RFID Takes Off in the Aerospace Industry
As airplane manufacturers and government take the lead, airlines, suppliers and airports look at the benefits of tracking parts, tools, luggage carts and even people to improve safety and reduce costs, inefficiencies and flight delays.
By Elizabeth Wasserman
April 1, 2007—Japan Airlines (JAL) officials realized there was a return on investment to be gained from using radio frequency identification to streamline maintenance operations. During a three-day demonstration last December in Tokyo, RFID tags were used to track the expiration dates on oxygen generators onboard a 777 commercial airliner. The demo showed that the inspection process that now requires two JAL mechanics to spend six and a half hours each unscrewing and removing ceiling panels in an airplane and visually checking generator dates could be cut to eight and a half minutes for one mechanic with a handheld RFID interrogator.
The RFID demonstration was orchestrated by Boeing for JAL and representatives from other airlines. Oxygen generators, which provide breathable air to passengers in the event an airplane cabin loses pressure, need to be monitored regularly; each has an expiration date, and airlines risk fines and violations if generators exceed those dates. The inspection process is repeated on each JAL airplane every 19 months. But because the task is so labor intensive, if the airplane is already undergoing heavy maintenance, oxygen generators are sometimes replaced early—with 20 percent of their life still remaining. RFID could change that. Handheld interrogators could be used at any airport at any time to inspect the generators, which would extend their life and allow JAL to lower inventory by some 80 percent, Boeing officials estimated.
JAL officials were so impressed that they drew up plans to conduct an RFID pilot using oxygen generators, starting perhaps as soon as this summer. They also foresee other uses for RFID, such as ensuring enough life jackets are on overseas flights. "I think that's one small step for Boeing and JAL," says Kenichi Hayashi, a JAL engineering official who participated in the demonstration, "but I hope it will be one giant leap for both the aircraft and RFID industries someday."
April 1, 2007—Japan Airlines (JAL) officials realized there was a return on investment to be gained from using radio frequency identification to streamline maintenance operations. During a three-day demonstration last December in Tokyo, RFID tags were used to track the expiration dates on oxygen generators onboard a 777 commercial airliner. The demo showed that the inspection process that now requires two JAL mechanics to spend six and a half hours each unscrewing and removing ceiling panels in an airplane and visually checking generator dates could be cut to eight and a half minutes for one mechanic with a handheld RFID interrogator.
The RFID demonstration was orchestrated by Boeing for JAL and representatives from other airlines. Oxygen generators, which provide breathable air to passengers in the event an airplane cabin loses pressure, need to be monitored regularly; each has an expiration date, and airlines risk fines and violations if generators exceed those dates. The inspection process is repeated on each JAL airplane every 19 months. But because the task is so labor intensive, if the airplane is already undergoing heavy maintenance, oxygen generators are sometimes replaced early—with 20 percent of their life still remaining. RFID could change that. Handheld interrogators could be used at any airport at any time to inspect the generators, which would extend their life and allow JAL to lower inventory by some 80 percent, Boeing officials estimated.
|
| Airlines, suppliers and airports can improve safety and reduce costs, inefficiencies and flight delays by implementing RFID. |
JAL officials were so impressed that they drew up plans to conduct an RFID pilot using oxygen generators, starting perhaps as soon as this summer. They also foresee other uses for RFID, such as ensuring enough life jackets are on overseas flights. "I think that's one small step for Boeing and JAL," says Kenichi Hayashi, a JAL engineering official who participated in the demonstration, "but I hope it will be one giant leap for both the aircraft and RFID industries someday."
To continue reading this article, please log in or choose a purchase option.
Option 1: Become a Premium Member.
| One-year subscription, unlimited access to Premium Content: $189 |
Option 2: Purchase this article.
| Pages: 5 | Word Count: 3,267 | Purchase Price: $19.99 |
