FTAI Aviation has tapped Palantir to provide artificial intelligence (AI)-based insight into a wide range of decisions and processes throughout the engine maintenance specialist’s supply chain.
Work on the partnership, formally announced Nov. 17, began earlier this year, FTAI said. The engine supplier, which targets providing green-time narrowbody engine modules to customers in lieu of complete engine overhauls, is using Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP).
The initial focus is on the parts supply chain. A common task for the software is analyzing parts requirements for module builds and advising whether FTAI has enough material on hand or must tap external sources, the company said. If more parts are needed, AIP scans available sources, including both FTAI partnerships such as its AAR used serviceable materials cooperation as well as third-party vendors and online marketplaces, and makes recommendations.
Palantir’s AIP sources data from across FTAI’s entire operation, from asset management to shop-specific inventory, as well as a variety of external sources. While the software is empowered to make some decisions on its own, such as which parts should be allocated to which modules, parts procurement is not yet among them, FTAI said. The software’s authority ends with providing supply chain managers with potential action items and underlying data, such as parts prices, to support its conclusions.
Plans call to expand AIP’s reach into other key areas of FTAI’s business, including whole-asset monitoring and purchasing recommendations. It could track available aircraft and engines and available pricing data and help guide FTAI on what assets to purchase when—and, in some cases, when to sell, the company said.
FTAI also plans to leverage customer data to help with demand forecasting. One goal is to help match engines with specific airframes based on variables such as operating environments or desired on-wing time.
“At FTAI, we have long prioritized technology as a key driver of productivity since the launch of our Maintenance, Repair and Exchange offering,” FTAI COO David Moreno said in a statement.
“We are excited to partner with Palantir to harness AI and transform engine maintenance for the world’s most widely used commercial aircraft,” he added, noting that initial results have been “impressive.”
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