Airbus Helicopters is accelerating the digital transformation of its services and support organization. Over the years, the Franco-German manufacturer (Booth C305) has moved toward the use of digital tools to improve efficiency, said Matthieu Louvot, executive vice-president support and services for Airbus Helicopters.

Several more innovations will be highlighted at this year’s Heli-Expo. “This year, we are introducing new tools where there’s still paper, such as digitalized components management,” Louvot, explained.

During Heli-Expo, the company is introducing an eLog card, a digital replacement for the paper cards traditionally used to manage the components slated for maintenance, repair, or replacement.

Components have a certain life-cycle calculated in flight hours or number of years of utilization, and sometimes, one component could be used on two machines. The handmade paper cards are an imprecise way of management, he said. “With this new solution, traceability and data entry will be much more accurate and rapid,” said Louvot. On a heavy helicopter, the operator has to account for between 300 and 500 main components.

The eLog card builds on another connected solution to manage flight reports, Fleet Keeper digital logbook, that was presented during last year’s Heli-Expo. In the past, flight reports were filled out by hand on paper. Airbus has also been developing new tools and partnerships that will combine its Fleet Keeper and Fleet Master maintenance information system with real-time data-sharing to ease and strengthen airworthiness and MRO management. Airbus Helicopters further has launched FlyScan, a predictive algorithm that is designed to enhance flight safety and increase fleet availability.

The digitalization efforts are producing results. For example, around 53 helicopters representing 12 customers are currently subscribed to FlyScan and avoiding at least one AOG situation annually per aircraft, according to Airbus Helicopters.

“Adding all those new tools, customers are able to make predictive maintenance, as to get a better dispatch rate for their rotorcraft,” said Louvot.

These services are particularly important for a services organization that represents 44 percent of Airbus Helicopters' global revenues. The Airbus Helicopters worldwide fleet comprises more than 12,000 rotorcraft, among 3,000 customers in 150 countries.