Fleet Flight Data Analysis for Aircraft Utilization Scheduling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Manual tracking of aircraft utilization in large fleets is prone to human error and is time-consuming, making it inefficient for scheduling maintenance and flights effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising control units that receive compiled flight data to automatically determine aircraft utilization, schedule maintenance, and plan future flights, utilizing robots for maintenance operations and a user interface for displaying data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual tracking of aircraft utilization is used, then flexibility in scheduling is maintained, but accuracy and efficiency deteriorate due to human error and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical tracking methods with an automated computer-based system that collects flight data from multiple sources, calculates aircraft utilization metrics, and generates maintenance schedules automatically. This substitution eliminates human error in tracking while significantly reducing the time required for utilization monitoring and schedule generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by automatically collecting flight data, computing utilization metrics, and generating maintenance schedules without requiring manual intervention. The automated calculations and schedule generation allow the airline operations system to serve itself, freeing staff from time-consuming manual tracking tasks.
2Productivity
If manual tracking of aircraft utilization is used, then system complexity is kept simple, but productivity deteriorates due to time and labor intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a multi-functional system that simultaneously performs data collection from multiple flight data sources, calculates various utilization metrics (block time, flight time, ground time), generates maintenance schedules, and provides reporting capabilities. This universal system handles multiple scheduling and tracking functions within a single integrated platform, significantly improving productivity despite the increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary automated calculation and scheduling layer between raw flight data and maintenance scheduling decisions. This intermediary processes flight data from multiple sources, computes utilization metrics, and generates recommended schedules, thereby improving productivity by eliminating manual calculation and coordination tasks.
3Reliability
If automated systems are implemented for monitoring aircraft utilization, then accuracy and productivity improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the automated system into distinct functional modules: data collection from multiple flight data sources, utilization metric calculation, maintenance schedule generation, and reporting. This segmentation improves reliability by isolating functions and enabling independent verification of each module, while managing complexity through modular design that allows systematic implementation and maintenance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A system and a method include one or more control units configured to receive compiled flight data for a plurality of aircraft of a fleet from a flight data aggregator sub-system. The one or more control units are configured to automatically determine aircraft utilization for the plurality of aircraft of the fleet based on the compiled flight data for the plurality of aircraft of the fleet.