Singapore Airlines has inked a five-year deal to use Rolls-Royce’s big data analytics to reduce fuel consumption across its fleet.
The UK engine manufacturer is providing analysis tools to the airline through its TotalCare civil aerospace product, which offers engine management and maintenance software.
Singapore Airlines has signed the deal for 137 aircraft - Airbus A330, A350 AND A380 which are all powered by Rolls-Royce Trent engines.
This includes VisiumFUEL, which analyses data from on-board system monitoring, flighting planning, operations control and engineering systems.
Rolls-Royce has changed its traditional engine manufacturing and distributing business to a service model, essentially licensing engines to airlines to maintain a perpetual revenue similarly to a software company.
It claimed it can cut firm’s fuel consumption- an expense that usually accounts for 40 percent of an airline’s operational costs - through its predictive analytics.
The firm has used big data techniques involving HPCs to compute models to manufacture jet engines for several years now.
The firm says half of its £14.6 billion underlying revenue came from its ‘aftermarket services’ stream.
Andrew Hutson-Smith, Rolls-Royce, controls and data services senior vice present said: “Singapore Airlines has a keen focus on fuel management and we are delighted they have recognised the benefits of our TotalCare Efficiency Service Solution. This is an exciting and innovative development that builds on our long-established TotalCare partnership with Singapore Airlines.”
European airline Finnair will also use Trent XWB engines for 19 Airbus A350 XWB, all taking advantage of the engine servicing model, the firm revealed this month.
Jari Huhtinen, vice president of Finnair’s technical operations said: “The world-class engine servicing offered by Rolls-Royce is one important element in maintaining the reliability record that Finnair is known for. The contract also helps us effectively manage the life cycle costs of the engines.”
Rolls-Royce announced 2,600 job losses at the end of last year, saying that the cuts and added investment in technology, will help it to improve efficiency.
The announcement was made just a week after the manufacturer revealed it will be deploying new HR systems from Workday, which is likely to give the firm better insight into its reduced workforce.
Source: ComputerWorldUK