A suite of comprehensive services to keep the A220 flying

The entry-into-service of an aircraft is one of the most exciting times for operators. But it can also be somewhat stressful, if not properly planned in advance. 

For Airbus, final delivery is not the end of the journey with our aircraft – it’s just the start. A suite of services has been developed to not only ensure the seamless integration of Airbus aircraft into any fleet upon delivery, but also their continuous upkeep through a robust maintenance programme over the decades to come. And the A220 is no exception: a wide variety of fleet enhancement services – including Flight Hour Services (FHS) and S. Fleet Performance + (Skywise) – are available to increase the A220’s performance and help maximise its efficiency. 

A smooth entry-into-service 

To facilitate fleet integration, Airbus has developed an Entry-into-Service (EIS) package – a full range of solutions designed to help operators set up or adapt their maintenance strategy, as well as their flight operations. 

For example, Airbus Services can support entry-into-service with a Flight Hour Services – Tailored Support Package (FHS-TSP) contract for any new A220 fleet. Leveraging Airbus’ unique engineering expertise, the FHS-TSP contract combines FHS component support with fleet technical management support. The result is fewer unplanned maintenance, engineering and administration activities, and less operational interruption for increased aircraft availability. 

For enhanced flight operations, the Airbus subsidiary NAVBLUE offers Operational Control Centre (OCC) solutions for the A220. These solutions include both on-board and ground operation solutions, such as flight planning and tracking, crew management, and solutions that gather the information pilots need in one single application on a globe-centric display (i.e. electronic navigation charts, flight briefing, etc.). In addition, Skywise Core [X] offers a self-service, big data platform to help customers build applications – for example, related to fuel efficiency – to optimise flight operations.  

Once the A220 is fully operational in the fleet, operators have 24/7 access to customer support via the state-of-the-art Customer Response Centre (CRC) in Canada where the A220 programme is headquartered. This service provides immediate assistance for any critical operational topics related to Aircraft on Ground (AOG), supply chain, embodiment set-up, and any other questions related to the A220’s daily operation and maintenance.  

Through the CRC, all A220 customers receive the same level of support as for any other Airbus aircraft type.

A maintenance philosophy based on reliability & maintainability 

Following an aircraft’s entry-into-service, a long-term maintenance programme – focusing on reliability and optimal maintainability – is essential. Thanks to its clean-sheet design, the A220 is engineered for easy maintenance. In fact, customer service teams were involved during the initial design of the aircraft to ensure future maintenance tasks would be as seamless as possible. The extensive use of advanced materials has also been a huge contributor to better maintainability, as it reduces weight and increases corrosion resistance. As a result, the A220 has longer maintenance intervals: 1,000 hours for “A” checks and 8,500 hours for “C” checks. 

FHS’ Power-By-the-Hour is the market-leading maintenance programme for the A220, offering maintenance and material services over the aircraft’s complete lifecycle. It provides dedicated stock management of on-site components, as well as access to Airbus’ pool of components, engineering and component repair services. Cost-effective and customised, this solution significantly reduces cost expenditure. 

And because the A220 is a data-ready aircraft, it also benefits from the best-in-class S. Fleet Performance +, which provides real-time monitoring of aircraft systems through automated in-air and on-ground wireless transmission. Through the Skywise aviation data platform, this solution delivers data to help prevent interruptions, identify operational conditions, review the maintenance history and perform proactive maintenance. 

Airbus is continuously investing to make the A220 one of the most connected aircraft in the air. Today, nearly 50% of in-service A220s are already connected to the Skywise platform. More solutions are currently in development and will become available in the years to come.

The A220 is a high-performance aircraft thanks to its exceptional efficiency. But to keep it this way, it requires tailored solutions and services designed to enhance its performance all along its lifecycle. Airbus offers a variety of options to support A220 operators around the world.

Alexandra Cros, Airbus SVP A220 Customer Services