Flight data monitoring (FDM) is a key activity of flight operations departments at scheduled commercial airlines where it has been long established and supports safety and operational decision making at multiple organizational levels. FDM is not regularly used in business aviation, in part because it is not required for airplanes with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) threshold of less than 27,000 kg (59,525 lb). But the industry has acknowledged the benefits, and some operators—particularly larger ones—are implementing it. “ICAO Annex 6 Part 1 requires commercial operators of aircraft with an MTOW greater than 27,000 kg to establish and maintain a flight data analysis program as part of their safety management system. ICAO also recommends that states consider lowering the threshold to require flight data analysis for all airplanes above 20,000 kg,” said Willie Cecil, director of business development for aircraft data services at Teledyne Controls.
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