2. Brief introduction on airbus
Airbus is the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer founded in 1970 whose customer focus, commercial
know-how, technological leadership and manufacturing efficiency have propelled it to the forefront of
the industry.
Headquartered in Toulouse (southern France), Airbus is owned by EADS, a global leader in aerospace,
defense and related services. This group which is comprised of Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter, in
addition to Airbus – has a presence on every continent, and employs a total workforce of around
133,000 people.
Airbus itself is a truly global enterprise of some 59,000 employees, with fully-owned subsidiaries in the
United States, China, and Japan and in the Middle East, spare parts centres in Hamburg, Frankfurt,
Washington, Beijing and Singapore, training centres in Toulouse, Miami, Hamburg and Beijing and more
than 150 field service offices around the world.
Airbus also relies on industrial co-operation and partnerships with major companies all over the world,
and a network of some 2,000 suppliers in 20 countries.
Airbus family includes–
Passenger’s aircrafts like
.
There are also several corporate jets, military aircrafts, freighter aircrafts and some out of production
aircrafts made by airbus.
A320
A340
A380A350
A330
3. ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE
Maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involve fixing any sort
of mechanical, plumbing or electrical device should it become out of order or broken (known as repair,
unscheduled or casualty maintenance). It also includes performing routine actions which keep the
device in working order (known as scheduled maintenance) or prevents trouble from arising (preventive
maintenance). MRO may be defined as, "All actions which have the objective of retaining or restoring an
item in or to a state in which it can perform its required function. The actions include the combination of
all technical and corresponding administrative, managerial, and supervision actions."
Engineering
In telecommunication, commercial real estate and engineering in general, the term maintenance has the
following meanings:
1. Any activity – such as tests, measurements, replacements, adjustments and repairs — intended
to retain or restore a functional unit in or to a specified state in which the unit can perform its
required functions.
2. For material — all action taken to retain material in a serviceable condition or to restore it to
serviceability. It includes inspection, testing, servicing, and classification as to serviceability,
repair, rebuilding, and reclamation.
3. For material — all supply and repair action taken to keep a force in condition to carry out its
mission.
4. For material — the routine recurring work required to keep a facility (plant, building, structure,
ground facility, utility system, or other real property) in such condition that it may be
continuously used, at its original or designed capacity and efficiency for its intended purpose.
Manufacturers and Industrial Supply Companies often refer to MRO as opposed to Original Equipment
Manufacturer (OEM). OEM includes any activity related to the direct manufacture of goods, where MRO
refers to any maintenance and repair activity to keep a manufacturing plant running.
Industrial supply companies can generally be sorted into two types:
The ones who cater to the MRO market generally carry a broad range of items such as
fasteners, conveyors, cleaning goods, plumbing, and tools to keep a plant running.
OEM supply companies generally provide a smaller range of goods in much larger
quantities with much lower prices, selling materials that will be regularly consumed in
the manufacturing process to create the finished item.
4. Maintenance types
Generally speaking, there are three types of maintenance in use:
1. Preventive maintenance
Preventive maintenance is maintenance performed in an attempt to avoid failures, unnecessary
production loss and safety violations.
The effectiveness of a preventive maintenance schedule depends on the RCM analysis which it was
based on, and the ground rules used for cost-effectively.
2. Corrective maintenance
Corrective maintenance is probably the most commonly used approach, but it is easy to see its
limitations. When equipment fails, it often leads to downtime in production. In most cases, this is costly
business. Also, if the equipment needs to be replaced, the cost of replacing it alone can be substantial. It
is also important to consider health, safety and environment (HSE) issues related to malfunctioning
equipment.
Corrective maintenance can be defined as the maintenance which is required when an item has failed or
worn out, to bring it back to working order. Corrective maintenance is carried out on all items where the
consequences of failure or wearing out are not significant and the cost of this maintenance is much
greater than preventive maintenance.
3. Reliability centered maintenance
Reliability centered maintenance is an engineering framework that enables the definition of a complete
maintenance regime. It regards maintenance as the means to maintain the functions a user may require
of machinery in a defined operating context. As a discipline it enables machinery stakeholders to
monitor, assess, predict and generally understand the working of their physical assets. This is embodied
in the initial part of the RCM process which is to identify the operating context of the machinery, and
write a Failure Mode Effects and Criticality Analysis (FMECA). The second part of the analysis is to apply
the "RCM logic", which helps determine the appropriate maintenance tasks for the identified failure
modes in the FMECA. Once the logic is complete for all elements in the FMECA, the resulting list of
maintenance is "packaged", so that the periodicities of the tasks are rationalized to be called up in work
packages; it is important not to destroy the applicability of maintenance in this phase. Lastly, RCM is
kept live throughout the "in-service" life of machinery, where the effectiveness of the maintenance is
kept under constant review and adjusted in light of the experience gained.
5. Maintenance on airbus
Airbus actively supports the business success of its customers and contributes to the overall
competitiveness of their Airbus aircraft fleet by providing them with top class engineering and technical
support.
To help them optimize their aircraft maintenance and reliability, operators are provided with
recommendations for aircraft reliability improvements, maintenance costs’ analysis and courses, and
above all, with the right technical solutions in a timely manner.
For a more cost effective management of technical documentation, efficient ‘zero paper’ digital
technical data solutions are offered that enable airlines to achieve significant cost savings.
To minimize Aircraft-On-Ground time for trouble-shooting or repairs, AIRTAC, a state-of-the art centre
with dedicated specialist engineers and fitted with the most innovative technology operates 24 hours,
365 days a year. AIRTAC is part of a wider call centres approach that provides all Airbus operators with a
global 24/7 assistance for all Aircraft-On-Ground matters.
In the scope of the “Enhanced support”, a process innovated for A380 customers; AIRTAC is providing
analysis and recommendations to customers even before they request it, or before the aircraft lands,
through satellite and ground communication networks linking the aircraft, the airline, Airbus and
suppliers. “Enhanced Support” helps also improve engineering efficiency by quickly identifying recurrent
events and minimizing the time to develop and implement the technical fix.
Airbus network of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul centres (the Airbus MRO network), which
comprises 16 members to date, offers competitive, quality maintenance services to Airbus customers
worldwide for all Airbus aircraft families (from the A300/A310 Family to the A380) through extended
cooperation with experienced MRO providers.
Already the results of the MRO Network’s first operations have been very positive with customer
satisfaction reaching very high levels. Two new members joined the MRO (Maintenance Repair and
Overhaul) Network, Mexicana MRO Services and Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies.
6. AVIONICS & SIMULATION
Avionics and Simulation develops and builds systems that optimize aircraft performance, such as fly-by-
wire equipment.
As an integral part of Airbus, Avionics and Simulation develops and builds systems that optimize aircraft
performance, responsible for providing electronic and software expertise that Airbus business requires.
Avionics and Simulation is dedicated to supply its customers with reliable high-tech products. But it is
also an organization qualified for ensuring the high quality services required to get the best of its
products all around the world.
Leaning on four repair centers (Toulouse, Miami, Singapore, and Beijing), it ensures support (technical
and commercial) in order to provide our customers with optimum product availability. It is organized
around three complementary product lines: Avionics, Simulation, and Simulation Training Support.
Airbus Avionics and Simulation is consistently ranked amongst the top ten suppliers of Airbus by clients
in terms of quality of service.
Avionics and Simulation has developed high-level skills in the disciplines of:
Electronics: high density integration, resistant to extreme weather condition and high reliability.
Software: on-board, real-time software at high level of safety
Integration of the functions in on-board systems, as well as in the engineering or training
simulators.
7. QUALITY AND SAFETY FIRST
Delivering aircraft on timeon cost and on quality – getting it right first time – drives Airbus policy with
safety as number one priority in the design, building and performance of its aircraft.
STRIVING FOR THE HIGHEST STANDARDS
Airbus’ customers expect quality in the aircraft they buy. Safety, reliability, comfort and maintenance
costs are key areas where quality is crucial in an airline’s judgment of an aircraft.
To achieve the very highest standards in these and other aspects of an aircraft’s facets and performance
the question of quality is addressed by Airbus at every stage from design to final assembly and beyond.
Repeated checks are made. Tests are applied. Airbus ensures every supplier of parts meets the strictest
standards on quality. Defective work, parts and materials are rejected.
Airbus has a network of key employees who identify problems at various stages of design, production
and assembly and recommend action to eradicate them, pre-empting possibly costly delays at a later
point. These employees also ensure continuous improvement in standards and efficiency by pinpointing
ways in which people could work better or where tools and materials could be improved. As it ramps up
production of both single-aisle and long-range aircraft, including the A380, to meet demand, Airbus
knows setting even higher standards in quality is critical to maintaining its success.
THE CONSTANT FOCUS ON SAFE OPERATIONS
Around 500 million passengers fly in Airbus aircraft each year. They trust the airlines to get them safely
to their destinations. In turn the airlines and other operators trust Airbus. The Airbus name means
reliability, quality, and performance. But above all it means safety, the first priority for Airbus.
At every point in the design, manufacturing and assembly process Airbus ensures its work complies with
certification targets laid down by the European Aviation Safety Authority and the US Federal Aviation
Administration.
Before an aircraft achieves its final type certificate it must undergo around 1,200 hours of test flying.
But Airbus also works continually in the most effective way to improve the safety of its aircraft: by pro-
actively identifying areas and events from which knowledge can be gained. Airbus works with air safety
organizations around the world to find new ways of improving standards. Safety is not a matter
ofcompetition in the aviation industry. Airbus shares its know-how with others to improve safety for
everyone.
8. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
The European Aviation Safety Agency isa European Union (EU) agency with regulatory and executive
tasks in the field of civilian aviation safety. Based in Cologne, Germany, the EASA was created on 15 July
2002, and it reached full functionality in 2008, taking over functions of the Joint Aviation Authorities
(JAA). European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries have been granted participation in the agency.
The responsibilities of EASA include conducting analysis and research of safety, authorizing foreign
operators, giving advice for the drafting of EU legislation, implementing and monitoring safety rules
(including inspections in the member states), giving type-certification of aircraft and components as well
as the approval of organisations involved in the design, manufacture and maintenance of aeronautical
products.
As part of Single European Sky II the agency have been given additional tasks. These will be
implemented before 2013. Amongst other things, EASA will now be able to certify Functional Airspace
Blocks if more than three parties are involved.
Certification
On 28 September 2003, the EASA took over responsibility for the airworthiness and environmental
certification of all aeronautical products, parts, and appliances designed, manufactured, maintained or
used by persons under the regulatory oversight of EU Member States.
The Certification work also includes all post-certification activities, such as the approval of changes to,
and repairs of, aeronautical products and their components, as well as the issuing of airworthiness
directives to correct any potentially unsafe situation.
All type-certificates are therefore now issued by the EASA and are valid throughout the European Union.
It also carries out the same role for foreign organisations involved in the manufacture or maintenance of
such products. The EASA relies on national aviation authorities who have historically filled this role and
concludes contractual arrangements to this effect.
9. FUTURE BY AIRBUS
LOOKING AHEAD
Through innovation, and out-of-the-box thinking, Airbus will continue to meet its eco-efficiency goals,
and ensure that air travel continues to be one of the safest, and most eco-efficient, means of
transportation.
As the air transport sector continues to grow, Airbus believes that the industry as a whole must
concentrate on technological advances, while also advancing solutions that will meet passenger and
market demands, the growing population and its demographic profile, and respect all aspects of the
environment.
After celebrating its own four decades of innovation, Airbus now is looking to the next 40-plus years –
actively working with other industry stakeholders and experts to anticipate the global needs of a better-
connected and more sustainable world.
However, it all begins with one question: “what will air transport look like in the year 2050?” In its report
“The Future by Airbus,” Airbus hypothesises how the industry, aircraft and passengers might change by
that time while highlighting potential steps to meet the needs of tomorrow.
SMARTER SKIES CONCEPT
The five key features of Airbus’ Smarter Skies campaign include aircraft takeoff in continuous “eco-climb,”
free flight and formation along “express skyways”, free-glide approaches and landings, low-emission
ground operations and the use of sustainable biofuels and other potential energy sources.
10. FUTURE SOLUTIONS
Even a few decades from now, the world will be very different from today. Our lives and travel needs
will have changed and, because the global population will increase to over 9 billion, looking after the
planet will be even more important than ever.
In the past, air travel has mainly focused on getting people to their destination in the safest and fastest
way possible. In the future, however, travelling could be an entirely different experience – integrating
different stages of the journey or possibly changing how passengers pay, and making the excursion so
enjoyable that passengers may want a trip to last even longer.
Airbus Concept Plane Aircraft carriers
The Airbus Concept Plane stretches the imagination of engineers, and illustrates the main technologies
being explored in anticipation of the future needs of passengers.
Hundreds of flights already take place on popular long-distance routes like from Europe to the U.S., Asia
or Australia and there will be a lot more by 2050.
So, instead of operating dozens of separate flights, perhaps airlines could have giant aircraft carriers.
Smaller aircraft could dock on them for most of the journey – perhaps using vertical take-off and landing
techniques – then be deployed on more localized shuttle service at either end of the trip.
The size of these new-generation aircraft carriers might even open up new possibilities for the type of
energy that could be used to power them.
