Pratt & Whitney Canada, a business unit of Pratt & Whitney, today announced that it is combining artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning with its innovative oil analysis technology to further increase the solution’s precision, predictive and preventive maintenance capabilities for helicopter engines. The use of AI and machine learning is another example of how the company continues to innovate its aftermarket solutions to help customers move to 100% planned maintenance environments – avoiding unplanned events and reducing costs.

“Through AI we are further enhancing our capabilities to see patterns and preventive maintenance insights in the massive data set our oil analysis technology provides,” said Irene Makris, vice president, Customer Service, Pratt & Whitney Canada. “With this deeper understanding of what’s going on inside the oil-wetted components of the engine, we are able create a ‘know early, respond early’ environment for the customer that helps manage risk, and prevents disruptions in service.”

This kind of preventative maintenance allows customers to avoid unscheduled engine removals and other maintenance events by providing visibility on potential issues as much as a thousand hours in advance. The oil analysis technology is available on a majority of Pratt & Whitney Canada engine models including the PW210 and has analyzed over fifty-five thousand oil samples from customer engines. Based on the guidance provided by the oil analysis technology, dozens of events across the fleet have transformed into scheduled interventions, dispatch availability has increased, and the solution has saved PW210 customers over US$1 million in averted secondary damage.

“Our oil analysis technology was launched in 2017 and enables proactive and predictive maintenance by identifying potential issues before they occur without intrusive inspection,” said Nicolas Chabée, vice president, Marketing, Helicopters, Pratt & Whitney Canada, “AI makes the task of comparing oil samples with past data simpler, more efficient and easily scalable.”

Oil analysis technology is part of Pratt & Whitney Canada’s suite of digital engine services and is another proof point to the company’s one-stop shop approach to simpler, more cost-effective maintenance management, designed to maximize aircraft availability, upkeep and planning, and reduce operating costs.

More information about Pratt & Whitney Canada’s oil analysis solution for helicopter engines including which engine models are supported is available here.