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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0029.PDF
Preventative maintenance patterns is very high, as we are using real- life data instead of trying to model the operating environment." The main benefits of the AHM system when it is first deployed will be economic rather than safety-related, says Manelski, who adds that the additional information will allow airlines to make a more informed decision as to when to perform preventative line-maintenance work with minimum schedule impact or financial penalties. While AHM would be the vehi cle for more wide-ranging prognostics in the future, such as structural monitoring, Manelski says the technology for such applications "is not yet mature". Another revolution Boeing is hoping to launch its first release of AHM commercially as early as the beginning of next year, contingent on the success of beta testing due to start with selected customers in mid-2003. Once an aircraft is on the ground, maintenance technicians and mechanics take over. It is here, in the job processing and data retrieval systems, that another information revolution waits in the wings. MRO providers have recently taken steps to reduce the time taken for a mechanic to source all the technical data, drawings and job records that must be reviewed for each task. Workstations are appearing in the Boeing's maintenance bays of some providers, that AHM and allow mechanics local access to all the Arinc's required information in electronic format ACAMS within a few metres of the work area. The projects next step, however, is to move to hand- could lead held, wireless devices that mechanics could to more wear on their person and that are con- efficient use nected to the same central information of aircraft retrieval system. Mechanics could then call idle time on up required information while in situ at the overnight aircraft component being examined, stopovers whether the aircraft be in a specialised bay or at a gate on the ramp. Air Canada and IBM are jointly develop ing a wireless "e-Toolbox" that gives aircraft line-mechanics wireless access to electronic documents and the airline's maintenance systems. The two partners, which have agreed a wide-ranging C$1.4 billion ($900 million) IT programme, designed the appli cation to support all the maintenance, repair and operations data from Air Can ada's legacy maintenance systems on a web application server. This information is then delivered over a secured wireless local area network to the mechanics' rugged laptops. Air Canada says an additional benefit of having maintenance data online is that it facilitates the preparation of maintenance work for inbound aircraft and trou bleshooting outbound flights. "It offers improved productivity and a quicker turnaround time for aircraft undergoing maintenance, which ultimately leads to improved on-time performance," it adds. Following a successful trial on Air Canada's A320 fleet at its Montreal Dorval heavy maintenance base , Air Canada and IBM plan to market the wireless e-Toolbox to other airlines. With unscheduled maintenance accounting for up to 60% of the mainte nance workload, there are obviously huge benefits to be gained from reducing this work by even a small amount. More importantly, it would mean airlines could reduce disruption to their schedules and allow providers to plan more effectively, using their licensed staff and resources more efficiently. Wireless technology would be particularly beneficial for licensed staff, who could spend more time doing high-value work. Maintenance could become more aircraft specific as well, with each tail number having its own maintenance plan tailored to the aircraft's own idiosyn crasies, rather than forcing it to conform to a fleet norm. With "total support" fixed-price-style maintenance contracts between operators and MRO providers and even manufactur ers becoming more popular, those bearing the costs will be looking very closely at the industry's efficiency, and speed will be the name of the game. • www.fliqhtinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 14 20 JANUARY 2003 27
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