Boeing

Skymark of Japan has adopted Boeing's [NYSE: BA] Web-based maintenance solution, Maintenance Performance Toolbox. Toolbox, an innovative suite of software solutions for aircraft maintenance and troubleshooting, is the industry's first set of productivity tools designed to unify an airline's maintenance and engineering operations from start to finish. The airline is using Toolbox for its fleet of three Next-Generation 737s.

"Airline staff today must be able to share ideas, shift responsibilities and work collaboratively from anywhere, at anytime," said Dan da Silva, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Boeing's Commercial Aviation Services. "Maintenance Performance Toolbox is one of the key Boeing solutions to help airlines manage such critical tasks. We're pleased that a forward-thinking airline like Skymark has chosen Toolbox to help turn its information into action."

Skymark has signed up for two modules of Toolbox: Library and Tasks. Using these tools, Skymark will be able to quickly and easily create Task Cards directly from the Boeing-provided manuals, which streamlines a manpower-intensive re-authoring process. Task cards are the written orders that must accompany any repairs to an airplane, and they provide the instructions and documentation necessary to make fixes. With its use of source data, Toolbox will help Skymark ensure it is accurately and completely following Boeing's instructions in its repairs.

In all, Toolbox today comprises seven different tools in one easy-to-use suite that can help airlines streamline a wide arrange of maintenance and repair activities from managing technical publications and training to performing core maintenance and engineering tasks. Airlines are free to pick and choose from among the capabilities to supplement their operations as needed.

Skymark Vice Chairman Takashi Ide said his airline has found the two modules of Boeing's Toolbox it is using, Tasks and Library, to be useful tools to track work procedures and task-card progress for Skymark's line and heavy maintenance. He said the tools will help to "significantly" reduce the time it takes to create task cards and also improve the airline's ability to trace changes that have been made. He said the airline also expects to see an improvement in the quality of work performed because the work will be specified to meet Boeing's standards.

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. Boeing will provide reliable access to the Library and Tasks tools for Skymark through its secure Internet portal, MyBoeingFleet.com. Only an Internet connection, password and computer -- a laptop, desktop or pen tablet -- are necessary to access the system.

Toolbox is a key element in Boeing's efforts to help airlines become e-Enabled enterprises. Central to the effort is the idea that data, information and knowledge are shared across an entire enterprise to allow airlines to make the best decisions to operate their fleets at the highest levels of safety, security and efficiency. Toolbox is designed so that it can be integrated with other e-Enabled Boeing maintenance and performance products such as the Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag and Airplane Health Management.

In 2005, Maintenance Performance Toolbox was honored as a "breakthrough technology" by Aviation Week magazine. Boeing was honored with the award, which often goes to smaller companies with unusual and innovative products, based on how the company is using cutting-edge technologies to address long-standing airline maintenance problems.