pilot monitoring)
• relief hours (block time - stick time)

The FTR contains flight data only, it does not contain historical data for simulator or other ground duties.

Stick Time

Stick time is automatically converted into Relief time, as follows : 

1. CrewLounge PILOTLOG considers Relief Time the time that you are not at the controls (thus, actually the opposite of Stick Time)
2. on the Flight Config page, enable the field Relief Time
3. on the Tables - Aircraft page, select Autoload Relief for all EK aircraft (you can use the mass-edit function on the desktop to set this property for all aircraft)
4. when importing your FTR flight time records, the Relief Time field is automatically set to Block Time - Stick Time

To monitor your stick time, create a Flight Time Limit rule on the desktop and select "without Relief Time":

Note:

Do not setup a User Time field to monitor stick time.  If you have setup a User Time field (as was recommend by us in the past), you can proceed as follows to migrate hours from the User Time field to the Relief Time field: 

1. on the desktop, go to the Tools - Helpdesk Support page
2. drop the following code in the Run Action box and press Execute
3. EKST=1/20200101

where:

• "1" refers to the User Field ID that you had created for Stick Time (range 1 to 4)
• "20200101" is the Date (YYYYMMDD) from and after which you want apply the migration

This action will migrate your Stick Time from the User Time field to the Relief Time field as non-stick time.

Here is a sample:

Total Time = 11 hours
PICUS Time = 3 hours
Co-Pilot Time = 3 hours
Stick Time (user time 4) = 6 hours

becomes:

Total Time = 11 hours
PICUS Time = 3 hours
Co-Pilot Time = 3 hours
Relief Time = 5 hours (that is Total Time minus Stick Time)

After running this action, go to the Settings - App General page and disable User Time (stick time).  You do no longer need this user field.

You may also want to read the following solution articles to configure auto-load of function time:

• How to automatically log PICUS when PF?
• How to auto-load Function & Condition Time
• How to log Relief Pilot / Supernumerary ?

Combining FOIP with FTR

You can combine any interface (FOIP and FTR) on any device (mobile and desktop) in any app (CONNECT - PILOTLOG) in any order (first / next).  All data is seamlessly exchanged with other apps on all platforms!

We suggest the following combination :

• CrewLounge CONNECT mobile app :
  • download your Planned Roster using the FOIP online interface - Planned Roster
  • export events to the external calendar on your phone

• CrewLounge PILOTLOG mobile app :
  • download Historical Data using the FOIP online interface - Historical Data, to retrieve actual block hours and simulator data

• CrewLounge PILOTLOG desktop program :
  • download the FTR file from FOIP
  • import the FTR file using the off-line airline interface in order to complete your logbook with aircraft registration, PF/PM and Relief hours.

Any other combination will also work.  Choose whatever solution works best for you!