Highlights
History of Internet Parts Locator Systems
Where to find IPLS on the World Wide Web
Future directions
Inside
1 Why Internet Parts Locator Systems?
2 Internet Parts Locator Systems will save you time
3 Internet Parts Locator Systems will save you money
The Newsletter of
Frustrated Surplus Aircraft Parts Buyers
Volume 1 • Issue 1
April 1996
IPLS Gazette

Internet Parts Locator Systems
IPLS officially open for business on 4/19/96
Internet Parts Locator Systems begins to serve the requests of aviation surplus buyers on April 19, 1996.
IPLS is the first internet service specifically designed to meet the needs of todays technology sophisticated aviation parts purchaser.
IPLS is designed to provide commercial aviation surplus parts dealers with a single information source. The page is designed to serve requests for parts availability and overhaul capability. In addition, a message board is available to post bulletins that may be of interest to all viewers of the page. The value of IPLS increases as more companies decide to list their inventory. Since there is no cost, it is expected that within the next six months 50 of the largest commercial aviation companies will decide to list with IPLS. Currently the inventories of Continental, Emery Airlines, International Airline Support Group, Bet-Air Sales, UNC International, and AAA Interair have listed their inventories on the database.

The internet makes possible a central, high performance server that can use cutting edge processing power to service requests from aviation surplus buyers the world over. In fact it is as easy to dial a local number in Australia to access the internet and in turn IPLS as it is to dial a local number in Miami. The internet is truly a worldwide phenomena that breaks down most of the traditional communication barriers. While other services rely on the private network to handle requests for data with IPLS all a user needs is a local connection to the internet in order to have unlimited access to run parts availability requests
INVENTORY INQUIRY
After arriving at http://www.ipls.com the user is presented the main screen for the input of a part number. IPLS can be used to search for a specific part or for a group of parts based on the first characters typed into the field.
The response screen returns the part number, condition, quantity, CAGE, Units, and company listing. When the user clicks on the company, a mail screen will appear, if the user is currently using version 2.0 of Netscape Navigator. If you are using a different browser you will receive different results.
IPLS is designed using the latest technology from Microsoft. IPLS has decided on a completely Microsoft / Intel solution for software and hardware.

OVERHAUL CAPABILITY
When the user moves below the inventory inquiry area he or she will be presented with a field that can be used to inquiry the overhaul capabilities of FAA 145 repair stations. A current copy of the FAA certificate along with ASA and CASE approval will be available. This will give the user the added comfort to know certified capabilities and association approval.
BULLETIN BOARD
The IPLS bulletin board feature allows users to instantly post information to the page that has interest to the whole group. An example might be a special sale item or a request for a certain hard to find item. Company information may also be posted. Once the message is added it is available for immediate review for a period of 24 hours after this period the message is still available for review using the archived message feature.
Please visit http://www.ipls.com. In order to properly review the page please use a Netscape or Microsoft web browser. At this time IPLS uses a feature called tables to return data from the database. With a browser that is unable to display table information the responses will appear garbled. IPLS is in the process of having our web server check the type of browser you are using and adjust accordingly. Browsers that do not support tables are the built in web browser of America On-line and early versions of Mosaic.
If you like what you see please send in your inventory for listing. IPLS can accept inventory in the same format as used by the other services. IPLS can also accept any PC database or spreadsheet format provided a data structure listing comes with the media.
IPLS will accept data on 3.5 or 5 1/4 inch IBM formatted floppies, Colorado jumbo backup tapes (250MB), One quarter inch QIC-80 formatted tapes, ½ inch reel to reel both 1600 and 6250BPI, 8MM and 4MM helical scan, and IOMEGA bunolli disk and IOMEGA travan tape types. IPLS will also accept inventory ftp'ed (File Transfer Protocol) to their server at ftp.ipls.com. This will become the standard mode to transfer inventory for listing on IPLS.
Electronic Mail
E-mail is the communication medium of the internet. Anyone with an account on Compuserve, America On-line, or any of the various ISP's (Internet Service Provider) will have an e-mail account. On Compuserve the format is usually 77455.678@compuserve.com on America Online your e-mail is the screen name, honestjohn@aol.com. When you are with an internet service provider your address will usually be of the format first initial, last name at the service name jsmith@netcom.com or jsmith@satelnet.org. When you provide your inventory please give your current e-mail address, this will allow members to communicate RFQ's, general messages, and responses with a minimum of cost. IPLS will communicate new services and solicit new database formats using e-mail to all members.
FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The designers of IPLS continue to use your input to add additional data which can benefit all members. In the next month IPLS is going to add the Federal Supplier Code (CAGE) database. IPLS is also going to add the Federal NSN, national stocking code, database. Each database will be updated quarterly. A master interchangeability database is being developed for Boeing and Douglas aircraft types.
You input is important. Please e-mail any comments, suggestions, ideas, or complaints to webmaster@ipls.com. All e-mail will be answered and all ideas will be forwarded to all members for inclusion into the service.
HOW TO CONTACT US
The mailing address of IPLS is:
8095 N.W. 64th Street
Miami FL. 33166

IPLS has been designed with one goal in mind. To save worldwide aviation surplus parts buyers time and money. It is designed for commercial aviation surplus buyers by two data processing professionals with over 15 years of large aircraft inventory experience.

Intenet Parts Locator Systems Questions & Answers
Q:
I already list with two online services. Why would I what to take the time to list with another?
A:
With each new company listing inventory with IPLS the value of the database increases. When the information contained within IPLS matches the breath of the other two, one or both may become unnecessary. Since the cost structure of IPLS is so low it will always be more cost effective than the other services. IPLS is a worldwide service. Anywhere the internet is available potential buyers of your products can search the database.
Q:
I'm worried about my proprietary inventory data being used by companies to compete against me. How can I prevent this?
A:
You can't. If you are worried about others selling out of your inventory or somehow using your data against you then you are missing the whole point about making it available for sale. What if retail stores did not what to show their customers their merchandise because they were afraid that the customer was actually a competitor? That store could never sell because it would be too concerned about the competition. Don't worry, the aviation surplus market is all about contacts and relationships, worry about your product, your service, and your customer. If someone else can sell your product better than you, let him sell it. The more visibility for your inventory the more possibility of its eventual sale.
Q:
Why don't I just put up a web page and list my inventory there?
A:
The future will bring us to a time when all aviation companies both large and small will have an internet presence. At that time a Yahoo like directory service can be developed to query each individual database in real time. When matches are found the service could post requests for quotes right into the company's main server. The server could then alert sales to process an RFQ that could in turn be sent directly back to the requesting machine. When all requests are back the machine could decide on the lowest priced unit and issue a purchase order. When this point is reached there will be no use for a service like IPLS. Until that time IPLS can act as a surrogate to the process for the multitude of companies that have no web presence.
Q:
Why can't I start my own IPLS like service?
A:
Cost. The IPLS server, CSU/DSU, router, and leased line to the internet cost several thousand dollars a month. For most companies it is not cost effective to maintain a server in house and to pay someone to administer the server and database.

Q:
I've heard about the internet , but I don't understand what it is. Who owns it?
A:
The internet is a collection of computers located around the world that are hooked together through phone lines. The lines that connect the internet are open 24 hours a day seven days a week making a type of virtual network.
Q:
I like the idea, but I have heard that the internet is not ready to be used as a business tool. Perhaps I'll list in a couple of years.
A:
The internet is growing at such a rapid pace that a couple of years is like a lifetime. The development taking place is so exiting that it is hard to predict even the form of the service by the year 2000. Yes the World Wide Web is a fairly new phenomena, but the internet has been in place for over a decade. The reliability is there, the level of service is there, the availability is there. The time is now!
Copyright 1996 all rights reserved .