Aircraft

Bombardier is developing a centralized maintenance health monitoring system (CMHMS) for the CSeries that will provide real-time information about the entire aircraft to ensure enhanced diagnostics and prognostics.

"We're still designing it but if we get it right it will be accessible by maintenance technicians via personal digital assistants," says Bombardier Commercial Aircraft programmes VP Ben Boehm.

The CMHMS will play a role in helping to drive down direct maintenance costs of the CSeries. Bombardier predicts the 110/130-seat aircraft will cost 28% less to maintain than in-production competitors, including the Airbus A319, Boeing 737-600 and Embraer 195.

The Canadian airframer is also migrating to a comprehensive aftermarket business model with the CSeries. It will offer a complete nose-to-tail maintenance programme on a fixed cost-per-flight hour basis for the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G-powered aircraft.