System and method for managing maintenance activities

• US 8,255,097 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Airlines Incorporated (American Airlines Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: American Airlines Incorporated (American Airlines Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Wander, Kyle Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US12/475,092
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 701/1, 701/3, 701/34.3, 701/34.4, 701/14, 701/120, 701/426, 701/438, 701/485, 340/905, 340/936, 340/995.24, 340/988, 340/989, 340/990, 340/991
• US Class Current: 701/3
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A system and method for managing maintenance activities such as, for example, aircraft maintenance activities, according to which, in several exemplary embodiments, aircraft maintenance requirements are monitored and/or aircraft maintenance resources are assigned.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving data associated with an inbound airline flight from one or more data sources, the inbound airline flight employing an aircraft and having an arrival gate and a time of arrival at the arrival gate;

at a first location, displaying on a first output device a plurality of parameters specific to the inbound airline flight in response to receiving data associated with the inbound airline flight, the plurality of parameters comprising;

an inbound flight identifier associated with the inbound flight;

an arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate;

a time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival;

an aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft; and

a maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft;

at the first location, assigning with a first input device a maintenance resource to the aircraft;

at a second location, displaying on a second output device the following;

the inbound flight identifier associated with the inbound flight;

the arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate;

the time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival;

the aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft;

the maintenance indicator associated with the at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft; and

an assignment identifier associated with the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft;

positioning the maintenance resource at the arrival gate at the same time as, or before, the time of arrival;

at the arrival gate, performing one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft with the maintenance resource, comprising one or more of the following;

comparing a maintenance record specific to the aircraft with the maintenance indicator displayed on the first output device at the first location and displayed on the second output device at the second location;

and

performing maintenance on the aircraft;

at the first location, displaying on the first output device a completion identifier indicating the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft;

and

at the second location, displaying on the second output device the completion identifier indicating the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first location is a crew chief office;

wherein the second location is a maintenance ready room;

wherein the maintenance resource comprises an aircraft maintenance technician who is positioned in the maintenance ready room before being positioned at the arrival gate; and

wherein performing maintenance on the aircraft comprises at least one of the following;

performing maintenance on the aircraft in accordance with the at least one maintenance requirement; and

performing maintenance on the aircraft not in accordance with the at least one maintenance requirement.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

at the arrival gate, indicating with a second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft;

wherein displaying on the first output device the completion identifier comprises;

displaying on the first output device the completion identifier in response to indicating with the second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft; and

wherein displaying on the second output device the completion identifier comprises;

displaying on the second output device the completion identifier in response to indicating with the second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving data associated with the inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources comprises:

receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight;

wherein the parameters displayed on the first and second output devices are updated in response to receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight; and

wherein the method further comprises;

adjusting with the first input device the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft in response to receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight;

at the first location, displaying on the first output device the adjustment of the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft; and

at the second location, displaying on the second output device the adjustment of the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

storing the data associated with the inbound airline flight in a database; and

storing data associated with the one or more maintenance activities in the database, the data associated with the one or more maintenance activities comprising data associated with the completion of the one or more maintenance activities.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving data associated with at least one other inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources, the at least one other inbound airline flight employing an aircraft and having an arrival gate and a time of arrival at the arrival gate;

at the first location, displaying on the first output device a plurality of parameters specific to the at least one other inbound airline flight in response to receiving data associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight, the plurality of parameters comprising;

another inbound flight identifier associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight; and

another maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

at the first location, assigning with the first input device another maintenance resource to the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight; and

at the second location, displaying on the second output device the following;

the another inbound flight identifier associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight; and

the another maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein receiving data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources comprises:

receiving updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight;

wherein receiving data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights from the one or more data sources comprises;

receiving updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

wherein the parameters displayed on the first and second output devices are updated in response to one or more of receiving the updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight and receiving the updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

and

wherein the method further comprises;

adjusting at least one of the assignments of the maintenance resources to the aircrafts in response to at least one of;

receiving the updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight, and

receiving the updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

at the first location, displaying on the first output device the adjustment to the at least one of the assignments; and

at the second location, displaying on the second output device the adjustment to the at least one of the assignments.

8. A system comprising:

means for receiving data associated with an inbound airline flight from one or more data sources, the inbound airline flight employing an aircraft and having an arrival gate and a time of arrival at the arrival gate;

means for at a first location, displaying on a first output device a plurality of parameters specific to the inbound airline flight in response to receiving data associated with the inbound airline flight, the plurality of parameters comprising;

an inbound flight identifier associated with the inbound flight;

an arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate;

a time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival;

an aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft; and

a maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft;

means for at the first location, assigning with a first input device a maintenance resource to the aircraft;

means for at a second location, displaying on a second output device the following;

the inbound flight identifier associated with the inbound flight;

the arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate;

the time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival;

the aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft;

the maintenance indicator associated with the at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft; and

an assignment identifier associated with the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft;

means for positioning the maintenance resource at the arrival gate at the same time as, or before, the time of arrival;

means for at the arrival gate, performing one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft with the maintenance resource, comprising one or more of the following;

means for comparing a maintenance record specific to the aircraft with the maintenance indicator displayed on the first output device at the first location and displayed on the second output device at the second location;

and

means for performing maintenance on the aircraft;

means for at the first location, displaying on the first output device a completion identifier indicating the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft;

and

means for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the completion identifier indicating the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the first location is a crew chief office;

wherein the second location is a maintenance ready room;

wherein the maintenance resource comprises an aircraft maintenance technician who is positioned in the maintenance ready room before being positioned at the arrival gate; and

wherein means for performing maintenance on the aircraft comprises at least one of the following;

means for performing maintenance on the aircraft in accordance with the at least one maintenance requirement; and

means for performing maintenance on the aircraft not in accordance with the at least one maintenance requirement.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

means for at the arrival gate, indicating with a second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft;

wherein means for displaying on the first output device the completion identifier comprises;

means for displaying on the first output device the completion identifier in response to indicating with the second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft; and

wherein means for displaying on the second output device the completion identifier comprises;

means for displaying on the second output device the completion identifier in response to indicating with the second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein means for receiving data associated with the inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources comprises:

means for receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight;

wherein the parameters displayed on the first and second output devices are updated in response to receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight; and

wherein the system further comprises;

means for adjusting with the first input device the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft in response to receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight;

means for at the first location, displaying on the first output device the adjustment of the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft; and

means for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the adjustment of the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft.

12. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

means for storing the data associated with the inbound airline flight in a database; and

means for storing data associated with the one or more maintenance activities in the database, the data associated with the one or more maintenance activities comprising data associated with the completion of the one or more maintenance activities.

13. The system of claim 8 further comprising:

means for receiving data associated with at least one other inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources, the at least one other inbound airline flight employing an aircraft and having an arrival gate and a time of arrival at the arrival gate;

means for at the first location, displaying on the first output device a plurality of parameters specific to the at least one other inbound airline flight in response to receiving data associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight, the plurality of parameters comprising;

another inbound flight identifier associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight; and

another maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

means for at the first location, assigning with the first input device another maintenance resource to the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

and

means for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the following;

the another inbound flight identifier associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight; and

the another maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein means for receiving data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources comprises:

means for receiving updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight;

wherein means for receiving data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights from the one or more data sources comprises;

means for receiving updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

wherein the parameters displayed on the first and second output devices are updated in response to one or more of receiving the updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight and receiving the updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

and

wherein the system further comprises;

means for adjusting at least one of the assignments of the maintenance resources to the aircrafts in response to at least one of;

receiving the updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight, and

receiving the updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

means for at the first location, displaying on the first output device the adjustment to the at least one of the assignments; and

means for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the adjustment to the at least one of the assignments.

15. A system comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored therein, the plurality of instructions comprising;

instructions for receiving data associated with an inbound airline flight from one or more data sources, the inbound airline flight employing an aircraft and having an arrival gate and a time of arrival at the arrival gate;

instructions for at a first location, displaying on a first output device a plurality of parameters specific to the inbound airline flight in response to receiving data associated with the inbound airline flight, the plurality of parameters comprising;

an inbound flight identifier associated with the inbound flight;

an arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate;

a time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival;

an aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft; and

a maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft;

instructions for at the first location, assigning with a first input device a maintenance resource to the aircraft;

instructions for at a second location, displaying on a second output device the following;

the inbound flight identifier associated with the inbound flight;

the arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate;

the time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival;

the aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft;

the maintenance indicator associated with the at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft; and

an assignment identifier associated with the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft;

instructions for at the first location, displaying on the first output device a completion identifier indicating completion of performing one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft;

and

instructions for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the completion identifier indicating the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

the arrival gate;

wherein the maintenance resource is positioned at the arrival gate at the same time as, or before, the time of arrival; and

wherein the one or more maintenance activities are performed on the aircraft with the maintenance resource at the arrival gate.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

the first location, wherein the first location is a crew chief office; and

the second location, wherein the second location is a maintenance ready room;

wherein the maintenance resource comprises an aircraft maintenance technician who is positioned in the maintenance ready room before being positioned at the arrival gate.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions for at the arrival gate, indicating with a second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft;

wherein instructions for displaying on the first output device the completion identifier comprises;

instructions for displaying on the first output device the completion identifier in response to indicating with the second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft; and

wherein instructions for displaying on the second output device the completion identifier comprises;

instructions for displaying on the second output device the completion identifier in response to indicating with the second input device the completion of performing the one or more maintenance activities on the aircraft.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein instructions for receiving data associated with the inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources comprises:

instructions for receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight;

wherein the parameters displayed on the first and second output devices are updated in response to receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight; and

wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises;

instructions for adjusting with the first input device the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft in response to receiving updated data associated with the inbound airline flight;

instructions for at the first location, displaying on the first output device the adjustment of the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft; and

instructions for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the adjustment of the assignment of the maintenance resource to the aircraft.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions for storing the data associated with the inbound airline flight in a database; and

instructions for storing data associated with the one or more maintenance activities in the database, the data associated with the one or more maintenance activities comprising data associated with the completion of the one or more maintenance activities.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises:

instructions for receiving data associated with at least one other inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources, the at least one other inbound airline flight employing an aircraft and having an arrival gate and a time of arrival at the arrival gate;

instructions for at the first location, displaying on the first output device a plurality of parameters specific to the at least one other inbound airline flight in response to receiving data associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight, the plurality of parameters comprising;

another inbound flight identifier associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

another aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight; and

another maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

instructions for at the first location, assigning with the first input device another maintenance resource to the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

and

instructions for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the following;

the another inbound flight identifier associated with the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another arrival gate identifier associated with the arrival gate of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another time of arrival indicator associated with the time of arrival of the at least one other inbound airline flight;

the another aircraft identifier associated with the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight; and

the another maintenance indicator associated with at least one maintenance requirement of the aircraft of the at least one other inbound airline flight.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein instructions for receiving data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight from the one or more data sources comprises:

instructions for receiving updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight;

wherein instructions for receiving data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights from the one or more data sources comprises;

instructions for receiving updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

wherein the parameters displayed on the first and second output devices are updated in response to one or more of receiving the updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight and receiving the updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

and

wherein the plurality of instructions further comprises;

instructions for adjusting at least one of the assignments of the maintenance resources to the aircrafts in response to at least one of;

receiving the updated data associated with the first-mentioned inbound airline flight, and

receiving the updated data associated with the one or more other inbound airline flights;

instructions for at the first location, displaying on the first output device the adjustment to the at least one of the assignments; and

instructions for at the second location, displaying on the second output device the adjustment to the at least one of the assignments.