3 Recent Technological Advancements in Aviation Maintenance

Aircraft maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) is the lifeblood of the aviation industry. Maintenance teams carry out necessary work to keep passengers safe and on time, and they must do this efficiently. Current aviation MRO practices could make use of the latest technological advancements. Aviation MRO has undergone many changes over the past couple of decades, updating tools and technology to produce the most efficient and profitable procedures. From handwritten labels and logbooks to remote connectivity technology and tools, aviation maintenance has come a long way!

 

1. Advancements in Component Labeling and Documentation

There have been many advancements in aircraft component labeling. From handwritten labels to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), we have come a long way. Maybe you remember handwritten, paper labels? This antiquated system of documentation was once considered the only way to document and label an aircraft component. Bar codes were even considered a transformative approach to labeling, however, they could only code the part number and serial number.

With the introduction of Quick Response (QR) codes, all the information on a given component is quickly available. A QR code is a machine-readable optical label, which is scanned for information about the item to which it is attached. The generated data provides information on the time between overhauls (TBO), service bulletin incorporation, and other necessary data.

Even better than the QR code is the RFID, which does not require a scanner and stores more information. RFID’s use electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags matched to an aircraft component. While it once took 13 hours to ensure safety equipment has not expired, it now only takes a few minutes. Aviation professionals easily find where a part is located, the performance and/or life status of a component, expirations dates, and other important maintenance data.

 

2. The Evolution From Handwritten Logbooks to Electronic Logbooks

In 2016, Air New Zealand’s airplanes adopted the use of electronic logbooks. The logbook, which is traditionally handwritten and often misplaced, is a record of any faults on deck or in the cabin. Logbooks are used as a guide by the ground crew to track situations that may present future problems. Unfortunately, handwritten logbooks are of little help until the plane is grounded, and are often incomplete.

The switch to electronic logbooks enabled quicker data entry and allowed data to store fault reports, light logs, maintenance orders, and service records. As issues are recorded, the data is forwarded to ground crews at the destination so that it can be accessed and immediate actions taken to prevent downtime.

 

3. Remote Connectivity Technology

In 2018, the Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) presented guidelines to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the use of remote connectivity technology and tools. Remote connectivity enables the remote inspection of aircraft, which means that inspectors do not need to be on-site to approve an aircraft inspection.

This achievement in aviation maintenance provides more efficiency in safety inspections. Both airline companies and passengers can benefit, since remote connectivity minimizes flight delays as well as increases how quickly an aircraft is serviced, otherwise known as aircraft turnaround.

CloudVisit’s Aviation Maintenance Software is a leading remote connectivity platform optimized for aircraft inspection. The software provides tools for remote inspection capabilities and includes functionalities that streamline the aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) workflow. These functionalities include videoconferencing, audio and video recording and playback, image markup, screen sharing, enhanced data reporting, cloud storage, and much more.

To learn more about remote connectivity and how CloudVisit’s Aviation Maintenance Software is transforming traditional aviation maintenance, visit https://www.cloudvisit.com/maintenance-inspection-software/aviation-maintenance-software/