DECEMBER - JANUARYAEROSPACEDEFENSEREVIEW.COM19UNVEILING AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE IN AVIATION By Robert DeGrie, Director of Technical Services (Aircraft Engineering), Amerijet InternationalIn aviation, seamless flying entails regular maintenance. This is one of the few industries where compromising costs can be blundersome. Facilitating standardized repairs, businesses have started leveraging the quick accuracy of technology-driven processes. In this interview, Robert DeGrie emphasizes the impact of artificial intelligence (AI)-based software revamping time and labor-intensive procedures with automated data collection, analysis and application. Data analysis simplifying aircraft maintenance and repairThe mystery of the unknown continues to plague aircraft maintenance and repair. Aircraft age, operating environment and historical maintenance practices affect these unknowns and could result in a huge impact on aircraft downtime. Data and planning are key to minimizing the effects of unknown discrepancies. However, one must have historical data to have such an impact. Without it, you fly blind into the unknown. Thorough analysis allows for proper planning, the reduction of aircraft downtime and the improvement of Technical Dispatch Reliability (TDR). Acquiring this historical data is imperative and original equipment manufacturers (OEM) are attempting to gather this data from aircraft operators in standard formats to create useful fault isolation repositories to assist in preparation and troubleshooting. Artificial intelligence (AI) in preemptive maintenance More industry professionals are grasping the concept of preventative maintenance and are attempting to incorporate it into their programs. Advances in technology continue to have a pivotal role in this industry. We continue to operate in dynamicity where change is the only constant. One of the biggest movements surrounding us all is Artificial Intelligence (AI). This one will probably be the most difficult to incorporate. There are a lot of fears surrounding AI and we have science fiction movies to thank for that (Skynet?). AI has the propensity to review vast amounts of data to provide more insight into the unknown based on historical findings and corrective actions. It will be interesting to see how far AI can break down the veil of the unknown in the future.Tracking technological advancements in aircraft engineeringI try to read as much as possible from industry publications like yours and participate in many conferences. Most times I must rely on written briefs or articles from such conferences as budgets do not allow for such expenditures during the post-9/11 era. Industry contacts are also an invaluable source of technological advancements. Understanding these advancements and analyzing which pain points they can address economically is the key to incorporating them into your company or processes. Robert DeGrie has a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Administration and a Master's in Aviation Science. Over a 33+ year career, he has performed every function to support the frontline. His experience ranges from tenures with 14 CFR Part 121, 139 and 145 operations, gaining a unique understanding of the big picture about maintenance operations from air carrier, airport and repair station standpoints. CXO Insights
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