Minimizing Downtime: How AOG Events Impact Airlines Like Delta

In the fast-paced world of commercial aviation, time is money. Every minute an aircraft spends grounded, due to maintenance issues (Aircraft On Ground, or AOG), translates to lost revenue for airlines and frustrated passengers. For airlines like Delta, AOG events can also pose challenges, impacting reputation and customer satisfaction.

AOG stands for “Aircraft on Ground”. It’s an unexpected event that indicates an aircraft has failed to operate and can’t fly. AOG’s can be caused by technical issues, such as engine or avionics failure, or weather-related problems, such as fuel contamination or bird strike damage. Other reasons include mechanical errors, scheduling errors, and mandatory inspections.

In the world of AOG events, their impact on airlines can be costly and detrimental. AOG events, however, can be significantly mitigated by professional manufacturers and stocking distributors of quality raw materials. Material providers like AAA Air Support can play a crucial role in minimizing downtime.

The High Cost of AOG Events for Airlines

As those in the industry are well aware, an aircraft is assembled using thousands of serialized parts and it only requires one non-functioning part to “AOG” an aircraft. As aviation giants, such as Delta also knows all too well, a single AOG event can have a cascading effect on an airline’s operations. Here’s how:

• Lost Revenue: Every grounded aircraft represents lost passenger or cargo capacity. This translates directly to lost revenue, especially during peak travel seasons. With an average of 14 AOG’s per aircraft per year in the US, this cost adds up quickly. The industry spends over $30 billion a year dealing with irregular operations such as AOG.
• Flight Delays and Cancellations: AOG events often trigger a domino effect, leading to delays and cancellations for other flights. This disrupts passenger schedules and can damage an airline’s reputation for reliability.
• Increased Operating Costs: Airlines incur additional expenses while managing AOG situations, including crew accommodation, rebooking passengers, and potentially chartering replacement aircraft. Boeing, for example, estimates that a single AOG event can cost airlines anywhere from $10,000 to $150,000 per hour of downtime. [Source: Wikipedia].

A study by Airline Economics found that AOG events cost the global airline industry an estimated US $50 billion annually.

The Impact on Delta, other Airlines and Aerospace Manufacturers

While airlines like Delta bear the brunt of the financial impact, AOG events can also be detrimental to aircraft manufacturers like Boeing.

Studies have shown a correlation between AOG events and airline on-time performance ratings. These ratings impact passenger satisfaction and brand perception. Frequent AOG occurrences can lead to airline dissatisfaction with a manufacturer’s product reliability.

This can impact future sales and damage brand reputation. In addition, depending on the cause of the AOG event, companies like Boeing may be liable for repairs under warranty clauses, leading to significant financial burdens.

On the positive side, AOG events provide valuable data on aircraft performance and potential design flaws. This data, however, is only beneficial if manufacturers can analyze it effectively and implement improvements.

Minimizing Downtime: The Role of Parts and Material Providers

The goal of every airline and aircraft manufacturer is to minimize downtime. Companies like AAA Air Support play a critical role in supporting airlines and manufacturers during AOG situations.

This happens as a result of the convergence of customer-centric and value-added features such as:

• Fast and Reliable Parts Delivery: A readily available inventory of essential parts and materials is crucial. Streamlined logistics and efficient shipping processes enable parts to reach grounded aircraft quickly, minimizing downtime.
• 24/7 Support: AOG events don’t always happen during business hours. Offering 24/7 customer support ensures airlines can reach parts specialists anytime, expediting the troubleshooting and repair process.
• Technical Expertise: Our company’s parts specialists offer valuable technical assistance to airlines during AOG events. This involves identifying the correct parts needed, troubleshooting potential issues, and even providing guidance on installation procedures.

Proactive Strategies to Reduce AOG Events

Beyond immediate response, parts and material providers also play a proactive role in reducing AOG occurrences:

• Data-Driven Inventory Management: By analyzing historical AOG data and airline maintenance trends, you can anticipate parts demand and ensure critical components are readily available.
• Investing in Quality: Sourcing and supplying high-quality parts reduces the likelihood of premature failures and subsequent AOG events. Partnering with reliable manufacturers is key.
• Collaboration with Airlines and Manufacturers: Open communication and collaboration with airlines and manufacturers lead to preventative maintenance strategies and early identification of potential issues, significantly reducing AOG risks.

A study by ARINC showed that airlines that implemented proactive maintenance programs were able to reduce AOG events by up to 30 percent. Another term for this approach is “predictive maintenance.”

According a recent article at Connected Aviation Today, 

“Predictive maintenance takes historical aircraft and maintenance data and uses it to develop performance trends for components. The predictive maintenance system then generates detailed maintenance recommendations for the airline, which may help prevent maintenance-related delays, flight returns, or unpleasant aircraft-on-ground (AOG) situations. This will also enable the airline to turn unscheduled maintenance into planned maintenance.”  

Supporting a New Era in Minimizing AOG Events

As companies such as Delta understands, AOG events are an unfortunate reality in the aviation industry.

Working together, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, and parts and material providers like AAA Air Support minimize downtime and its associated costs. Prioritizing fast and reliable parts delivery, offering 24/7 support, and implementing proactive strategies, companies like ours can be an invaluable partner in keeping the skies friendly.

AAA Air Support – Committed to Minimizing AOG Downtime

At AAA Air Support, we understand the critical role we play in supporting airlines and manufacturers during AOG events. We are committed to providing a comprehensive solution that includes:

• Extensive inventory of aircraft parts and materials.
• 24/7 customer support and technical expertise.
• Streamlined logistics and fast delivery turnaround times.
• Collaboration with airlines and manufacturers to develop preventative maintenance strategies.

Partnering with us ensures your aircraft spends less time on the ground and more time in the air.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you minimize AOG downtime.