Boeing

Panama-based Copa Airlines, a subsidiary of Copa Holdings, S.A., will implement the Maintenance Performance Toolbox from Boeing [NYSE: BA], an innovative set of performance-enhancing solutions for aircraft maintenance and troubleshooting

Accessible via an Internet browser as a secured, hosted service, Toolbox is a key component within Boeing's evolving portfolio of performance-enhancing solutions for aircraft maintenance. Copa Airlines is the first operator in the Americas to sign on for Toolbox.

Maintenance Performance Toolbox uses intelligent documents and visual navigation methods to help technical operations staff troubleshoot airplane systems and manage structural repair records. This includes technical publications, maintenance and engineering in one product suite.

"Safety, reliability and efficiency are key to our operations," said Jaime Aguirre, Copa Airlines Technical vice president. "Using Toolbox will help us enhance our performance in all these areas, stay ahead of the competition, and continue our lead at the forefront of aviation technology."

Boeing will provide secure hosting for all of Copa Airlines' data and reliable access to the user interface of the Structures Tool through MyBoeingFleet.com. Mechanics and engineers need only a computer -- laptop, desktop or pen tablet -- and an Internet connection to access the system.

"Maintenance Performance Toolbox is one of the key solutions offered by Boeing to help airlines manage their fleets with greater accuracy and lower costs," said Dan da Silva, vice president of Sales & Marketing for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "We're pleased that an airline with Copa Airlines' sterling reputation for innovation and efficiency is validating Boeing's Toolbox."

Copa Airlines is using four different tools from the suite of offerings available from Maintenance Performance Toolbox: Structures, Library, Systems and Authoring. The airline operates 24 Next-Generation 737s on some of the longest scheduled flights for that model, including Panama City to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In all, Maintenance Performance Toolbox comprises seven different tools for airlines to manage a wide variety of activities, including tracking technical publications, maintenance and engineering. Technical publications departments use the Toolbox to create customized airline documents, modify original equipment manuals and create task cards. Built-in workflow tracking ensures that the document audit trail is complete and approved before release. And Toolbox gives mechanics on the flight line, in the hangar, and at the maintenance operations center fast and efficient access to the information they need.

Toolbox is a key element of Boeing's effort to e-Enable the air transport system. Boeing intends to offer content, applications and services that connect all the data generated by an entire flight operation -- in the air, on the ground and in the hangar -- meaningful to a variety of users: pilots, mechanics, flight attendants, operations departments and airport users.