Careful inspections and precise procedures have been the backbone of aircraft maintenance in the past. But how technicians organize and carry out maintenance work is shifting.
Today, digital systems are assisting maintenance teams with:
- Gathering data
- Gaining early insights into problems
- Streamlining tasks.
This is transforming not just aircraft monitoring. But also the day-to-day workflows of technicians.
Digital inspection records
The organization, maintenance, and retrieval of a paper-based inspection record can be challenging. With digital systems, the maintenance team can record inspection findings electronically and retrieve the information if needed.
Technicians can:
- Record completed activities
- Post defects
- Update maintenance activities for connected devices.
This leaves a more organized record of the maintenance history of an aircraft and can help make it easier for teams to monitor outstanding work.
Predictive maintenance
One of the more significant developments is the use of predictive maintenance. To detect issues earlier, maintenance teams can use data from aircraft systems for intermittent maintenance instead of waiting for a part to fail or only adding to a scheduled maintenance program.
Sensors and analytical software can be used to detect abnormal performance of equipment. This information can then be used to guide decision-making on when a component will need a closer look or maintenance.
Predictive systems do not replace physical inspections. But they can help maintenance teams discover areas that need more attention. When a potential issue is identified, technicians can review the relevant information and prepare for the required work in advance. This can include:
- Checking technical documentation
- Scheduling the appropriate personnel
- Gathering the necessary aviation maintenance tool kits before the aircraft enters the maintenance process.
Connected equipment
The field of aircraft maintenance is also becoming more connected. Information can be exchanged between diagnostic systems, mobile devices, databases, and other digital systems involved in the maintenance process.
Technicians can gain faster access to technical documentation, inspection information, and work instructions. Additionally, maintenance teams can update each other without having to use separate paperwork or manual passing of information.
Changing technician workflows
Technology transforms many maintenance procedures. A technician can:
- Get a digital work order
- View the aircraft data
- Conduct an inspection
- Record the inspection electronically
- Update the status of the task from a single device.
This can minimize redundant administrative procedures while ensuring technicians can interact comfortably with physical aircraft systems and digital platforms.
Training has become more and more than just mechanical procedures. Technicians may also require knowledge of diagnostic software, electronic records, and other electronic systems.
An integrated maintenance procedure
The most significant shift is not necessarily the replacement of conventional maintenance procedures. But rather the increasing integration of digital and physical processes. Data can help identify maintenance issues, digital systems can manage the related duties, and technicians can use specialized equipment to finish the work.
Final thoughts
As aviation systems become more complex, maintenance workflows will probably continue to integrate data, linked technologies, qualified specialists, and specialized equipment. As a result, knowledge and practical work are increasingly integrated into the same process in a maintenance setting.
