Flight Data Monitoring (FDM)

Advanced avionics capture dozens of data parameters of routine operational flight and engine data that can be analyzed and measured against standard parameters, and then tell a story of what happened on a particular flight.

FDM has been used by airlines for decades and has been a huge factor in their unparalleled safety record. The power of data analysis to proactively identify risks before they become accidents has been so effective that it is now mandated for all US airlines to have FDM or FOQA programs, as well as many international airlines. Many corporate operators have already voluntarily adopted FDM and have benefited from it for years. The US military uses FDM to manage their risk. The FAA is looking to extend this mandate to charter companies, commuter and air tour operators, and aircraft manufacturers (including Piper!) by requiring an SMS. 

Who Benefits?

Flight data is useful for individual pilots to gauge their individual performance, via a Post Flight Report, and identify opportunities to improve safety performance on future flights. Additionally, by analyzing their own flight data, pilots can identify ways to operate their aircraft more efficiently, which can result in cost savings. The Post-Flight Report allows you to immediately receive a debrief directly to a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, after every flight. Multiple vendors provide software for your individual flight analysis, including FlySto and CloudAhoy.

Example of aggregate analysis; trend

More on Flight Data Monitoring - Prior Convention Presentations

Risk Management, by Captain Kim Coryat

FOQA in Action, by Ferenc Csatlós

FOQA Insights from TBMOPA, by Dierk Reuter