Project Report

On
“Smart Skies: How AI Predicts Aircraft Failures Before
They Happen”

in partial fulfilment for the award of the degree of

BACHELOR OF ENGINEERING
IN
AEROSPACE

Submitted by:
Vartika Bansal(24BAS10026)

Under the Guidance of

Anupam Mittal

INSTITUTE – UIE
ACADEMIC UNIT-III

Chandigarh University
April 2025
S.No. Contents Page No.
1. Introduction 1

2. Understanding Predictive Maintenance 2

3. Role of AI in Aircraft Failure Prediction 4

4. Real-World Implementations in Aerospace 6

5. AI Models and Data Structures Used 8

6. Advantages, Challenges and Future Scope 10

7. Conclusion 11

8. References 12

INDEX
 INTRODUCTION

In aerospace, safety is always the number one concern. Planes endure

long flights, changing weather conditions, high pressure, and so many
other issues. Each plane consists of thousands of components — from
engines and landing gear to tiny sensors — and if one of them fails at the
wrong moment, it can cause major issues.

Until recently, most aircraft maintenance was either performed on a

routine schedule or following an incident. But this process isn't always
effective, and it can even be wasteful in terms of time and money. That's
where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is beginning to make a difference.

With AI, it is now possible to forecast whether a part will fail — even
before there's even a hint of damage. That's predictive maintenance. AI
systems gather data from sensors within the aircraft and scan for tiny
patterns or indications that something may be amiss. Depending on that,
it provides early alerts to engineers or maintenance crews.

This is a report on how AI is applied in predictive maintenance in the

aerospace industry. It describes how the system operates, where it is
applied in real life. The subject demonstrates how powerful AI has
become and how it is making flying safer, smarter, and more efficient.
 UNDERSTANDING PREDICTVE MAINTENANCE

Regular maintenance is necessary in every machine to keep them going

well. In an airplane, it becomes more essential since even a small problem
can result in huge risks. To avoid this, airlines maintain strict schedules
and procedures to inspect and service various components of the plane.
There are primarily three types of maintenance:
1.Reactive Maintenance – Repairing something after it has broken.
2.Preventive Maintenance – Fixed-schedule servicing, regardless of
whether the part requires it or not.
3.Predictive Maintenance – Predicting when something is likely to fail
and repairing it before it happens.

Among all three, predictive maintenance is the most advanced and

effective. It aids in preventing sudden failures, saves costs, and lowers
delays. It's similar to visiting the doctor for a check-up, and the doctor
says, "This problem could become serious in a few weeks, let's address it
early."

How does it work in airplanes?

Today's aircraft are equipped with sensors. Sensors are located inside
engines, brakes, landing gear, fuel systems, and countless other locations.
Sensors are continuously gathering information such as:

 Temperature
 Pressure
 Vibration
 Speed
 Noise levels
 Oil quality, etc.

This information is relayed to computers that keep a real-time check on it.

Now, previously, engineers would have to study this information by hand
— it was very time-consuming and labor-intensive. But with AI, the
system itself verifies the information and detects patterns that human
beings may overlook.

For example:
If the engine is vibrating a bit more than normal each day, the AI system
can identify this early and declare, "This component may require
attention in the near future."
That's how AI assists in predictive maintenance — by providing initial
warnings before anything fails.

Why is it important?

 Enhances safety by preventing problems before they occur.

 Saves money by preventing unnecessary repairs.
 Minimizes flight delays due to last-minute faults.
 Enhances the life expectancy of aircraft components.

Rather than hoping something doesn't go wrong, predictive maintenance

lets engineers be a step ahead. That's why it's emerging as an integral
component of new aviation systems.
 ROLE OF AI IN AIRCRAFT FAILURE PREDICTION
Now that we have an idea of what predictive maintenance is and why it's
so crucial, let's dive deeper into how AI comes into play to predict when
and where an aircraft component will fail.

How Does AI Predict Aircraft Failures?

AI systems employ data-driven models to predict failures, i.e., they make

decisions based on patterns in vast amounts of data. Here's how it works
in simple words:

1.Data Collection:

First, large amounts of data are gathered from sensors throughout the
aircraft — engines, turbines, fuel systems, even airspeed indicators.
These sensors pick up data such as temperature, pressure, vibrations, and
speed.

2.Data Preprocessing:

This data must be cleaned before AI can do anything worthwhile with it.
The system takes away any noise or irrelevant data that could cause the
predictions to be incorrect.

3.Machine Learning Models:

After the data is purified, it is interpreted by machine learning algorithms.

Machine learning is a branch of AI that allows computers to learn from
data. It operates by recognizing patterns in the data over time — say,
noticing that an upswing in engine vibration could be an indicator that
something is amiss.

4.Pattern Recognition and Predictions

Once these patterns are discovered, the AI can forecast imminent failures
by recognizing similar scenarios in historical data. It can then provide
maintenance teams with a warning, for example, "The last 10 flights,
similar patterns resulted in engine failure. Inspect this part."

5.Actionable Alerts

The system then provides engineers with actionable notifications — for

instance, alerting them to check a particular component of the engine that
is beginning to exhibit signs of wear. This prevents having to check
everything on the plane, which saves time and money.

Example:

AI in Jet Engine Maintenance- Let’s say we’re looking at a jet engine.

The engine has many moving parts, and it’s crucial to know when one of
those parts starts malfunctioning.

AI systems will track things like:

 Vibrations: A small, consistent vibration might indicate an issue with

the rotor.
 Temperature changes: A sudden spike in temperature could signal a
malfunction in the engine’s cooling system.
 Fuel efficiency declines: An engine that uses more fuel than normal
may indicate a malfunction with the combustion chamber.

When the AI detects one or more of these indicators, it will mark it for
inspection — providing engineers with a better sense of where to
concentrate their efforts, which can save precious time and avoid a
potential catastrophe.

Why is This So Effective?

AI is great at detecting patterns in large data sets — much more so than a

human could possibly do by hand. This implies that, with appropriate
data, AI can identify problems sooner, much more accurately.

Additionally, AI systems improve with time. They learn from every

failure and its result, always refining their predictions. Therefore, the
more the system operates, the more accurate it becomes at predicting
when a part will fail.

This results in fewer surprise problems, reduced maintenance costs, and

enhanced safety for both passengers and crew.
 REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS OF AI IN
AEROSPACE MAINTENANCE

AI for predictive maintenance is already in use by some of the largest

players in the aerospace sector. They apply AI solutions to make flight
safer, decrease delays, and save on repairs.

1. Airbus – Skywise Platform

Airbus, a leading manufacturer of aircraft globally, has created a platform

known as Skywise. It is a cloud-based application that gathers and
processes flight data from various airlines. Here's what Skywise does:
 Collects sensor data from aircraft equipment
 Employs AI to identify patterns that indicate early signs of part failure
 Provides insights to engineers so they can act ahead
For instance, if the system identifies that a particular aircraft component
is likely to fail after 500 flights, it will warn the engineers even if the
component still looks fine. This prevents airlines from any mishappening.

2. Boeing – AnalytX Platform

Boeing also has its own AI system named AnalytX that assists in fleet
management, predictive maintenance, and flight planning. Its primary
characteristics is:
 Airplane Health Management (AHM): This tracks the condition of
an aircraft in real-time. In case something out of the ordinary occurs
during flight, the system warns ground personnel even before the
aircraft lands.
 For example, if the pressure in the landing gear is decreasing, AHM
will notify the ground maintenance crew, who can prepare the tools
and spares even before the plane arrives.
This type of real-time monitoring is time-saving, safer, and eliminates
long delays.

3. GE Aviation – Engine Health Monitoring

GE, which is a large producer of aircraft engines, employs AI to foresee

issues within jet engines. Their system gathers information from several
flights and considers:
 Vibration levels
 Fuel burn patterns
 Fan speed
 Oil pressure
AI models then analyze this information against previous engine failure
and recommend servicing prior to a major issue arising. Not only does
this eliminate engine failures but also increases the lifespan of the engine.
GE's AI technology is employed by airlines globally, such as Emirates,
Qatar Airways, and Lufthansa.

4. NASA – AI in Spacecraft Maintenance

AI isn't only utilized in airplanes — it's also utilized in spacecraft.

NASA is working on AI systems that assist in predicting component
failure in satellites and spacecrafts on long missions.

In space, it is not possible to send a person to fix a part. So AI systems

monitor health signals from all parts of the spacecraft and alert engineers
if something begins to act differently. This is particularly crucial in
missions such as Mars Rovers, where communication delay makes real-
time decision-making difficult.
 CONNECTING AI WITH DATA STRUCTURES IN C++

Even though AI in aerospace sounds very advanced, its logic is actually

based on simple concepts taught in programming and data structures.

Storing Aircraft Data with Arrays and Structures

Every aircraft collects a lot of data during each flight — like engine
temperature, pressure, and vibration. To manage all this, we need to store
it in an organized way. That’s where arrays and structures come in.

 Example in C++:

#include <iostream>
Using namespace std;
struct EngineData
{
float temperature;
float pressure;
float vibration;
};
EngineData data[100]; // stores readings for 100 time intervals

This is a basic example, but in real aircraft systems, it’s done on a much
bigger scale. Still, the concept is similar — store data for each sensor
reading at different times.

Making Decisions with If-Else and Conditions

Once the data is stored, AI systems need to check for problems by

looking for patterns. In C++, this is similar to writing if-else conditions.

 For example:

#include <iostream>
Using namespace std;
if (data[50].temperature > 100 && data[50].vibration > 5) {
cout << "Warning: Possible engine issue!" << endl;
}
This is a very simple version of what AI does. The AI checks different
conditions and decides whether something needs attention — like a
sudden rise in temperature or strange vibrations.

Learning from Past Data (Like Comparing Arrays)

AI systems also compare current data with past data to find changes. This
is like looping through arrays and comparing values.

 For example:

#include <iostream>
Using namespace std;
for (int i = 1; i < 100; i++) {
if (data[i].temperature > data[i - 1].temperature + 10) {
cout << "Sudden temperature jump detected!" << endl;
}
}

Even though AI tools use advanced math, the base logic — comparing
values, storing data, and using conditions is same.

So, the AI used in predictive maintenance of aircraft uses logics and

basics C++ code:

 Storing sensor values using arrays and structures

 Checking conditions using if-else
 Comparing values using loops

That’s how predictive AI systems help maintain aircraft safely.

 CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS OF AI IN
PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE
AI for aerospace maintenance is beneficial in many ways, but as with all
technology, it has its limitations too.

1. Large Amount of Data Required

AI systems require massive amounts of data to learn and make proper

predictions. The data is provided by sensors, historical repairs, weather,
and flight hours.
 If the information is absent, inaccurate, or insufficient, the forecasts
might not be trustworthy.
 For newer planes or unusual problems, AI may lack sufficient
examples to learn from.
Example: Since the engine issue occurred just two times previously,
system may not be able to identify it well because of insufficient patterns.

2. High Cost of Implementation

 Creating and operating AI systems is expensive.

 Advanced sensors must be installed on aircraft by airlines.
 There should be trained personnel to operate AI systems.

3. Dependence on Technology

Though AI speeds things up, it also brings about technological reliance.

If:

 A system crashes,
 There is a software bug,
It may lead to confusion or even postpone critical decisions. That's why
human engineers are still required to confirm and double-check.

4. Data Privacy and Security

AI systems obtain sensitive information from airplanes, which have to be

safeguarded against cyberattacks. When hackers obtain access to this
information or tamper with the predictions of the AI, it may cause severe
safety threats. Therefore, cybersecurity becomes immensely crucial when
there is AI involved in aircraft systems.
 FUTURE SCOPE OF AI IN AEROSPACE
MAINTENANCE
Artificial Intelligence is still developing, and in the years to come, it is
anticipated that its application in aerospace maintenance will continue to
increase. AI will open up new avenues that can enhance safety, save time,
and save cost.

1. Real-Time Monitoring with Faster AI

In the future, planes will have real-time AI systems that are capable of
immediately sensing even a minute problem during flight.
 AI will watch over all systems — engines, hydraulics, electrical —
all simultaneously in real-time.
 Ground maintenance teams can be ready ahead of time even before
the aircraft touches down.
Example: If there is a minor fault detected while in flight, the AI
immediately alerts the maintenance crew, thereby ensuring that it gets
repaired after landing without incurring delays.

2. More Accurate Predictions with Advanced Learning

AI models will improve and become better as they continue to learn from
additional data.
 Global datasets of thousands of aircraft will be used to train Machine
Learning (ML) models.
 They will identify patterns more effectively, such as unusual
problems previously difficult to detect.

3. Improved Safety and Eco-Friendliness

With AI decreasing unplanned downtime and delays, safety and

environmental performance are enhanced.

 Fewer breakdowns=fewer emergency landings or last-minute

repairs.
 Effective maintenance=reduced fuel wastage and improved flight
planning.
In the long term, AI can assist in making aviation more sustainable and
eco-friendly.
 CONCLUSION

Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing maintenance in the aerospace

sector. From gathering flight data to foreseeing issues before they occur,
AI is assisting engineers in working faster, safer, and more productively.

In this report, we investigated how AI works in predictive maintenance,

one of the most significant areas where technology aids flight safety. We
also observed how fundamental programming concepts such as arrays, if-
else statements, and comparisons of data relate to how AI makes
decisions in everyday life.

Although there are some challenges — such as expensive costs or a

requirement for vast amounts of data — the advantages of AI far
outweigh them. It minimizes risks, conserves time, and maintains planes
in better condition. And the more technology develops, the more
powerful the use of AI in aviation will be.

At the core of all this, AI is not substituting for humans, but assisting
them. It works like an intelligent assistant that aids technicians and
engineers by providing them with advance alerts and insightful
suggestions. This integration of human capability and artificial
intelligence is what is making today's aerospace maintenance more
intelligent and reliable.
 REFERENCES

1. Airbus Official Website – AI in Aircraft Maintenance

2. Boeing Innovation Reports – Smart Maintenance Systems
3. MIT Technology Review – AI Applications in Aviation
4. YourEngineeringBuddy.com – Basics of Predictive Maintenance
5. NASA.gov – AI and Machine Learning Applications in Aerospace
Engineering
6. TechCrunch AI Archives – AI’s Role in Modern Transportation
System