Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault and Embraer are to meet maintenance information system software vendors in Paris on 11 October in a bid to agree the implementation of common maintenance data standards in 2006.
Airframe makers want agreed standards so as to end the costly process of converting data from airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul companies. Data integrity can be compromised by the conversion process.
The Paris meeting will try to agree a timetable to ensure compliance in 2006. “We spend a huge amount of time converting data using mainframes for our relational database machines,” says John Yakubowsky, associate technical fellow at Boeing Commercial Aviation Services Engineering.
Airframers are concerned that data formats are viewed as proprietary technology by software companies. Yakubowsky adds that the airframers’ view is that data formats cannot be described as a competitive advantage and that vendors should co-operate and change their products. Standards that have been agreed by manufacturers derive from the US Air Transport Association Specification 2000’s (ATA Spec2000) chapters 11 and 13.
ROB COPPINGER/LONDON
Source: Flight International
