B777 Central Maintenance Computer?
eagle 1
Does the B777 have a Central Maintenance Computer as an option for airlines
to order, similar to the one installed on the B747-400?
If so, is there an upgrade in the system from the B747-400.
Thanks.
73115...@compuserve.com
>Does the B777 have a Central Maintenance Computer as an option for airlines
>to order, similar to the one installed on the B747-400?
Yes, but it runs as a software partition called the ACMF (Aircraft
Condition Monitoring Function) within the Honeywell AIMS (Airplane
Information Management System).
>If so, is there an upgrade in the system from the B747-400.
The 777 and the 747-400 have virtually nothing in common with regard
to the avionics. Several customers have asked Boeing to use the 777
cockpit/avionics on the next version of the 747, but so far, none have
been willing to pay the non-recurring engineering to actually move it.
Ken Jongsma
JWizardC
Aircraft Information Management System (AIMS). There is a Maintenance Access
Terminal (MAT) with 88-key keyboard, trackball, 1.44 floppy disk (IBM format)
and (optional) hard disk. It can make printouts using the on-board printer,
save reports to disk, or datalink via VHF or SATCOM.
The MAT is used for many routine maint functions i.e. Navigation Database
loading, engine monitoring, and a zillion or so on-board sensors.
As far as I know, the CMCF and MAT are not optional equipment.
TheFNG
Alan
>Does the B777 have a Central Maintenance Computer as an option for airlines
>to order, similar to the one installed on the B747-400?
>
As far as I know, the Maintenance Access Computer (MAT) is part of the
certification of the B-777 and, as such, is "standard equipment". It
is much more advanced compared to the CMC on the 747-400 and is a
function of AIMS, Airplane Information Management System. To upgrade
the 747 to the MAT, would be a major undertaking, since AIMS is highly
integrated into the airplane systems.
C. Marin Faure
<elm...@ibm.net> wrote:
> Just need some info.
>
> Does the B777 have a Central Maintenance Computer as an option for airlines
> to order, similar to the one installed on the B747-400?
I believe a CMC is standard on every 777 delivered. What is optional is
the number and location of terminals for the Portable Maintenance Access
Terminals which allow mechanics to access the CMC from a variety of
locations in or under the airplane. The 777's CMC along with its BITE
(Built-In-Test-Equipment) and fault isolation system represents quite an
advancement over the 747's system. However, I wouldn't be surprised if
the 747's system has by now incorporated many of the improvements
introduced on the 777.
We recently interviewed the maintenance director of an Asian 777
operator. He told us, "We also operate the Airbus A320, which is a very
advanced, computerized airplane. The A320 can identify which system has a
problem. But the 777 can identify which PART has a problem. This makes
it very easy for us to keep the airplane flying."
C. Marin Faure
author, Flying A Floatplane
john r.
<fau...@halcyon.com> writes
> However, I wouldn't be surprised if
>the 747's system has by now incorporated many of the improvements
>introduced on the 777.
The 747 CMC is nothing like as comprenhensive as the 777. It will stay
that way untill a major upgrade of the 747 - a long awy off I hope.
>We recently interviewed the maintenance director of an Asian 777
>operator. He told us, "We also operate the Airbus A320, which is a very
>advanced, computerized airplane. The A320 can identify which system has a
>problem. But the 777 can identify which PART has a problem. This makes
>it very easy for us to keep the airplane flying."
Oooh er, I wander how often the maintenance director has actually used
the system?
While the 777 is much better than the 747-400 and neither plane can be
maintained without the CMC, both suffer from a nasty habit of
"forgetting" defects. I guess they are considered low grade and so are
dumped once the defect is cleared but it undermines your confidence when
somone has seen the message and the plane wont admit to it. I ask my
guys to record anything befor they try to clear, so we know where to
start, next time.
As for positive identification, its difficult to know if its the unit
faulted or the unit that identifies the fault. The 777 is better in
this.
--
john r.