Additional Information Allows Operators To Determine Possible Maintenance Trends

An air-to-ground maintenance data link introduced by Gulfstream Aerospace in September 2007 now offers summary fleet information to Gulfstream operators through myGulfstream.com, the secure Gulfstream customer communications website.

PlaneConnect automatically relays messages generated by the Crew Alerting System (CAS) and Central Maintenance Computer (CMC) to operation centers on the ground and then via e-mail to operators. With myGulfstream.com, operators can now see summary-level messages across the Gulfstream fleet for a particular model, as well as messages for each of their own PlaneConnect-equipped aircraft.

The fleet data accessible by operators contains no aircraft or operator identification information.

"With this new fleet capability, operators have even more information, which is always good," said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream Product Support. "Along with providing a searchable record of the last six months of their aircraft operations, access to information from more than 70,000 unique flights is available for comparison purposes.  We've seen how this type of tool benefits aircraft support by identifying the cause of an intermittent issue and, in some cases, identifying issues before they are apparent to the flight crew."

More than 300 large-cabin Gulfstream aircraft operators use PlaneConnect, and about 80 percent of them have chosen to have their information sent to Gulfstream Technical Operations in addition to their own flight departments.

At Gulfstream, a computer analyzes and prioritizes those incoming CAS and CMC messages.  Those that may result in an Aircraft-on-the-Ground (AOG) situation once the jet lands automatically generate priority e-mails to the appropriate Gulfstream field service representative (FSR) and Technical Operations staff. This real-time reporting enhances safety and reduces maintenance times by allowing technicians to arrange for parts or service personnel to be readily available before the aircraft lands.

"Using PlaneConnect enables us to have extremely fast maintenance turnaround times, which result in more air time for Gulfstream operators," Burns said. "That's precisely what they want, and we're happy we can provide it to them."

PlaneConnect is a free service that Gulfstream operators can access via myGulfstream.com anywhere they have Internet access.  The myGulfstream.com site offers real-time communication and collaboration capabilities, including access to the Gulfstream Computerized Maintenance Program (CMP), technical publications, maintenance manuals and flight-tracking software.

FMI: www.gulfstream.com