Delta will begin using Airbus' predictive maintenance tool,
called Skywise, on its fleets of Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft.
The multi-year agreement makes Delta the product's first
major U.S. customer, the carrier said. Delta expects Skywise to reduce
cancellations and generally improve its operational performance.
"Delta will utilize Skywise on its A320 and A330
aircraft to track and analyze operations and performance data so it can assess
the failure probabilities of aircraft parts to anticipate maintenance tasks
before they're needed," the carrier explained.
Airbus launched its Skywise service in the summer of 2017.
Skywise accumulates data transmitted by aircraft and offers it in an open-source
environment that subscribing airlines can use to track and analyze their
operations and performance data, and to assess failure probabilities in order
to anticipate maintenance tasks.
Already, Delta typically outperforms most of its rivals when
it comes to cancellations. In July, Delta and Delta Connection flights were
canceled 0.7% of the time, second among mainline U.S.
carriers. Not counting Delta Connection operations that are contracted out to regional partners, Delta cancelled just 0.1% of its
flights in July, second to Hawaiian but well ahead of third place United, which
cancelled 0.7% of flights.
In 2015, Delta began assisting Airbus in developing the
aircraft manufacturer's initial predictive maintenance program, called
Prognostic Risk Management. The new Skywise agreement between the two companies
advances that cooperation.