Technology is finally winging its way into aviation, leading to many new applications that are leveraging modern computer systems to help manufacturers and maintenance service providers better serve their customers and improve the flow of communication. Early uses of technology were simple: using e-mail to communicate with customers is nearly universal, for example. The next step was adapting the World Wide Web to the customer support function with systems such as Dallas Airmotive's Turbine Update, Lufthansa A.E.R.O.'s LUCIS, and Rolls-Royce's aeromanager, which allow customers instant access to status information on their engine projects. Maintenance technology is now moving beyond Web-based support systems into wireless communication of trend and diagnostic data, and there are interesting developments in this arena, too.
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