Aircrew association takes off with open-source system
Local corporate deployment of Linux has spread its wings, with the Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association moving its core information technology system to an open-source computing environment.
The association, which represents pilots and flight engineers of Cathay Pacific Airways and its subsidiaries, switched the IT system from a Windows platform to the Debian Linux operating system for an undisclosed sum in February.
The association's internet-based information system enables staff, associate members and more than 1,000 fully fledged members to access relevant organisation data and to communicate on the Web.
John Findlay, general secretary of the association, said the system is also secure enough to act as a voting channel, offering members a new level of participation.
'Information technology is the glue that brings the organisation together,' Mr Findlay said.
He said the Windows-based system, cobbled together with hobbyists in the association, could not give them the cost-effective, secure and reliable interactive applications required by members.
'Because we were putting sensitive information about our members online, security had to be absolutely bulletproof,' Mr Findlay said. 'Linux was clearly the best choice from a security perspective.
'The way forward for us was to consolidate everything into one system with a shared database, which can be accessed by as many people as needed it.'
The online information system project was developed by technology services firm COL, a unit of the Wharf Group. It took COL three months to complete.
COL general manager Norris Hickerson said the project reflected the slow but steady adoption rate of Linux by Hong Kong organisations wanting to cut costs and increase productivity.
Yankee Group application infrastructure and software platforms senior analyst Laura DiDio recently said: 'The instances where Linux imparts measurably improved [total cost of ownership], compared with Unix and Windows, are in small firms with customised vertical applications or new, greenfield networking situations.
'In large enterprises, a total switch from Windows to Linux would be three to four times more expensive and take three times as long as a [Windows] upgrade.'
