AUTOMATED SYSTEM FOR AIRLINE OPERATION MONITORING: AN INSIGHT INTO AIRLINE PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMICS

The purpose of the paper is to bring out the capability of the NALFOQA tool to Indian Aviation sector in terms of airline performance and Economics. The tool utilizes the Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) or Quick Access Recorder (QAR) Data for analysis. The Digital data is decompressed, analyzed and converted to engineering units for monitoring, generating Trend, generating Report, or replaying the animated flight in 3D. Based on the analysis of the data the airline takes action accordingly to improve the crew performance, aircraft operating procedures, aircraft maintenance and economics. Although FOQA programs are primarily viewed as a safety program, Indian and foreign airlines using FOQA tool, have reported financial benefits as well. With additional data on aircraft systems and engine conditions, airlines are better able to achieve optimum fuel consumption and avoid unneeded engine maintenance. NALFOQA as a tool has been used at various Flight Safety stations of different Indian Operators to enhance safety over time, lower insurance premiums, and improved overall crew performance. Major airlines in India, as well as the office of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), who are using NALFOQA, are uniform in their support of the program. NALFOQA offers integrated solutions for managing safe and cost-effective flight operations – a requirement that is more important than ever before.