Fuel supplier Air BP recently acquired a minority stake in RocketRoute, the developer of a cloud-based flight planning system that also incorporates functions such as fuel purchasing, crew briefing, flight plan filing and flight tracking. For Air BP, the deal, completed for an undisclosed amount, presents an opportunity for it to more closely connect with private and business aviation operators. The two UK-based companies are planning to introduce new initiatives for customers in the coming months.

“Air BP is an integral part of the aviation supply chain so we want to be able to offer our customers tools that enable them to operate more efficiently,” said Air BP chief operating officer Norbert Kamp. “The decision to invest in RocketRoute demonstrates the importance we attribute to the ability of technology to support this.”

RocketRoute and Air BP began working together in 2014. RocketRoute, which works online and via an app for smartphones, integrates into one service flight planning, fuel purchasing, crew briefing, flight plan filing, dispatch and flight tracking. It allows pilots and trip support staff to create and display routes and search through documents and approach plate, among others.