Dassault intends to offer operators of its Falcon business jets a new "e-maintenance" service from early 2011.
From service launch, all new Falcon jets are to be fitted with a central maintenance computer and other maintenance applications that can be remotely accessed from Dassault's technical and service centres. Operators of previously delivered Falcon jets will have the opportunity to switch to the collaborative maintenance tool in future.
Remote connections will be made through wi-fi- and satellite-enabled laptop computers provided to operators by Dassault. The operators' aircraft technicians will be able to contact the French aircraft manufacturer's technical and service centres via an internet-enabled, Microsoft OCS-based communications platform that allows audio and video transmission, as well as sharing of technical documents and other files.
A live demonstration of the technology was conducted during a briefing at Dassault's headquarters in St Cloud, Paris on 10 December. This involved a remote test of the throttle on a Dassault 7X parked at the city's Le Bourget airport. Via the communications platform, images of the throttle manoeuvring back and forth were broadcast to headquarters, where the test had been initiated.
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Dassault Falcon 7x |
As Dassault is a manufacturer of military as well as civil equipment, the new service will be launched only once stringent security requirements have been made. Expansion of the launch version's range of capabilities is already envisaged.
"Ultimately we will be able to offer our operators advanced functionalities such as direct access to the digital mock-up of an aircraft or even provide remote electronic sign-off," says Cyril MacGarry, director of customer service technical support for Dassault Falcon.
While the interactive e-maintenance service will be accessible on the ground only, it is intended to complement new data broadcast systems that will permit real-time transmission of maintenance reports during flight.
A six-month evaluation of the data broadcast systems is under way and will conclude in April 2010. The trial involves five aircraft, a mix of 900EX and 7X jets.
Like the e-maintenance programme, the data broadcast systems are due to be made available in early 2011.
Source: Flight International
