System and method of analyzing aircraft removal data for preventative maintenance

• US 20080177439A1
• Filed: 12/12/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bob W. Whetsell, Randell W. Livingston Jr, W. Bradley Betters
• Original Assignee: Bob W. Whetsell, Randell W. Livingston Jr, W. Bradley Betters
• Inventors: Livingston, Randell W., Betters, W. Bradley, Whetsell, Bob W.
• Application Number:
  US12/001,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177439A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/005 Flight directors indicating arrangements specially adapted for rotary gyroscopes G01C19/32

Abstract

A system includes a computer server for receiving an aircraft dataset; a database operably coupled to the computer server for storing the aircraft dataset into data fields; a web portal operably coupled to the computer server and the database for providing real-time access to consumers; and a maintenance analysis engine coupled to the computer server, the database, and the web portal to process the aircraft dataset into informational reports for an automatic delivery to the consumers, and optionally issuing a notification for retrieval thereof. The system employs a method of analyzing aircraft data for preventative maintenance, comprising: utilizing an aircraft dataset from at least one operational source; parsing the aircraft dataset into at least one data field; determining an acceptable range of values for the aircraft dataset within the at least one data field to define a threshold for the aircraft dataset; automatically activating a dynamic trigger to indicate a maintenance alert when the threshold is crossed; deriving a performance indication for the at least one operational source by determining one or more performance trends of the aircraft dataset; associating with the maintenance alert a notification having a status level indicative of a maintenance condition for the at least one operational source; combining the performance indication and the notification into an electronic report that forecasts need for preventative aircraft maintenance; and automatically delivering the electronic report to a predetermined location for retrieval by a consumer.

Claims

1. A data storage device having processor-executable instructions accessible therefrom, said instructions configured for performing the steps of:

assessing aircraft operating data generated during operation of an aircraft, wherein said assessing is performed with respect to manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specifications;

identifying a portion of said aircraft operating data corresponding to an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification;

determining a severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a plurality of possible aircraft system operating condition severity levels; and

determining an analytical characterization of the aircraft system operating condition.

2. The data storage device of claim 1, further comprising:

providing at least one of a performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition.

3. The data storage device of claim 2 wherein the corrective action is a preventative maintenance action associated with said aircraft system.

4. The data storage device of claim 2 wherein said providing includes at least one of highlighting, displaying, outputting and reporting.

5. The data storage device of claim 1 wherein said determining the analytical characterization of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining the performance trend for the aircraft system operating condition.

6. The data storage device of claim 1 wherein determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a degree of deviation from said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.

7. The data storage device of claim 6 wherein said determining the analytical characterization of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining the performance trend for the aircraft system operating condition.

8. The data storage device of claim 7, further comprising:

providing at least one of a performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition.

9. The data storage device of claim 8 wherein the corrective action is a preventative maintenance action associated with said aircraft system.

10. A flight data monitoring system, comprising:

a visually-displayed color-coded indicator of a severity level for an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification; and

a visually-displayed performance trend characterization for the aircraft system operating condition with respect to said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.

11. The flight data monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said color-coded indicator is one of:

an indicator of a first color designating a first status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition;

an indicator of a second color designating a second status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition; and

an indicator of a third color designating a third status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition.

12. The flight data monitoring system of claim 10 wherein said performance trend characterization provides indication of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition.

13. The flight data monitoring system of claim 12 wherein said color-coded indicator is one of:

an indicator of a first color designating a first status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition;

an indicator of a second color designating a second status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition; and

an indicator of a third color designating a third status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition.

14. An aircraft flight analysis and safety system, comprising:

a data storage device having processor-executable instructions accessible therefrom, said instructions configured for performing the steps of;

assessing aircraft system operating conditions with respect to corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specifications;

determining a performance trend for an aircraft system operating condition that deviates from at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification, wherein the performance trend provides indication of a potential need for implementing a corrective action to address the aircraft system operating condition; and

providing at least one of the performance trend and the aircraft system operating condition for enabling assessment of the potential need for implementing the corrective action, wherein said providing includes at least one of highlighting, displaying, outputting and reporting.

15. The aircraft flight analysis and safety system of claim 14 wherein said instructions are further configured for:

determining a severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a plurality of possible aircraft system operating condition severity levels.

16. The aircraft flight analysis and safety system of claim 15 wherein determining the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition includes determining a color-coded indicator of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition with respect to a degree of deviation from said at least one corresponding manufacturer-specified aircraft operating specification.

17. The aircraft flight analysis and safety system of claim 16 wherein the color-coded indicator is one of:

an indicator of a first color designating a first status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition;

an indicator of a second color designating a second status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition; and

an indicator of a third color designating a third status level of the severity level of the aircraft system operating condition.

19. The aircraft flight analysis and safety system of claim 14 wherein the corrective action is a preventative maintenance action associated with said aircraft system.

18. The aircraft flight analysis and safety system of claim 18 wherein the corrective action is a preventative maintenance action associated with said aircraft system.