The Automated Airload Planning System is a knowledge-based expert system that helps users to plan the loading of military air cargo and passengers, and tracks the movements of military aircraft, cargo, and personnel. In less than 1 hour, AALPS can generate valid load plans automatically from an input list of 4,000 cargo items and 15,000 passengers, specifications of aircraft types, and data on special requirements.

In its interactive mode, AALPS helps users to generate load plans from scratch and to modify preexisting plans. AALPS also stores information on the status of cargo items and passengers, and their movements; and can transfer such information automatically to other AALPS locations. AALPS is certified for operational use by the U.S. Air Force Military Airlift Command, is in daily use throughout the U.S. and Europe, and was used in Operation Desert Storm.