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FARNBOROUGH

reach. With live video cameras on predicting maintenance required, reducing the occurrence of quality
board, Swarm operators would be able planning demand for parts and other ‘This enables shortfalls by identifying such trends
to swiftly inspect areas of an engine materiel, performing maintenance in early and by accelerating resolution”.
without first needing to remove it the most optimal way, and improving fast and easy On the supply chain side, Airbus
from the aircraft. troubleshooting. is working with Premium Aerotec
Additive manufacturing, which The European aerospace giant root-cause on Skywise Dispatch, which aims to
is essentially 3D-printing on also said it will expand its Skywise make the airframer more responsive to
an industrial scale, is also a key data analytics program, together analysis.’ disruptions in the supply chain as well
technology of the future, and the with established aerospace suppliers as increasing efficiency.
Defence Science and Technology Liebherr, Thales and Premium “The application is designed to
Agency (DSTA) of Singapore is using Aerotec, as well as the controversial improve demand management,
it to take the first step in a partnership data analytics firm Palantir. aircraft assembly configuration, and
with Airbus to expand the use of new Working with Liebherr and on-time delivery, notably to prevent
digital technologies. easyJet in a pilot group, the Skywise line-stops,” Airbus’s briefing document
This first step will print 3D spare Spotlight project aims to improve explains.
parts for the Singaporean A330 aircraft operability by figuring out “The application aligns supplier
MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transport) the root causes of operational issues, production planning and Airbus’s
fleet, the certification of which will be collaborating securely in real time to demand to create a single ‘source
supported by the Airbus Defence and resolve those issues, and improving of truth’. This enables fast and easy
Space division. predictive maintenance. root-cause analysis of recurring
“It is absolutely clear that “The projects demonstrated that missing parts and anticipation,
digitalisation represents the future of bringing together a wide range of notably through a better visibility into
military aircraft services,” argued head data and conducting holistic analyses production status.”
of military aircraft services at Airbus enable us to realise a much deeper
Defence and Space Stephan Miegel. and better understanding of the In Asia Pacific, changing order
“We are now at a point where we can in-service behaviour of onboard dynamics are a crystal ball for
begin to explore the most promising systems and components, developed, commercial aviation in the region
techniques on operational fleets.” manufactured, certified and serviced A few key orders from regional carriers
Continued Miegel, “Following this by Liebherr,” said Nicolas Bonleux, provide some interesting data points
first agreement on 3D-printing, we managing director and chief sales on the map showing the future of
have further agreed to collaborate officer at Liebherr Aerospace & aviation. With major and minor
on data analytics for predictive Transportation. carriers based in Australia and New
maintenance.” Skywise Object Explorer, Zealand largely fixed in their fleet
At Farnborough, Airbus also meanwhile, includes Thales in its planning, it’s interesting to see what
launched SmartForce, a package pilot, and is intended to improve A mockup of Tempest, the UK’s the competition may be offering.
of maintenance data analytics that quality assurance of suppliers by concept for a next-generation Macquarie AirFinance Group, a
assists operators to make the most “reducing the cost of non-quality fighter, on display at the BAE subsidiary of Sydney-based Macquarie
of the substantial data they create: incurred by both Airbus and suppliers, Systems stand. mark jessop Group, placed a firm order for twenty

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