Over the last few years, data has become a vital tool to control and verify aircraft behaviour. Manufacturers, airlines and OEMs are particularly interested in data because it is capable of delivering precise information about the behaviour of aircraft and their equipment. Analysis of this data makes it possible to reduce fuel consumption, optimise maintenance costs and prevent any risks associated with flight safety. Today, data is at the heart of aeronautical activities.
Many companies have seized the opportunities in this high growth market, and data processing today is an extremely competitive business area. More and more players are entering the field: start-ups, SMEs, and major industrial groups. In a context where one increasingly hears the motto “data is the new currency”, it is absolutely vital to find the right tools for collecting, processing and analysing data to maximise its value.
How can I make sure I select the right partner? How do I choose the best service? To help you, here are four requirements your next flight data analysis service must fulfil.
01 A separate decoding block
The first step, before you even start analysing flight data, is to retrieve and decode it.
In this respect, regardless of your mission – maintenance, operations or safety – if you have a single decoding tool as a common foundation, capable of delivering flight data that is ready to use and accessible to all, this represents a significant practical advantage. Why would it be necessary to perform the decoding task several times for a single aeroplane?
A single decoding tool not only simplifies data governance but also reduces error rates and delivers substantial time savings. You are subsequently perfectly free to use the data according to your needs.
So make sure the service you opt for includes a decoding block that is separate from the analysis function.
02 Coding your own algorithms
Historically, data analysis services were designed for the flight safety professions only. However, nowadays they seek to satisfy an increasing number of different needs, especially maintenance or MOQA (Maintenance Operations Quality Assurance) in parallel with FOQA analysis (Flight Operations Quality Assurance). In the end the most important criterion is that you must be able to perform the analyses you judge to be relevant. It is therefore absolutely vital to be able to code your own analysis algorithms. It must be possible to customise the entire analysis system, whether to create a new decoding frame, a new measurement or a new event! This aspect is particularly important for multi-profession tools since they will each be used in a different way depending on the precise analysis requirement.
A customisable user experience will therefore enable each profession to analyse the decoded data every day according to their specific needs.
03 Integrating the tool into your digital ecosystem
Nowadays this is MANDATORY! It must be possible to integrate your flight data analysis system into a larger digital ecosystem. Regardless of your company’s level of digital maturity, if you are looking for a flight data analysis system, it’s because you want to improve your experience when using this data. So it is completely unacceptable to be faced with a format or automation incompatibility. You have spent time setting up a hadoop cluster, or MATLAB and Power BI analyses, the last thing you want is for your data analysis system to become your worst nightmare because integration is too complex.
The system you are going to choose must be open and standard. In other words it must have an API (Application Programming Interface), standard input and output file formats and a universal programming language (beware of proprietary languages). If these three rules are followed, it will be possible to integrate the tool into any digital ecosystem.
04 Processing power, regardless of your fleet size
In today’s world, flight data analysis is vital to improve flight safety. Therefore, regardless of your fleet size, your analysis system has to be capable of quickly analysing the daily data transmitted by your planes. In a situation where you need to analyse historical data, your tool must also be capable of delivering this information quickly, regardless of the quantity of data to analyse.
Due to the increasing needs for MOQA analysis the quantity of data to analyse is exploding, and replays of historical data are now very frequent instead of rare. So above all, pay careful attention to the processing power of your next solution! Saas solutions seem to be the most relevant in this respect, since in theory cloud computing capacities make it possible to adapt to any peak in processing requirements. But will you perhaps need an On-Premises solution? Make sure you will not be obliged to replace your IT hardware in order to obtain the performance you need, especially if your fleet is likely to grow in future years.
The new Cassiopée Alpha solution has been developed on the basis of many interviews with our users. It is designed to guarantee a user experience fully aligned with your needs.
Our new tool meets the highest market demands: it is for everyone. Each profession uses Alpha in its own way.
To guarantee you enjoy an optimal experience, the Cassiopée Alpha UX and UI have been entirely designed to make use even simpler and more adaptable. You should also know that Cassiopée Alpha has a user-dedicated interface, with a chat forum and monthly tips. By sharing user experience, you will learn more about the different functionalities and types of use adopted by your peers.
