Documentation

FloatOps Studio Docs

Everything you need to set up and run your balloon safari operation on FloatOps Studio.

Platform Overview

FloatOps Studio has two parts: the web application for operations managers and administrators, and the FloatOps Field app for pilots, drivers, chase crew, and ground staff.

All data syncs in real time between the web and mobile apps. Staff in the field see the same flight, booking, and transport data as the operations centre — even with intermittent connectivity.

Staff Roles

FloatOps Studio uses role-based access. Each role sees only the screens relevant to their work.

  • Admin Full access to all web and mobile features. Manages staff, settings, and approvals.
  • Pilot Access to flights, weather decisions, and alerts on the field app.
  • DriverGuide Access to transport routes, stop completion, GPS location, and alerts.
  • ChaseCrew Access to flights, guest check-in, and alerts.
  • Waiter Access to alerts and settings only.

Field App Setup

  1. Download FloatOps Field from the Google Play Store on your Android device.
  2. Open the app and enter your username and password (provided by your Admin).
  3. The app will sync all current flight, booking, and transport data automatically.
  4. Allow location permissions when prompted — required for the GPS transport feature.
  5. Allow notification permissions to receive operational alerts.

If you cannot log in, ask your Admin to verify your account is active in Staff Management and that your password is correctly set.

Managing Flights

Flights are created in the web application by Admin users. To create a flight:

  1. Go to Flights → New Flight in the web app.
  2. Set the flight date, location, balloon, pilot, and total seat capacity.
  3. Add flight notes if needed (visible to all staff).
  4. Save the flight. It will appear on all field devices at the next sync.

Flight status progresses through: Scheduled → Boarding → Airborne → Landed → Completed. Status can be updated by Pilots and Admins.

Guest Bookings

Bookings are created in the web application and linked to a specific flight. Each booking records the guest's name, email, hotel, passenger count, and payment status.

Bookings are visible in the field app under the Flight Detail → Manifest tab, showing check-in status and waiver completion for each guest.

Guest Check-in

Check-in is performed by Chase Crew and Admins in the field app. To check in a guest:

  1. Open the Check-in tab in the field app.
  2. Select the flight for today.
  3. Find the guest's booking in the manifest list.
  4. Tap Check In on the guest card.

Check-in updates sync to the web app in real time. Waivers must be signed separately through the web waiver system.

Transport & Pickups

Transport is managed by DriverGuide staff. The field app shows the driver's assigned vehicle, pickup stops, and a live timeline of trip progress.

  1. Open the Transport tab and enter your vehicle number.
  2. Your assigned pickup route will load automatically.
  3. Tap Depart Base when you leave.
  4. Complete each stop as guests are collected.
  5. Tap Arrived at Launch when you reach the launch site.
  6. Tap Send Location at any time to share your GPS position with operations.

Weather Decisions

Weather decisions (GO / DELAY / NO-GO) are entered by Pilots and Admins in the web app under Weather & Conditions. Once recorded, the decision syncs to all field staff immediately via push notification.

The weather decision is visible in the field app on the Weather tab and in the Flight Detail screen's KPI strip.

Alerts

Operational alerts are created by Admins and visible to all relevant staff in the Alerts tab. Alerts have severity levels: Low, Medium, High, Critical.

Admins can acknowledge and resolve alerts. DriverGuides can acknowledge alerts. Alerts trigger push notifications to all active field staff.

Offline Mode

The FloatOps Field app works without internet. When offline:

  • All cached flight, booking, transport, and weather data remains accessible
  • A yellow banner indicates the app is showing cached data
  • Check-in and transport actions are queued locally
  • Queued actions sync automatically when connectivity is restored

The Operational Status Bar at the top of each screen shows Online/Offline status, last sync time, and number of queued actions.

GPS Location

The Send Location button in the Transport screen sends the driver's current GPS coordinates to operations. Location is only captured and sent when the button is tapped — the app does not track location continuously in the background.

Location permission must be granted in Android device settings for this feature to work.

Diagnostics

If the app is not working correctly, go to Settings → About & Diagnostics. This screen shows:

  • API connectivity status
  • Database status
  • Last sync time
  • Queued actions count
  • GPS permission status
  • Device and app version

Tap Copy Diagnostics to copy all this information to your clipboard, then paste it into an email to quicksoft.media@gmail.com for fast support.

Tap Force Sync to trigger an immediate sync with the server.