Boeing today (25 March) announced that Qantas Airways” fleet of 30 747-400s will be monitored by Boeing”s Airplane Health Management (AHM), a software system designed to improve the management of unscheduled maintenance events.
The system will gather and evaluate critical in-flight data on the real-time flying conditions of Qantas aircraft, and information can be used to improve overall efficiency.
”This system will help improve our 747-400 maintenance operations and greatly assist in meeting our customers” expectations for punctuality and serviceability,” said Qantas executive general manager, David Cox.
According to Boeing, AHM gives airlines significant insight into the condition of aircraft in the sky, for example providing in-flight access to fuel-burn information so carriers can identify and correct problems that might be wasting fuel. A fault identified by AHM and relayed to ground controllers also provides airlines with the opportunity to turn a potentially costly on-ground maintenance delay into an easily addressable repair that minimizes or eliminates scheduling problems for passengers.
Qantas joins more than 20 operators from around the world that have committed to Boeing”s AHM. Nearly half the world”s combined 777 and 747-400 fleet use the technology.
”The use of AHM on its 747 fleet will increase Qantas” experience with the system, which will also be used for the 787 Dreamliner,” said Boeing Aviation Services vice president of sales and marketing, Dan da Silva.
Qantas has 65 787s on order.