British Airways Ditches Paper In Digital Maintenance Log Switch

In an aviation industry where decisions are increasingly being driven by factors relating to sustainability, it can be the little things that make a big difference. With this in mind, British Airways is switching to digital maintenance logs, which, as well as saving a plane-load of paper, will also expedite engineering procedures.

Faster troubleshooting

As detailed by British Airways earlier this week, the new system is known as E-Logs, and its benefits extend far beyond the 900,000+ pieces of paper that it saves every year. According to the UK flag carrier, it is now able to benefit from real-time data provided by the new digital system, which tracks aircraft performance on a fleet-wide basis. This enables BA to get ahead of the game with maintenance.

Specifically, the Heathrow-headquartered national airline and oneworld founding member can use this live digital data to spot issues as or even before they arise. Such early diagnostic procedures mean that the aircraft involved can be repaired sooner, which reduces downtime and gets them back into the skies quicker.

A key benefit is that pilots can log issues live inflight, meaning that the relevant maintenance teams have advanced warning of the nature of the problem before the plane arrives. In instances where new or replacement components are required, this gives the teams a headstart when it comes to ordering them.

A more modern solution

Before the implementation of this new strategy, aircraft maintenance logs were kept on paper, which British Airways describes as “a costly and time-consuming system.” Previously, pilots would transcribe aircraft issues by hand, with the logs then being transferred to maintenance teams, who would carry out the tasks and update the sheets in writing. Andy Best, BA’s Chief Technical Officer, stated that:

“Our investment in innovative tools like this, means we can support our teams to identify and put solutions in place ahead of time. By replacing time-consuming manual processes with digital technology we are constantly improving the reliability of our aircraft fleet and as a result our customers’ experience.”

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Photo: Stuart Bailey | British Airways

In order to enable this transition from a paper-based system to a digital one, British Airways is placing “a number of specialist iPads” onboard each of its aircraft. Alongside the various aforementioned benefits, the use of these tablets also ensures that a pilot or engineer’s handwriting is not misunderstood.

Part of a wider investment program

As it happens, this switch is actually part of a wider operational transformation, in which British Airways is investing some £7 billion ($8.81 billion). According to the airline, this will see various forms of new technology rolled out over the next two years, which Best says will “help ensure we continue delivering a consistently high standard of service for our customers – always with a focus on safety.”

What do you make of BA’s shift to a digital log system? Have you ever visited an airline’s maintenance facility? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!