Supporting maintenance of aircraft

• US 10,364,049 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2017
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Floyd, Joseph Frank, Hadley, Brent Louis, Martin, Robert James, McCarty, John Timothy, Eames, Patrick J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Tyler J
• Application Number:
  US15/839,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20190177008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/40 Maintaining or repairing aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/212 with details for data modelling support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/23 Updating
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/28 Databases characterised by their database models, e.g. relational or object models
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/022 Centralised management of display operation, e.g. in a server instead of locally

Abstract

A system for supporting maintenance of an aircraft is provided. The system includes a plurality of database importers. The database importers import a plurality of datasets from a plurality of data sources to a database with a composite dataset including data of the plurality of datasets. The system also includes a database-management system (DBMS) to manage the database. The system further includes a client application coupled to the DBMS. The client application receives a user request for a demand for replacement aircraft parts for maintenance during an in-service lifecycle of the aircraft. In response to the user request, the client application predicts and thereby produces a prediction of the demand based on the data retrieved from the composite dataset.

Claims

1. A system for supporting maintenance of an aircraft, comprising:

a plurality of database importers configured to import a plurality of datasets from a respective plurality of data sources to a database with a composite dataset including data of the plurality of datasets, wherein the composite dataset includes at least aircraft identifier information that describes the aircraft, aircraft utilization information that indicates an in-service state of the aircraft, and data from task cards that describe maintenance tasks performed on the aircraft, an aircraft illustrated parts catalog (AIPC) that describes aircraft parts of the aircraft, and a maintenance planning document (MPD) that describes maintenance intervals for the aircraft;

a database-management system (DBMS) configured to manage the database with the composite dataset; and

a client application coupled to the DBMS and configured to receive a user request for a demand for replacement aircraft parts for maintenance during an in-service lifecycle of the aircraft, the client application being configured to interpret the user request to produce a query executable by the DBMS to retrieve data of the composite dataset from the database including at least the aircraft identifier information, the aircraft utilization information, and data from the task cards, the AIPC and the MPD, the client application also being configured to predict and thereby produce a prediction of the demand based on the data retrieved from the composite dataset, the prediction including a schedule of maintenance events over the in-service lifecycle of the aircraft in which numbers of aircraft parts of the aircraft are replaced with corresponding numbers of replacement aircraft parts,

wherein the client application is configured to produce a graphical user interface through which the client application is configured to receive the user request, and through which the client application is configured to display a report including at least the prediction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the composite dataset includes data of the plurality of datasets for a plurality of aircraft operators, aircraft models, effectivity numbers and classifications of maintenance, and the client application being configured to receive the user request includes being configured to receive the user request including an aircraft operator, aircraft model, effectivity number and classification of maintenance from respectively the plurality of aircraft operators, aircraft models, effectivity numbers and classifications of maintenance of the aircraft operators, and

wherein the client application being configured to interpret the user request includes being configured to interpret the user request to produce the query that indicates the aircraft operator, aircraft model, effectivity number and classification of maintenance, the query being executable by the DBMS to retrieve data of the composite dataset according thereto.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the client application being configured to receive the user request including the classification of maintenance includes being configured to receive the user request including the classification of maintenance from classifications of maintenance including a first classification for routine maintenance indicating a predefined demand for replacement aircraft parts, or a second classification or a third classification for conditional maintenance indicating a demand for replacement aircraft parts based on respectively a condition or usage of the aircraft parts, and

wherein the client application being configured to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand includes the client application being configured to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand further according to the first classification, the second classification or the third classification in the user request.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of database importers being configured to import the plurality of datasets includes being configured to determine numbers of the aircraft parts of the aircraft used in maintenance tasks performed on the aircraft during a past time period based on the data of the plurality of datasets imported according to a predefined time order, and

wherein the client application being configured to display the report includes being configured to display the report further including the numbers of the aircraft parts used during the past time period.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the client application being configured to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand includes being configured to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand based on a total in-service lifecycle of the aircraft from the aircraft identifier information, current flight hours or flight cycles of the aircraft from the aircraft utilization information, maintenance tasks involving replacement of the aircraft parts from the task cards, part numbers of the aircraft parts from the AIPC, and maintenance intervals for tasks from the MPD.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the composite dataset further includes data of historical aircraft part consumption, and

wherein the client application being configured to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand includes being configured to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand based on historical consumption of the aircraft parts from the data of historical aircraft part consumption.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the prediction further includes a likelihood of replacing the aircraft parts with the replacement aircraft parts, the likelihood being indicated by a relevancy index based on a plurality of weighted factors that provide information of the aircraft parts used during a past time period.

8. A method of supporting maintenance of an aircraft, comprising:

importing a plurality of datasets from a respective plurality of data sources to a database with a composite dataset including data of the plurality of datasets, wherein the composite dataset includes at least aircraft identifier information that describes the aircraft, aircraft utilization information that indicates an in-service state of the aircraft, and data from task cards that describe maintenance tasks performed on the aircraft, an aircraft illustrated parts catalog (AIPC) that describes aircraft parts of the aircraft, and a maintenance planning document (MPD) that describes maintenance intervals for the aircraft;

receiving a user request for a demand for replacement aircraft parts for maintenance during an in-service lifecycle of the aircraft;

interpreting the user request to produce a query executable by a database-management system (DBMS) managing the database to retrieve data of the composite dataset from the database including at least the aircraft identifier information, the aircraft utilization information, and data from the task cards, the AIPC and the MPD;

predicting and thereby producing a prediction of the demand based on the data retrieved from the composite dataset, the prediction including a schedule of maintenance events over the in-service lifecycle of the aircraft in which numbers of aircraft parts of the aircraft are replaced with corresponding numbers of replacement aircraft parts;

producing a graphical user interface; and

displaying a report including at least the prediction using the graphical user interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the composite dataset includes data of the plurality of datasets for a plurality of aircraft operators, aircraft models, effectivity numbers and classifications of maintenance, and wherein receiving the user request includes receiving the user request including an aircraft operator, aircraft model, effectivity number and classification of maintenance from respectively the plurality of aircraft operators, aircraft models, effectivity numbers and classifications of maintenance of the aircraft operators, and

wherein interpreting the user request includes interpreting the user request to produce the query that indicates the aircraft operator, aircraft model, effectivity number and classification of maintenance, the query being executable by the DBMS to retrieve data of the composite dataset according thereto.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the user request including the classification of maintenance includes receiving the user request including the classification of maintenance from classifications of maintenance including a first classification for routine maintenance indicating a predefined demand for replacement aircraft parts, or a second classification or a third classification for conditional maintenance indicating a demand for replacement aircraft parts based on respectively a condition or usage of the aircraft parts, and

wherein predicting and thereby producing the prediction of the demand includes predicting and thereby producing the prediction of the demand further according to the first classification, the second classification or the third classification in the user request.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein importing the plurality of datasets includes determining numbers of the aircraft parts of the aircraft used in maintenance tasks performed on the aircraft during a past time period based on the data of the plurality of datasets imported according to a predefined time order, and

wherein displaying the report includes displaying the report further including the numbers of the aircraft parts used during the past time period.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein predicting and thereby producing the prediction of the demand includes predicting and thereby producing the prediction of the demand based on a total in-service lifecycle of the aircraft from the aircraft identifier information, current flight hours or flight cycles of the aircraft from the aircraft utilization information, maintenance tasks involving replacement of the aircraft parts from the task cards, part numbers of the aircraft parts from the AIPC, and maintenance intervals for tasks from the MPD.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the composite dataset further includes data of historical aircraft part consumption, and

wherein predicting and thereby producing the prediction of the demand includes predicting and thereby producing the prediction of the demand based on historical consumption of the aircraft parts from the data of historical aircraft part consumption.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the prediction further includes a likelihood of replacing the aircraft parts with the replacement aircraft parts, the likelihood being indicated by a relevancy index based on a plurality of weighted factors that provide information of the aircraft parts used during a past time period.

15. A computer-readable storage medium for supporting maintenance of an aircraft, the computer-readable storage medium being non-transitory and having computer-readable program code stored therein that in response to execution by a processor, causes a computer system to at least:

import a plurality of datasets from a respective plurality of data sources to a database with a composite dataset including data of the plurality of datasets, wherein the composite dataset includes at least aircraft identifier information that describes the aircraft, aircraft utilization information that indicates an in-service state of the aircraft, and data from task cards that describe maintenance tasks performed on the aircraft, an aircraft illustrated parts catalog (AIPC) that describes aircraft parts of the aircraft, and a maintenance planning document (MPD) that describes maintenance intervals for the aircraft;

receive a user request for a demand for replacement aircraft parts for maintenance during an in-service lifecycle of the aircraft;

interpret the user request to produce a query executable by a database-management system (DBMS) managing the database to retrieve data of the composite dataset from the database including at least the aircraft identifier information, the aircraft utilization information, and data from the task cards, the AIPC and the MPD;

predict and thereby produce a prediction of the demand based on the data retrieved from the composite dataset, the prediction including a schedule of maintenance events over the in-service lifecycle of the aircraft in which numbers of aircraft parts of the aircraft are replaced with corresponding numbers of replacement aircraft parts;

produce a graphical user interface; and

display a report including at least the prediction using the graphical user interface.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the composite dataset includes data of the plurality of datasets for a plurality of aircraft operators, aircraft models, effectivity numbers and classifications of maintenance, and wherein the computer system being caused to receive the user request includes being caused to receive the user request including an aircraft operator, aircraft model, effectivity number and classification of maintenance from respectively the plurality of aircraft operators, aircraft models, effectivity numbers and classifications of maintenance of the aircraft operators, and

wherein the computer system being caused to interpret the user request includes being caused to interpret the user request to produce the query that indicates the aircraft operator, aircraft model, effectivity number and classification of maintenance, the query being executable by the DBMS to retrieve data of the composite dataset according thereto.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the computer system being caused to receive the user request including the classification of maintenance includes being caused to receive the user request including the classification of maintenance from classifications of maintenance including a first classification for routine maintenance indicating a predefined demand for replacement aircraft parts, or a second classification or a third classification for conditional maintenance indicating a demand for replacement aircraft parts based on respectively a condition or usage of the aircraft parts, and

wherein the computer system being caused to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand includes being caused to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand further according to the first classification, the second classification or the third classification in the user request.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer system being caused to import the plurality of datasets includes being caused to determine numbers of the aircraft parts of the aircraft used in maintenance tasks performed on the aircraft during a past time period based on the data of the plurality of datasets imported according to a predefined time order, and

wherein the computer system being caused to display the report includes being caused to display the report further including the numbers of the aircraft parts used during the past time period.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the computer system being caused to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand includes being caused to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand based on a total in-service lifecycle of the aircraft from the aircraft identifier information, current flight hours or flight cycles of the aircraft from the aircraft utilization information, maintenance tasks involving replacement of the aircraft parts from the task cards, part numbers of the aircraft parts from the AIPC, and maintenance intervals for tasks from the MPD.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the composite dataset further includes data of historical aircraft part consumption, and

wherein the computer system being caused to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand includes being caused to predict and thereby produce the prediction of the demand based on historical consumption of the aircraft parts from the data of historical aircraft part consumption.

21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the prediction further includes a likelihood of replacing the aircraft parts with the replacement aircraft parts, the likelihood being indicated by a relevancy index based on a plurality of weighted factors that provide information of the aircraft parts used during a past time period.