Bombardier Aerospace is bringing in a problem solving system as standard equipment aboard

its super mid-size Continental business jet.

Known as SmartFix, the new system will accelerate fault isolation routines, reduce aircraft downtime and spare part requirements, thus reducing costs for operators, the company says. SmartFix is powered by ClickFix, an intelligent diagnostic and problem resolution tool from ClickSoftware.

Bombardier plans to introduce the SmartFix system during the Continental flight test programme, which will commence after the first flight this year.

In operation, a maintenance technician selects a reported fault from the system’s menu of pre-loaded fault symptoms. The system then guides the technician through a series of further checks and trials that direct him to the line-replaceable unit (LRU). The LRU can then be replaced or repaired.

Dr Moshe BenBassat, ceo of ClickSoftware, said: “Clearly, Bombardier is putting a great deal

of stock in this aircraft, and the fact that they would include ClickFix in the plane’s troubleshooting system demonstrates confidence in our product.”