Lufthansa Technik debuts predictive maintenance, condition monitoring platform to avoid failures, optimize MRO

HAMBURG, Germany, 21 Oct. 2016. Lufthansa Technik AG in Hamburg, Germany, is launching Condition Analytics, which combines condition monitoring and predictive maintenance on a single, intelligent platform. Condition Analytics is designed to enable airlines to predict precisely when components should be replaced and recommends measures to be taken to avoid failures before they actually happen, while also helping to reduce fuel consumption, optimize use of expendable parts, and enhance safety, officials describe.

"Airlines around the globe are seeking ways to maximize the reliability, availability, and safety of their fleets while reducing costs. Our engineering expertise and long-standing experience with many different aircraft types gives us an edge in this respect," says Dr. Holger Appel, program manager monitoring, diagnosis and prognosis at Lufthansa Technik. "With Condition Analytics, one platform combines maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) experience with condition monitoring and prognoses for the first time. It creates true predictive maintenance for Airbus, Boeing, or other aircraft."

Condition Analytics by Lufthansa Technik uses a multi-faceted approach to improve aircraft operations. Engineers and data scientists analyze flight and MRO data and use them as a basis for continuously developing analytics use cases. Once the analytical model has been developed, the system checks the customer data for relevant incidents and supplies the corresponding results to the customer automatically.

Condition Analytics is an independent platform that is not tied to a support contract with Lufthansa Technik. It is an OEM-spanning tool whose highly sensitive data is safeguarded by Germany's data protection laws. The customer selects the required fleet and the desired use cases and is given access to the online platform.

The use of Condition Analytics in actual flight operations has already produced beneficial results. For example, it is now possible to predict the life cycle of igniter plugs accurately. This ensures maximum performance and efficiency. The platform will be available to customers from the first quarter of 2017.

“We provide customers with precise knowledge of their fleet condition and enable them to counter failures before they occur. Thus we not only increase aircraft availability and maximize operating hours, we also substantially contribute to flight safety," says Jan Stoevesand, head of analytics & data intelligence in information management at Lufthansa Technik.

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