Manufacturer responds to concerns over complexity of A380 avionics maintenance by creating internet-based tool
Faced with increasing concern from A380 customers over software confusion, Airbus has decided to provide an internet-based tool next year to help airline maintenance personnel cope with the 300 software programmes needed for the ultra-large aircraft’s avionics.
The A380 has a tenfold increase in software programs compared with the 20-30 typically found on other Airbus aircraft, and all have part numbers, unlike previous models.
With such a huge increase in complexity, Air France maintenance directorate’s A380 technical manager Patrick Groseille told delegates at the UK Royal Aeronautical Society’s (RAeS) A380 Avionics conference earlier this month that part number management would be “a nightmare”.
Reacting to Groseille’s comments, Airbus vice-president A380 programme customer services Philippe Mhun told Flight International that a website solution was presented to customers at a customer technical progress review held on 14 October, which is expected to allay their fears: “With the Airbus portal, customers will put in an aircraft’s serial number and enter the software number for download and get an answer [on whether it is the correct software installation],” he says.
At the 4-5 October RAeS conference, Groseille explained that repeated requests for help were rejected before Airbus agreed to provide a tool earlier this year. But he does not know if it is to be provided before Air France’s first A380 is due to be delivered in late 2007.
Mhun confirms the portal will be ready before the first A380 customer delivery to launch operator Singapore Airlines, which is set for late 2006. The A380 software is loaded on to a standardised computer hardware technology called Integrated Modular Avionics.
Meanwhile, the second Rolls-Royce Trent 900-powered A380-800 development aircraft made its first flight on 18 October. The all-white aircraft (MSN004) is, like the first A380, equipped with a large amount of test instrumentation, which will be used to study the performance of engines, systems and materials under extreme weather conditions and at high-altitude airports.
By last week, A380 MSN001 had completed 105 flights and 366 flight hours since its maiden flight in April.
ROB COPPINGER/LONDON
Source: Flight International
