Dealing With New Fleet and Staff Profiles
The year 2022 has experienced unprecedented changes in the aviation sector. Challenges ranging from supply chain scarcity to massive labor shortages have wracked the industry. With demand for travel returning in force, companies have a host of issues to contend with in order to return to profitable operations. One of the issues fleet operators are encountering is the change to overall fleet profiles. The types and unique characteristics of planes being used are experiencing a shift,and new information is required to keep them safe and airworthy, two massive concerns which cannot be overlooked.
Most aviation companies emerged from the pandemic in a reduced capacity, understaffed on multiple fronts. None seem more dire than the case of technical employees, a key element in the labor chain. For organizations utilizing a mixed fleet, the requirements to achieve stable operation, regarding aircraft maintenance, is of paramount importance to maintain. Specialized applications, such as IETM / IETP solutions, may be an invaluable way to assist in managing the new and diverse information that addresses these new conditions. Looking at what these conditions are, and how they may further impact the industry, speaks to IETM / IETP solutions.
Factors Impacting Fleet Composition
The global fleet, in an article citing Airbus estimations, will require approximately 37,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, practically doubling the amount of passenger planes worldwide. Of these, approximately 75% of the Q1 production will be narrow body planes. Plans to ramp up wide body production have also been mentioned, for as demand returns, passengers are reacquainting themselves with international flight, the traditional domain of the wide body. Mixed fleet scenarios will be an inevitable consequence for many, creating the need for a way to deal with increased scope of technical labor pertaining to multiple types of aircrafts. IETM / IETP applications, such as the NIVOMAX Viewer, specialize in granting users access to technical documentation critical to assessing, strategizing, and implementing solid practices dealing with these situations.
Other conditions present in the market today will realize the need for more efficient information utilization concerning fleet demographics.Wide body conversions, initiated to deal with increased cargo roles, will further diversify the information needed to maintain both freight and passenger designated planes. An interesting scenario, Boeing 737 MAX is actively attempting to reduce its aircraft inventory and order backlog, with the 737 MAX now recertified after a number of devastating accidents. Fierce competition with Airbus for domination of the wide body return will certainly push wide bodies back into regular service.
Aircrafts, such as the 737 MAX, have undergone improvements, both due to safety compliance issues and new manufacturing and repair processes. Engines have become more efficient, sporting improved fuel consumption and overall performance. Repairs and manufacturing now often incorporate more additive metals and carbon fiber into their structures, changing the way that the mixed fleet will be attended to. IETM / IETP platforms, like NIVOMAX, will be key elements in the digitalization of the altered performance and maintenance procedures.
Technical staff, bereft of many senior members who retired, or did not return after massive layoffs, will be challenged with the necessity of maintaining both old and new models, including the upgrades and retrofits that now have become standardized. Obtaining vetted critical technical documentation and consultation from OEMs will lay the groundwork to assist new learning curves and maintain airworthiness. Applications that allow communication with the head of the manufacturing chain, such as the NIVOMAX OEM Feedback Extension, permit organizations to collect precious data concerning the mixed fleets they maintain, utilizing it through their IETM / IETP. In this fashion, maintenance teams can quickly become acclimated to the latest techniques necessary to keep fleets in the sky, rather than dealing with AOG issues after the fact.
Improvements in technologies unrelated to aviation have also altered the tide of fleet performance. The advent of 5G wireless communication, introduced in 2019, became a massive impact on all existing aircraft. Interference with avionics, notably, altimeters, forced authorities and governments alike to reassess aviation safety, components, and technologies currently being used. In a recent article, as of January 2022 , the FAA had cleared an estimated 45% of the commercial fleet to perform low visibility landings at airports where 5G has been deployed. As well, approximately half of the airports most affected by 5G were allowed to open runways for traffic.
The new mixed fleet, until the 5G issues have been universally resolved, will likely require strategies to parse aircraft models against their destination airports. A system by which each aircraft type within the fleet and the appending pre-ratified airports permitting landing would need to be shared. An IETM / IETP application would be effective, accessible 24/7 through multiple devices, available to all technicians, pilots, and administrative staff, siloing the correct planes with the associated airports they can access. EFB’s (Electronic Flight Bags), would be a perfect example of how to arm pilots with critical flight data encompassing 5G issues
Technical parameters surrounding situations mentioned above will be necessary units of information to capture, consume and optimize. Downloaded information from authorities such as the FAA, and various OEMs, detailing the avionics capabilities and current authority permissions regarding mixed fleets can be obtained through robust IETM / IETP applications, like NIVOMAX.
The Evolution is Upon us Now
The pace at which the aviation market is changing has increased considerably. Mixed fleets, a part of the industry ecosystem, can be served well on multiple fronts by deploying a solid technical foundation to deal with managing the many adjustments and innovations that have become more commonplace. Technologies such as the NIVOMAX IETM / IETP not only deal with current issues, but also prepare companies for the development and strategizing of other specifically focused solutions, such as analytics. Mixed fleets will become more complex as new tech is pioneered. Wise mixed fleet operators will adopt IETM / IETP tools to make the future a safer, if not more certain future.
Are You Requiring Help Managing Your Mixed Fleet?
SYNAXIOM has been a leader in providing enterprise grade solutions for OEMs, MROs , and fleet operators. If you have concerns about going forward with strategies to deal with issues surrounding technical documentation and information optimization for your aircraft, visit SYNAXIOM and see how the NIVOMAX Suite can assist you.