New Digital MRO Tools Gain Asia-Pacific Traction at 2022 Singapore Airshow

New digital MRO tools gained traction in the Asia-Pacific aftermarket last week during the 2022 Singapore Airshow.

GE Aviation secured one of its first commercial customers for an engine testing data analytics tool created in-house. ST Engineering signed a multi-year contract with the OEM to implement its Test Cell Advisor product, a data analytics tool it created to provide more insights for engine performance analysis during testing.

According to GE, Test Cell Advisor enables timely analysis of engine performance during return-to-service testing for MRO shops that support GE and CFM International engines. MRO technicians can use the tool to assess whether engines are operating optimally and determine if other actions are required to enhance performance. The tool, which is already being used at GE-owned overhaul shops worldwide, evaluates hundreds of engine performance trends based on GE’s experience, including vibration, exhaust gas temperature, fuel flow, thrust and core speed.

GE introduced Test Cell Advisor to the market in 2020 and says it is also in use at GMF AeroAsia and some GE Aviation joint venture MRO shops.

“Digital technology and analytics are the way forward, making maintenance services more efficient and cost effective for operators,” says Tay Eng Guan, vice president and general manager of engines MRO at ST Engineering. “The implementation of GE’s Test Cell Advisor is one of the many ways we are incorporating smart technologies.”

Meanwhile, Lufthansa Technik (LHT) secured its first customer in the Asia-Pacific region for its new Aviatar Technical Logbook application. Vietjet signed an agreement at the Singapore Airshow to implement the tool for digital pilot-to-maintenance collaboration.

Developed last year in partnership with Wizz Air, Aviatar Technical Logbook is used to digitize the paper-based process of cockpit write ups and maintenance follow ups. The tool integrates with an airline’s maintenance and engineering systems, enabling pilots to digitally enter technical issues during flight and on the ground, which maintenance control can see in real-time. LHT says the application can decrease turnaround times and increase an airline fleet’s reliability and operational safety.

“The application will not only increase the airline’s efficiency, but also provide a new pool of real-time operational data which allows, for example, the maintenance control center to monitor and approve data flows,” says Zang Thio, LHT’s vice president corporate sales Southeast Asia and Indian Subcontinent. He also notes that Aviatar Technical Logbook “is making a strong case as a second generation [electronic technical logbook] solution.”

Vietjet says it has digitized its operations to support fleet maintenance and optimization. “This is another milestone in our digitalization revolution from cockpit to maintenance and to be expanded to all company sectors,” says Nguyen Duc Thinh, vice president of technical and maintenance at Vietjet. “The technical logbook will also help reduce environmental footprint as Vietjet looks to become a green and sustainable airline.”