Today at the Dubai Air Show, Etihad Airways PJSC and Lufthansa Technik AG have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding a comprehensive partnership on the exploration of digital solutions that is set to further optimize the airline’s technical fleet and operations management. The field of cooperation will encompass several products from Lufthansa Technik’s industry-leading AVIATAR digital operations suite. Focusing on digital and sustainable tech-ops, it covers the use of Fuel Analytics, Condition Monitoring and automated Line Maintenance Planning in the beginning.
To further boost its fuel efficiency and hence reach its sustainability goals, Etihad will be one of the first airlines to take advantage of AVIATAR’s innovative Fuel Analytics app. With the help of artificial intelligence and by the use of full flight data, Fuel Analytics provides Etihad with the transparency needed to identify any unusual fuel consumption. The interconnection between fuel efficiency and technical as well as operational events enables an automated root cause identification of degrading aircraft efficiency, clearly distinguished from operational factors like weather or navigation. In addition, AVIATAR Fuel Analytics can identify the effects of aircraft modifications on fuel consumption. Based on these insights, Etihad can then perform the needed measures to keep their fleet flying efficiently. This helps the airline twofold, by saving fuel and by reducing emissions.
The AVIATAR Condition Monitoring solution will moreover allow Etihad a real-time overview on the current status of all its aircraft and their components – on the ground as well as in flight. This will enable the Etihad maintenance department to proactively manage the condition of their Boeing and Airbus fleets by combining fault messages, parameters, flight information and maintenance information on one screen.
In addition, AVIATAR’s automated Line Maintenance Planning app will allow Etihad to improve productivity even further by maximizing aircraft availability and reducing manual planning efforts at the same time. By integrating data from different IT systems, this algorithm-based solution adapts plans for each maintenance location and across Etihad’s fleet instantaneously. Any change in the flight schedule or maintenance requirements results in an updated maintenance plan that supports decision-making and makes potential planning conflicts transparent, thus allowing the airline to focus on issues where more specific know-how is required. The updated plan is then directly transferred to Etihad`s maintenance information system.
“For Etihad, better data and better insights into data means that better decisions can be made every single day”, said Mohammad Al Bulooki, Chief Operating Officer of Etihad Aviation Group. “Therefore, Etihad is constantly looking for partners who can provide ever-insightful perspectives using operational data. In working with Lufthansa Technik, Etihad will improve the efficiency of its operation, reduce fuel burn, reduce CO2 emissions, and reduce maintenance effort – all while maintaining the highest levels of safety performance and onboard product that Etihad is known for.”
“Digitalization has become one of the strongest drivers for the aviation industry, and MRO is no exception to that. Thus, it is paramount for us to highlight the benefits that a smart digital tool suite such as AVIATAR can leverage for airlines around the globe,” explained Tim Butzmann, Lufthansa Technik’s Senior Director Sales Middle East and Africa. “The more delighted we are now to have convinced a renowned carrier like Etihad to be one of the first airlines in the Middle East joining us on the digital MRO playing field.”
