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Quick Look Database (QLD): Utilizing The Internet for The Maintenance of Theus Air Force C-5 Aircrafts

* İsmail ÇİÇEK

The Malfunction Detection Analysis and Recorder System (MADARS) was designed
in the 1960s to aid C-5 flight crews and maintenance personnel in the
detection and isolation of malfunctions, and to collect and record data from
selected points throughout the aircraft. This system was modified as the
technology changed. MADARS acquires flight data that includes vibration
detection, turbine inlet temperature information, health monitoring
information, etc. and records it to tape or PC card during the flight. In
preparation for post-flight data analysis, maintenance personnel send the
data to a Ground Processing System (GPS) at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma using the Ground Processing Interface System (GPIS) located at
various United States C-5 Air Force Bases (AFBs).

Maintenance personnel and flight crew receive reports from the GPS database
through a text-based communication interface and network printing. An
alternative to this method, the Quick Look Database (QLD) system, was
created. The Quick Look Database (QLD) receives MADARS II Operational Flight
Program (OFP) flight data files from the individual GPIS. The QLD then
processes the flight data files and stores their contents into the QLD
database. The QLD has the capability of creating and displaying reports
based on this flight data file information stored in the QLD database. The
QLD provides user controlled access through the military controlled network
(MIL-NET) using an Internet browser. The flight data information is stored
in a relational database management system (rDBMS) from which the reports
can be tailored and presented to the user in a graphical format using a
Graphical User Interface (GUI) utility over the MIL-NET. The QLD is
advantageous because the flight crew and maintenance personnel do not need
to install any software other than an Internet browser for retrieving
reports, and it also presents a faster method of retrieving the reports. In
addition, the QLD is available worldwide, anywhere an internet connection is
present. Bases without GPIS can access QLD using only an Internet
connection.

* İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi (İTÜ) Denizcilik Fakültesi