New Prognostics Algorithm 'Moves Beyond Diagnostics' To Save Time, Money

Gulfstream has announced its new G650 will feature something it calls PlaneConnectHTM Health and Trend Monitoring. It's software which can predict, sometimes well in advance, an aircraft system or part headed for failure. At NBAA this week, GE filled in some background, revealing that its own Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring, or IVHM for short, will power Gulfstream's system.

GE Aviation Systems President & CEO Lorraine Bolsinger (company photo) noted that GE has a proven track record with such technology in a variety of applications, including aircraft engines, military and commercial helicopters and railway locomotives. Regarding the maturity of the company's technology she added, "We're really quite good."

The techniques used in IVHM are migrating down-market into business jets. Bolsinger continued, "We are thrilled to be launching this new product and service with Gulfstream. Gulfstream is a leader in the business jet market by introducing new technology, innovation and best-in-class product support. The IVHM technology will clearly be a differentiator for the G650 in the marketplace."

GE was a pioneer in such technology two decades ago, introducing its Health and Usage Monitoring System, HUMS, into the helicopter market in 1991. The company says it has processed data from more than two million flight hours in the years since. The new system requires no additional sensors on the airframe, but can be adapted to any existing aircraft design that uses a data buss to tie existing sensors into its instrumentation. Almost any aircraft with a glass cockpit could be a candidate.

IVHM could produce meaningful savings on maintenance costs by allowing on-condition replacement of parts rather than at arbitrary TBO points, and can allow operators to make even unexpected parts replacements a matter to be scheduled at their convenience, rather than interrupting a flight in progress, for even more savings due to reduced downtime.

IVHM can use any of a number of available data channels to downlink to a ground support network, and includes artificial intelligence which determines the urgency with which a developing fault should be reported. If the first indication of an evolving condition occurs during a flight through a geographic location where a data service has marginal bandwidth or excessive cost, faults which won't be safety-of-flight issues for days or weeks will be held until the aircraft is back within range of wi-fi or other appropriate channels.

The Gulfstream G650 (pictured) is expected to enter service in 2012. GE's two contracts with Gulfstream cover both support of PlaneConnectHTM, and the more advanced prognostic software for the forecasting of maintenance events.

FMI: www.ge.com/thegeshow/docs/ge_ivhm_brochure.pdf ; www.gulfstream.com