Richard Brown, Managing Director, NAVEO Consultancy – conference chairman

Predictive maintenance has moved from theory to reality - and airlines that get it right are reaping the benefits. But how are APAC airlines making it work? In this panel, experts from airlines will share how they’re fine-tuning their predictive strategies to maximise aircraft availability, optimise costs, and navigate regulatory complexities. From refining data models to strengthening MRO partnerships and overcoming implementation hurdles, this session goes beyond the theory to reveal what’s driving real results for airlines in the region.

Over the past five years, United Airlines has made major investments intended to rapidly expand the footprint of predictive maintenance on their operation. The speaker will discuss the airline's approach to organically building a robust predictive maintenance lifecycle in-house, the platform that made it successful and the impact that it is having as a core tool for addressing fleet reliability.

Predictive maintenance can provide enhanced decision support for airlines by providing actionable insights to maintenance crews and operators to optimise maintenance scheduling and resource allocation. With the help of real-time data analysis and predictive modelling, airlines can empower maintenance crews with valuable information to make informed decisions about when and how to perform the right maintenance activities. Whether it's scheduling maintenance during off-peak hours, prioritising critical repairs, or proactively replacing worn components, this panel will explore how predictive maintenance provides airline decision-makers with the tools they need to optimise maintenance operations and maximise aircraft availability.

This presentation will explain how Revima is assisting customers in monitoring APU conditions and advising predictive maintenance actions powered by a cutting-edge digital platform for gathering real-time data, running analytics, and enhancing engineering algorithms with machine learning modules.

The speakers will share how predictive maintenance can empower airline maintenance processes. He will discuss how Liebherr is collaborating with different actors from the industry including airline customers and platform partners to boost predictive maintenance adoption through the aerospace ecosystem. He will highlight the latest news from Liebherr's Health Management programmes and how predictive maintenance creates value in the industry.

Cirium's Ground Events analytics and projection tool provides unprecedented insights into global airframe maintenance activity by fusing satellite-based aircraft tracking with proprietary MRO capabilities and contracts data. This presentation will examine case studies where airlines have suffered longer than expected ground stays for scheduled maintenance, the impact of ageing aircraft and how projected checks based on tracked events can aid operational planning.

AFI KLM E&M has been advancing predictive maintenance on components in past years with the development of its predictive maintenance solution Prognos® for Aircraft. By leveraging its end-to-end expertise as an airline and MRO organisation, many predictive maintenance models have been successfully adopted. This would not be possible without an extensive history of operational and maintenance data. Interestingly, the impact of this data extends beyond predictive maintenance. This presentation will explore how AFI KLM E&M leverages data to not only predict maintenance needs but also drive structural improvements in component reliability, building on strong partnerships with OEMs and thereby delivering benefits to global operations.

As global passenger traffic surges, the demand for engine shop visits is poised to rise, with a growing need for comprehensive work scopes. The industry is increasingly aware that greater efficiencies can be unlocked through the adoption of advanced technologies like AI, robotics, and digital twins. This panel discussion will delve into how new technologies and innovative strategies can enhance engine MRO operations, exploring opportunities to elevate the quality and efficiency of engine shop visits.

Aircraft maintenance and repair is a complex and demanding task that requires access to many technical documents. Finding the right information in these documents can be time-consuming and challenging, with huge safety and regulatory implications. In this presentation, we will introduce Otto, a vector search engine that uses a custom, domain-adapted Large Language Model (LLM) to help technicians find the relevant documentation they need in a fast and accurate way. We will also explain how and why "off the shelf" LLMs fall short in understanding the very technical language of the aviation operational environment. We will also discuss what the future holds for data science in Delta TechOps and beyond.

While digital capabilities such as data management, insight platforms, and AI/ML have matured rapidly, large parts of the aircraft are either not producing the data PHM requires or are producing data but are not accessible. The core PHM data sets of DAR/QAR/CPL are well understood and most advancement has been by processing these large datasets on the ground through statistical and AI/ML analytics. The speakers will explore how Collins Aerospace is expanding the 'data frontiers' of the aircraft, the resulting data, and how analysis of this data yields new value.

Conference chairman Richard Brown will welcome attendees. Richard has over 24 years of experience in aerospace, including 19 years consulting. Most recently he was responsible for the ICF Aerospace consulting practice and prior to that was part of the European practice at AeroStrategy. Richard is a recognised expert in aerospace manufacturing and maintenance strategies, regularly speaking at industry events and writing for industry publications on these topics.

Matias Bjerregaard will share insights from his experience at SAS, focusing on the financial and contractual challenges of implementing predictive maintenance. He will discuss innovative strategies for overcoming recruitment difficulties, emphasising the importance of empowering technicians by involving them in the decision-making process and ensuring they understand the value of maintenance initiatives. Additionally, he will highlight the success of an ambassador programme that grants select production personnel access to predictive maintenance tools, enabling them to effectively communicate trends and maintenance strategies to technicians. Matias aims to demonstrate how to build a robust business case and foster a collaborative, trust-based maintenance culture.

Managing the complex lifecycle of aircraft from decommissioning to dismantling, whilst ensuring environmental compliance, cost efficiency, and operational excellence, is crucial for the future of the aviation industry. Participants in this panel discussion will explore the critical strategies being deployed and innovative approaches for optimising aircraft end-of-life (EOL) activity.

The speaker will delve into the history and core principles that define the Digital Alliance, highlight key achievements to date, discuss recent announcements, and offer a forward-looking perspective on what lies ahead.

Over the past few years, the industry has encountered many challenges including the global Covid-19 pandemic, the grounding of the B737 MAX, production and manufacturing issues among aircraft and engine OEMs, and unprecedented issues throughout the supply chain. This, along with the recovery of air travel, has meant that stakeholders have had to adjust their strategies, infrastructure and business in order to be more adaptive in this ever-changing landscape. During this panel we will hear from industry leaders as they provide their thoughts and insights to these trends, and what the future might hold for the industry.

This session will deep dive into the ongoing collaboration between AVIATAR and TUI to advance their predictive maintenance portfolio. The focus will be on how this partnership enhances predictive capabilities while reinforcing a strong commitment to customer-centric solutions. Key highlights will include TUI’s innovative approaches in leveraging AVIATAR’s technology for improved aircraft health analytics and proactive maintenance strategies.

Find out how Parker Aerospace is working with Air France - KLM to improve part availability and reliability predictions.

Alignment of the supply chain creates an environment for effective AOG support. The speaker will explore how predictive aircraft maintenance requires an alignment between planners, supply chain organisations, MROs and effective AOG support systems.

The interconnected elements between Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situations, predictive maintenance, and the supply of spare parts in aviation MRO are crucial for maintaining operational efficiency and minimising downtime. Forecasting potential failures through predictive maintenance can significantly reduce AOG incidents, while efficient spare parts supply chains ensure rapid resolution of maintenance issues. This panel will highlight best practices and innovative strategies that can boost turnaround time activity.

As engines reach maturity or approach end-of-life, it becomes increasingly important to utilise engine data to help manage maintenance and control costs. In this session, StandardAero will showcase its innovative tools and strategies designed to optimise predictive maintenance and reduce costs for mature engines. StandardAero will also explore the shift in new technologies and how its navigates these complexities to provide customers with effective, data-driven solutions that maximise engine performance and lifespan.

The aviation industry is on the verge of the largest change that it has ever experienced, this change will impact every part of the delivery and value chains, maintenance is no exception.