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For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Jim Veihdeffer
(602) 436-2203
jim.veihdeffer@cas.honeywell.com
ANSETT AUSTRALIA SIGNS WITH HONEYWELL FOR INNOVATIVE AIRLINE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Airline signs six-year agreement for Honeywell’s Airline Maintenance and Operations Support System (AMOSS) to reduce turnaround and troubleshooting
FARNBOROUGH, ENGLAND, SEPT 7, 1998—Ansett Australia has signed a software licensing agreement with Honeywell’s Aviation Services unit for a computer application, AMOSS, that promises to save money by reducing turnaround times at the gate and costly maintenance troubleshooting.
The six-year renewable agreement covers the airline’s fleet of BAe 146s, 737-300s, 747-300s, 767-200/300ERs and A320-200s. The deal includes an additional six-year maintenance agreement.
First software is scheduled to be delivered by Honeywell in November. The system is expected to be "turned on" to the line in August 1999.
Honeywell’s Airline Maintenance and Operations Support System consists of software applications that are interconnected by means of Local or Wide Area Networks at the airline’s maintenance center.
Two-way air-to-ground messaging (via ACARS data link or VHF radio) allows AMOSS to connect an airline’s onboard avionics with ground-based support—flight operations/dispatch, maintenance control, maintenance planning engineering and line and hangar shops. The system allows data from an aircraft in-flight to be downloaded to ground support for analysis and diagnosis using unique AMOSS model-based algorithms.
Physically, AMOSS is designed to resemble an ordinary desktop tailored to the need of each maintenance task at the airline. The "desktop" gives airline personnel access to downlinked data, repair manuals, fault history information and "folder management" utilities that help organize and route information throughout the maintenance organization.
"The easy-to-use, user-friendly aspect of AMOSS was a big selling point for Ansett," said Charles Hearne, Honeywell Aviation Services product marketing manager. "It’s a very intuitive system, which minimizes installation time and the amount of training the airline needs to do. However, the business case for going ahead with AMOSS hinged on demonstrable operational benefits: reducing turnaround time at the gate and reducing their spare parts inventory due to better troubleshooting procedures and better information flow through the system," Hearne said.
The Ansett program calls for the airline to install AMOSS at six maintenance locations in Australia including Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Cairns.
This represents the first sale to an airline of a total AMOSS solution. America West and Lauda Air have previously signed up for specific components of AMOSS such as the diagnostic model and ACARS messaging.
The diagnostic system is at the heart of AMOSS and is the basis for much of the expected cost savings.
Honeywell developed extensive capabilities in model-based diagnostic and troubleshooting as a result of experience with the Boeing 777 Central Maintenance Computer program. This experience, along with subsequent research and development led to a cost-minimizing algorithm for troubleshooting an aircraft. The system is designed to provide explicit directions for the optimal sequence of maintenance activities. All interactions and outcomes are recorded so that the algorithm can actually "learn" from all of its experience.
Ansett Australia, founded in 1936, operates an extensive network of domestic flights as well as international service to destinations in southeast Asia and New Zealand.
Honeywell is the world's leading provider of control technologies for buildings, homes, industry, space, and aviation. The company employs 56,500 people in 95 countries, and had 1997 sales of $8 billion.
Honeywell Inc.
Air Transport Systems
P.O. Box 21111
Phoenix, AZ 85036
www.cas.honeywell.com
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