Introduction
The purchase, implementation, and use of Automated Maintenance Environment (AME) systems today is an integral part of working with airplanes and other transport, like space, marine, or helicopter vehicles. Systems like Boeing AME consist of a set of integrated software applications needed to provide maintenance, including technical support and data collection for troubleshooting, performance analysis, and forecasting future trends (Boeing to provide aircraft Automated Maintenance Environment, 2014). This paper aims to analyze the utilization of AME systems by Boeing Company and its impact on the organization.
Users of AME Systems
Typically, the primary users of AME are aircraft maintainers – pilots, and technicians. Pilots can use the data provided by the system to correct in-flight problems, if possible. Technicians typically receive information on dozens of aircraft specifications in real-time. This data is immediately recorded in a database, and then technicians can compare it with standard indicators using special software tools to identify problems or predict possible future trends. Acquiring data from an aircraft during flight saves time on aircraft maintenance as technicians schedule troubleshooting in advance while the aircraft is still in the air. Therefore, after landing, maintenance takes significantly less time. Usually, pilots and technicians have a university degree and are well trained to perform the duties required by their position.
Features, Inputs, and Outputs of AME Systems
Innovative technologies called AME or IVHM serve the common purpose of constantly monitoring the airplane’s health and accumulating data necessary to deliver preventive care and instant repairs. For example, Boeing Airplane Health Management (AHM) maintenance system is a program that allows for timely identifying and diagnosing of problems with the aircraft system (Airplane Health Management, n.d.). AHM uses real-time aircraft data to speed up the troubleshooting process. Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM) aims to ensure the overall health of the aircraft. IVHM has four main features or areas of focus utilized by Boeing to provide its vehicles’ technical support. These features include diagnostics, prognostics, condition-based maintenance, and adaptive control.
Diagnostics integrates technologies designed to collect data about system faults for subsequent analysis and troubleshooting. The main advantage of AME or IVHM is expedited maintenance, which increases the aircraft’s availability for carrying out its tasks of carrying passengers, cargo, or performing military maneuvers. Boeing uses Airplane Health Management (AHM) for diagnostics, while the program monitors aircraft during flight using real-time data from the aircraft’s central maintenance computer and an electronic logbook (Stephenson, n.d.). AHM transforms data into information that technicians can use to make simple decisions; also, the AHM data allows for predicting the future state of the aircraft.
Prognostics involve predicting the future state of a system by analyzing the current state and historical trends. Prediction accelerates the maintenance process by eliminating problems before they arise or pose a serious hazard. An example is the P-8A multipurpose naval complex Integrated Defense Systems. Boeing believes this program is effective because it uses predictive algorithms to improve availability. The program includes a PCMCIA recorder that collects specific data required for forecasting. For example, it can be data on components with limited service life, information on the state of combat equipment, and structural fatigue characteristics. For ease of use, the map is deleted after each flight, and the data collected on it is utilized to create work orders for maintenance personnel.
Condition-based maintenance focuses on specific data provided by the AME system. The system’s software provides the data that service technicians need to do work based on the state of the vehicle at a particular moment, rather than making guesses based on statistical history. Data on the material condition of aircraft components are essential since, during scheduled maintenance, errors can be made associated with a lack of sensitivity to the component’s actual condition. Such data is provided by built-in sensors in aircraft that monitor vibration, temperature, and other variables. Analysis of these variables allows drawing conclusions about the actual state of the plane. Engineers and service technicians usually do data processing and analysis.
Finally, the feature of adaptive control allows completing a mission despite battle damage or system failures. The AME or IVHM system allows the crew to complete the task even if the aircraft is damaged or the control system fails. This system is fundamental as it provides support for pilots in the most dangerous and critical situations. AME or IVHM system programs usually include adaptive control, which allows determining the system’s capabilities and then making decisions related to aircraft control to achieve maximum performance (Stephenson, n.d.). The program allows for redesigning technical systems according to new critical conditions based on the aircraft’s current capabilities.
Noteworthy, Boeing also developed systems used by the US Armed Forces. These are programs used in the framework of an Integrated Maintenance Information System (IMIS) on the F-15, C-130, and T-38. These programs allow diagnosing faults, scheduling maintenance, generating reports, and save a lot of time. IMIS supports F/A-18 and provides access to the aircraft’s built-in test data for troubleshooting purposes (Stephenson, n.d.). Another program used by the US Air Force is IDS C-17 Globemaster-III Sustainment Partnership. This program allows monitoring the conditions of the power plant by reading and analyzing data about the engine’s condition through the integrated C-17 Quick Access Recorder. Then the program sends reports to the engine manufacturer for further improvement of innovations.
IDS 737 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW & C) is another program developed by Boeing that provides access to an integrated Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) and an Operational Loads Monitoring System (OLMS). These systems meet the technical needs of Australian aircraft (Stephenson, n.d.). The program allows making flight records up to 20 hours long. Besides, AEW & C works with automated Aircraft Structural Integrity Ground stations (ASIGS). The station analyzes HUMS and OLMS data to calculate fatigue damage. Boeing has also developed programs for the US Navy, which uses other variations of the programs that run under the AME.
Impact of the AME Systems on Boeing Company
The development and implementation of various AME programs used by commercial carriers and the US military have allowed Boeing to produce aircraft with increased operational performance. Besides, AME systems improved analytical opportunities, accelerating workflows and expanding database coverage. Now, thanks to AME, Boeing has constant access to data on the health of its entire aircraft fleet. It is mainly required to reduce the number of dangerous situations in the air, thanks to the feature of adaptive control. Phantom Works Boeing branch works with industry, government, and academic institutions to develop AME and IVHM solutions. One of the work areas is laboratory experiments to improve technologies using advanced sensors, signal processing, and diagnostic modeling to implement this experience in new Boeing locations (Stephenson, n.d.). Moreover, Phantom Works has developed unmanned air and space vehicles and improved adaptive control features.
The AHM program is one of the most critical developments in the company as it is the main program for the remote collection of aircraft performance data. This program allows the company to get more profit from transportation. It significantly reduces the time required for maintenance by automating data collection and data analysis in real-time. Besides, the use of the AHM software enables long-term trends in operation and maintenance to be identified. Therefore, the main benefits of AHM include reduced repair delays through in-flight data collection. It enables the company to get down to technical problems faster and ensures better maintenance and problem-solving. Besides, AHM improves planning processes, as it allows scheduling repairs in advance and transfers many tasks from unplanned to planned (Airplane Health Management, n.d.). Finally, AHM enhances the company’s efficiency in predicting future problems and enables optimal flight planning.
However, in addition to the noticeable positive effects associated with the introduction of AME, Boeing faced some unforeseen difficulties. Improving aircraft performance has extended the lifespan of many vehicles that are now more than 50 years old (Stephenson, n.d.). If a company intends to operate such aircraft, it needs a comprehensive service approach that cannot be achieved only through innovative programs. In particular, technicians have an additional task, since planes of earlier years of production differ from modern ones in their technical equipment, including some components, shapes, and types of material parts.
It can be a challenging situation, especially when there is a need to integrate digital avionics. It becomes more difficult for mechanics to determine the cause of the failure due to the system’s increased complexity. The mechanics may also receive information from pilots, crew chiefs, and loaders, who describe problems that may arise during the flight, which must be considered. For such aircraft, collecting data through digital sources is the optimal solution. It speeds up troubleshooting by using data analysis tools that ground stations receive from the entire fleet of aircraft.
Conclusion
Thus, the utilization of AME systems by Boeing Company and its impact on the organization was analyzed. All types of systems are used within the framework of one principle – collection and transmission of data from aircraft systems to the technical support center, right during the flight, allowing technicians to draw up diagnostic schedules in advance. The difference between various programs of AME, or IVMH systems, such as AHM, IDS C-17, IDS 737, or AEW & C, is that they are designed for vehicles with different technical tasks and needs. The installation and use of AME systems on commercial or military aircraft today is an integral part of air transportation processes’ successful operation.
References
Airplane Health Management. (n.d.). Web.
Boeing to provide aircraft Automated Maintenance Environment.(2014). Web.
Stephenson, D. (n.d.). The airplane doctors. Web.