By 2043, Airbus estimates that predictive maintenance could save commercial aircraft operators up to $4 billion annually.
Demonstrating a commitment to driving progress in this area, a first-of-its-kind Digital Alliance for Aviation was created in 2019. The founding members were Airbus; maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) expert Delta Tech Ops; and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) GE Aerospace.
The Alliance harnesses artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and natural language processing (NLP) to develop digital predictive models which will reduce cost, down-time of aircraft, and system failures.
Recently, it was announced that Liebherr is joining the Alliance bringing its extensive knowledge on critical aircraft systems. According to Airbus, this will extend the range of components the Alliance is able to monitor, covering air conditioning, pneumatic, flight control, and landing gear systems.
Together the members of the alliance will work to refine the capabilities of their predictive maintenance solution, Skywise Fleet Performance+.
Claude Houver, Head of Digital Solutions for Airbus was reported as saying Leibherr’s addition to the Alliance will:
“Strengthen the capacity we have to improve the operational efficiency of our predictive maintenance tool.”
At the signing, Joel Cadaux, Director of Business and Services for Liebherr Aerospace & Transportation was also commented:
“We believe we are the best position as an OEM to develop the algorithm that will go into the predictive maintenance and we have a large repair activity of our components, so it has a vested interest in predictive maintenance.”
Strengthened by Leibherr, the Alliance plans to expand the predictive maintenance product to the A220 and A350 by the end of 2025. There are also plans to roll it out for non-Airbus aircraft in 2026.
For more on predictive maintenance also see:
- Allegiant Air Upgrades to Skywise Predictive Maintenance Solution Powered by the Digital Alliance
- “AR and AI can remove inefficiencies.” Frank Stevens on revolutionising MRO