FDM/FOQA

What is FDM?

• FDM is the collection, processing and analysis of objective flight data to gather valuable safety information, identify threats and reduce or eliminate safety risk.
• As an integral part of an operator’s Safety Management System, FDM will allow an operator to provide continuous feedback to improve maintenance, operations, safety and training.

Understanding the basics – how does it work?

The FDM/FOQA process can be simplified by breaking down each individual step. The “4 R’s” are used to describe this process.

1. Record
   • Airborne recorder
   • Data acquisition and storage
2. Retrieve (and host the data)
   • Removable storage media or wireless transmission
   • Host data in-house or on remote server
3. Review – convert data into useful information
   • Ground-based analysis software
   • Commercial off the shelf (COTS) hardware/software
4. Report – provide meaningful findings and recommendations to the stakeholders
   • Data analysis and visualization tools
   • Generate reports, graphics and animation

For your flight operations, what does FDM Cost?

FDM can save an operator with the cost of maintenance, operations, training and safety by streamlining each area and improving efficiencies. Additionally, by improving visibilities into flight operations, precursors to incidents and accidents can be corrected, offsetting the unacceptable cost of an accident or incident.

The cost of FDM aircraft equipment and ground software analysis tools has been reduced significantly from transport category practice. FDM cost can be broken down into two categories:

1. Equipage
2. Monitoring/Reporting

Depending on fleet type and age, FDM equipment cost will vary. Monthly monitoring fees include active monitoring, monthly or quarterly reporting, limited on-demand reports. Please contact Baldwin with your fleet specifics for a quote.