Why implement a Flight Data Monitoring program?

Today's unreported occurrences may become tomorrow's incidents. Take action now!

The aviation community is under constant pressure to reduce accident and incident rates, while optimizing operational costs to remain competitive. Flight Data Monitoring (FDM) offers an efficient solution to this challenge. This quality assurance process, which consists of downloading and analyzing aircraft data on a routine basis, is now being used by operators throughout the world to facilitate corrective actions in a range of operational areas, including safety, operations and maintenance.

By offering the ability to track and evaluate flight operations trends, identify risk precursors, and take appropriate remedial action, FDM strongly contributes to increased flight safety and operational efficiency.

Flight Data Monitoring Benefits

The benefits of running an FDM program go far beyond simply improving flight safety.

Some of the potential advantages of FDM are:

Using data to help in the prevention of incidents and reduce their associated costs: fewer flight incidents not only reduce material losses and insurance costs, but also keep passengers' confidence high.

Operational insight: through data mining and trend analysis activities, AirFASE® can provide the means to identify potential risks, therefore allowing the operator to modify pilot training programs accordingly.

Improved fuel consumption: given that fuel can make up about half of an airline's direct operating costs, FDM provides the ability to identify and make adjustments to specific aircraft with unusually high fuel burn rates.

Reduction in unnecessary maintenance and repairs: FDM data can be used to help reduce the need for unscheduled maintenance, resulting in lower maintenance costs and increased aircraft availability, e.g. immediate notification of hard landings.

Reduced number of ACARS messages: non-critical data (e.g. take-off reports, stable cruise reports) that are sent via ACARS messages, can be acquired, recorded and transmitted after data has been analyzed, mitigating the costs associated with the use of ACARS.

Reduced reliance on flight data recorders: with Teledyne's Wireless GroundLink® QAR (WQAR), data can be transmitted automatically over the cell phone network and Internet to be analyzed without delay. Airlines can expect consistent flight data recovery rates close to 100% for all flights flown when using Teledyne's WQAR.

Adherence to noise restrictions and fine reduction: by increasing sensitivity to noise pollution, flight data monitoring helps airlines demonstrate adherence to noise restrictions in terms of being able to verify or deny infringement, and avoid incurring fines.

Flight Data Monitoring Tools