This paper describes the system operated by BA to monitor the RB211 engines in their three fleets of TriStars and the philosophy which led to its design and integration with the existing maintenance structure.
It is regarded as a successful, cost-effective system, having its major benefits in the maintenance area, but also, of considerable use in repair-shop, logistics, and engine management fields.
Some examples of successful uses are described and parallels are drawn between it and the guidelines of ARP 1587.
Like the authors of that document, BA recognises the importance of ‘people planning’ in the operation of EMS, rather than total reliance upon automated systems and the outputs, for example, have been designed to make for rapid interpretation by line engineering staff rather than by computer or thermodynamics experts.