Industry Team Forms to Provide GA Flight Data Monitoring System

Alakai Technologies, OpenAero and CAPACG are teaming to provide an all-in-one FDM (flight data monitoring) system for piston engine aircraft that will allow non-commercial operators to monitor and share engine trend and flight operations data.

Alakai Technologies develops, manufactures, and integrates products to enhance aircraft safety; CAPACG is a consulting firm and systems integrator with expertise in helping hardware and software companies develop products specifically for the general aviation FDM market; and Open Aero is a data software company that specializes in Web-based remote monitoring and centralized expert diagnostic technology for general aviation.  (The FAA recently issued a STC (supplemental type certificate) to Alakai for its ETMS (engine trend monitoring system) installation on Cirrus SR20s and SR22s.) 

The team believes its new FDM, designed for new general aviation aircraft such as the Cirrus SR20 and SR22, will be the first "plug-and-play" engine and flight data monitoring, recording, and analysis system, that will be based on  standardized, FAA-approved FOQA (flight operational quality assurance) programs.

Under the FOQA model, data is de-identified and voluntarily shared in aggregate, allowing contributors to remain anonymous while learning and improving operations from data shared by other owners and operators. Those not interested in this option, however, can use the FDM as an informational program to simply enhance individual operations and performance. While the system leverages the features of the FOQA model, there aren't any FAA requirements associated with it, according to the team.

The team says it intends to make FOQA, which has been too expensive for general aviation operators, more affordable, easy to acquire through a single source, and more user friendly.  And while it will be initially offered only to Cirrus and other single-engine operators, it plans to expand service to twin-engine aircraft and light jets in the near future.

The automatic, predictive FDM system monitors piston engine performance in real time, and then provides ground-based analysis and reporting through a Web portal that includes:

• Automated monthly airframe and fleet reporting, analysis, and comparisons, which are predictive as well as historical. These are available on demand also.  
• Flight reconstruction and visualization for accident/incident investigations.
• Fuel management reports.
• Enhanced maintenance records with information on G-loading, flap over-speed, redline, and other warnings.

All of these can be used to manage risks associated with one's airframes and fleets, identify as early as possible any adverse safety trends, and ensure adherence to aircraft operating manual limitations.

Besides enhancing safety and enabling the potential to reduce aircraft operating and maintenance costs, users should be able to improved long-term engine performance and fuel economy, and reduce warranty and insurance premium costs, the team says.   04-12-2007.

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