초록 ▼

A method for recording and reporting fault information pertaining to various components of an aircraft. The method involves recording a diverse plurality of information output from various line replaceable units (LRU's) and other components of the aircraft during takeoff, flight and landing through

A method for recording and reporting fault information pertaining to various components of an aircraft. The method involves recording a diverse plurality of information output from various line replaceable units (LRU's) and other components of the aircraft during takeoff, flight and landing through the use of a bulk storage device, such as an optical quick access recorder (OQAR), on an electronic medium. The electronic medium is then removed from the aircraft after landing and read by an appropriate apparatus. From this information a service technician is able to determine whether or not a fault indication recorded during flight is in fact a legitimate fault requiring the affected LRU to be removed from the aircraft for further diagnostic testing. The method significantly reduces the incidents of no-fault-found diagnostic test results and saves significant man hours which would otherwise be spent testing LRU's and other components which are in fact operating properly. Alternative embodiments of the method disclose making all information from the LRUs available and using multiple overlays to systematically reduce the data to be recorded when the data proves to be too voluminous to record. The prioritizing of information is also disclosed so that LRU data of lesser importance is eliminated from consideration before more important information. The preferred methods minimize on aircraft data interpretation rendering unnecessary on-board maintenance processors and technicians for LRU troubleshooting.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for analyzing and recording information relating to the operation of a plurality of line replaceable units (LRUs) of an aircraft for subsequent fault analysis, said method comprising the steps of:a) monitoring and storing all available information generated by a

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A method for analyzing and recording information relating to the operation of a plurality of line replaceable units (LRUs) of an aircraft for subsequent fault analysis, said method comprising the steps of:a) monitoring and storing all available information generated by a plurality of LRUs relating to a plurality of operational parameters of said aircraft;b) determining if the information from a first one of said LRUs is of a magnitude which can be recorded in a memory map of an optical quick access recorder (OQAR);c) if said information from said first one of said LRUs cannot be recorded within said memory map, then overlaying a hierarchical level of information generated by said first one of said LRUs onto said memory map and determining if said hierarchical level of information fits within said memory map;d) if said hierarchical level of information still cannot be recorded onto said memory map, then overlaying said hierarchical level of information with information from a second LRU to produce a further condensed plurality of information and determining if said further condensed plurality of information from said first and second LRUs can be mapped in said memory of said OQAR; ande) if said further condensed plurality of information can be stored on said OQAR, then storing said further condensed plurality of information on said OQAR for subsequent analysis.