More Engine Data Means More Effective Trend Monitoring

Engine condition trend monitoring specialist Jet-Care is marking its 40th anniversary this year, but its quest to give operators early warning of any problems is never over. The company is adding to the engine portfolio and services that it can tend for clients. For some engines, the performance data trended could include takeoff and reporting of exceedances, which traditionally may not have been reported by OEMs.

Another new capability of its gas path analysis (GPA) service is now being able to identify and trend data captured where the normal selections for bleeds and anti-icing are not met. By contrast, Jet-Care claims that on many other powerplant trend programs may only accept data where the bleed selections meet a pre-determined criteria.

The expansion of performance trending stems from the fact that modern engines have more capability to automatically collect a wider variety of data and to integrate this through the avionics suite. “The frequency with which information is collected has increased exponentially, and this has helped us to let operators know the status of their engines and when this status is changing,” explained engine program manager David Taylor. “GPA can now take all this additional data and cut through it to get to what matters to the operator.”

The GPA service is now available for a wider variety of engines powering business and regional aircraft, including the following: GE Aviation’s CF34-8 and -10 models; Pratt & Whitney Canada PW100, PW300, PW500, JT15D and PT6; Honeywell’s TFE731, ALF502, HTF7000, LF507 and CFE738; Rolls-Royce BR710 and BR725, Tay 611-8, AE3007A and AE3007C; Williams FJ44; and Safran Larzac 04. The process detects deterioration and faults in the engine core by analyzing key flight data parameters, including fuel flow, shaft speeds and gas temperatures.

According to Jet-Care, its independence from engine manufacturers means that it is better placed to provide operators with all the information they need in one process (especially when they have mixed fleets of aircraft). The trend analysis is always turned around in 24 hours, or far quicker for AOG situations.

The degree of detail provided in the reports can be tailored to suit operator preferences. Its staff includes engineers with hands-on experience supporting military aircraft as well as thermodynamicists with extensive experience of modeling engine performance data.

Another development at Jet-Care is a series of updates for its popular iECHO app that allows pilots to record data easily from the cockpit. Via the WebECHO portal, through a single log-in, customers can get access to GPA data for all their engines, and can also send queries or comments. However, clients are also welcome to communicate with the Jet-Care teams via phone.

In addition to the engine trending by GPA services, Jet-Care’s laboratories also conduct tests on engine debris chips, filters, and a variety of fluids including hydraulics, fuel and oil. This allows operators to have even more detailed information about specific issues such as excessive wear.

The company (Booth 3061) has European laboratories in the UK and Switzerland, where these services are provided under the name Spectro. The headquarters for Jet-Care USA is located in Morristown, N.J.