
Active Projects
The following is an overview of ATA e-Business Program projects along with their status and links to their respective working groups/project teams.
Aircraft Transfer Records Project
Electronic Aircraft Records facilitate and lower the cost of transferring an aircraft, engine or other major component, for example at the end of a lease. The Aircraft Transfer Records (ATR) working group has developed industry standard XML formats for a number of “status reports” (information sets) which are typically provided including AD Status, Repair / Damage Status, Last Done Next Due Maintenance Status, Installed/Tracked Parts Status, SB / Mod status, Aircraft / Engine Status as well as a historic event list. The working group has also developed an electronic Crate which allows metadata to be added to other document types such as PDFs ranging from certificates to “Dirty Fingerprint” (records of maintenance). The benefits of standardization of these records include higher accuracy due to less re-keying, lower cost and more rapid record review and easier transfer into the recipient’s system. Spec 2500, Version 2023.1 will be released in mid 2023. The group is currently reviewing and incorporating findings from implementation activities as well as developing an XML version of Event History, and will shortly thereafter finalize the LLP History and Flight Summary records for the next revision.
Visit the ATR Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Automated Identification and Data Capture (AIDC)
The AIDC group approved updates Spec 2000 Chapter 9, The 2023.1 version was just released, with minor changes to the RFID specification, changes to bar-coding and permanent part marking to better align with RFID and the addition of a new RFID shipping / receiving tag format.
Visit the Automated Identification & Data Capture Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Component Digital History Project
The Aircraft Transfer Records Working Group, in conjunction with the Configuration Management Working Group and Repair Administration Working Group is beginning a new project to develop a “Component Passport” i.e. a digital history of the component, including birth information, various operating data, installs, removals, maintenance and change of ownership. A goal of this group is to facilitate a digital, industry standard for this data that often is requested by buyers or other key stakeholders in a variety of formats, and with inconsistent rules and requirements.
Visit the ATR Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Configuration Management
The Configuration Management Working Group (CMWG) is responsible for the global scope of Configuration Management concepts across all ATA e-Business Program specifications. This includes an overall harmonized Configuration Management data model and coordination with other working groups on pertinent topics.
CMWG accomplishments and ongoing projects include:
- CMWG is working on revision 2023.1 of ATA Spec 2400 with anticipated publication in summer 2023. Changes in this revision include:
- Addition of Part Preference information to enable Allowed Parts to be flagged as preferred or undesirable based on operator requirements
- Completed mapping between ARINC 843 for Actual Software Part configuration against Spec 2400 for Allowable Software Part Configuration
- Updated the Package Organization to include Allowable Configuration in Modifications
- CMWG continues to work with other ATA Working Groups to develop data exchange standards pertaining to multiple actual configuration use cases, such as:
- A rotable component “passport”
- A part and modification configuration validation report
- Reliability-based information for Allowable Configuration in Parts
Visit the Configuration Management Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Electric Air Vehicle Standard Numbering System
The ATA Technical Data Working Group (TDWG) Electric Air Vehicle Sub-Team (EAVST) was launched in November 2022 to evaluate the ATA Standard Numbering System (SNS) published in ATA iSpec 2200 and the S1000D Air Vehicles, Engines, and Equipment SNS for potential changes to support the unique requirements of electrically powered aircraft in the Civil Aviation industry.
The EAVST has submitted a Civil Aviation counter proposal to the S1000D change proposal CPF-2021-001GB including the following.
- A unified flight control / propulsion SNS system
- A new SNS system for electrical energy storage systems
- New SNS systems for Electric Propulsion Units (EPUs) and EPU Actuation
The S1000D Steering Committee has designated the Civil Aviation organization (represented by TDWG) as the owner of this CPF to finalize and submit an updated CPF based on the Civil Aviation proposal. Once the S1000D changes are finalized and approved, the EAVST will develop a corresponding ATA iSpec 2200 Change Request.
Visit the Technical Data Working Group to learn more or join the effort.
Information Security Standards
The ATA Digital Security Working Group (DSWG) published the 2020.1 revision of Spec 42, Aviation Industry Standards for Digital Information Security. This revision includes:
- Aligned Spec 42 with recent changes to NIST 800-63-3 “Digital Identity Guidelines”
- Clarified that the preferred terminology for “non-repudiation” is now “content commitment”
DSWG has been recently reactivated after a period of dormancy to address new advancements in industry requirements and technology, and to introduce new Spec 42 Change Requests as needed.
Visit the Digital Security Working Group to learn more or join the effort.
Information Standards for Flight Operations Data
The ATA Flight Operations Working Group (FOWG) is working on revision 2023.1 of Spec 2300, Information Standards for Flight Operations, to be published later this year. Topics under consideration for this revision include:
- Addition of Operations Manual Parts C and D
- Addition of descriptive information to the Phase of Flight Standard Common Repository DM
- Cleanup and expansion of Sample Data files
- Applicability Management for General Operations DMs
- Impact of electric air vehicles on Spec 2300
Maintenance Execution Standards
The Maintenance Execution Working Group (MEWG), has developed a specification for exchange of maintenance work packages focused on data exchange between operators and maintenance providers. Spec 2000 Chapter 18 Work Package includes formats for submittal of work packages, work orders, job cards, tasks, resource data, and other related items from the operator to the maintenance organization and return back of maintenance completion records, findings, deferrals, etc. The group just released the 2023.1 revision, which is focused on transactional exchange of Work Package additions, removals, changes, findings and approvals during the maintenance visit. The MEWG is also responsible for maintenance of the Electronic Technical Logbook specification which is published in Spec 2000 Chapter 17.
Visit the Maintenance Execution Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Maintenance Execution – Task Data Standard
The Maintenance Execution Working Group Task Sub-team is developing a specification for a fully digital executable maintenance task, allowing both manufacturer tasks and operator tasks to be developed into a format which can be provided to Maintenance Providers from Operator, and subsequently be used to collect information such as measurements, findings and signatures and returned from the Maintenance Provider to Operator. An additional goal is to allow these electronic tasks to be acceptable to regulators and lessors as the actual records of maintenance to replace paper/PDF.
Visit the Maintenance Execution Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Provisioning Data
The Provisioning Working Group (PWG) has been inactive, but there has been recent interest in developing new XML based provisioning standards, to better exchange data for establishing planned inventory and related information, particularly on new aircraft types.
Please contact the ATA e-Business Program if you are interested in participating in this effort.
Regulatory Documentation
The Regulatory Documentation Working Group (RDWG) monitors FAA Form 8130-3 and EASA Form 1 to ensure Spec 2000 Chapter 16 stays current.
Visit the RDWG to learn more or to join the effort.
Reliability Data
The Reliability Working Group (RWG) has ongoing meetings to review reliability data exchange and metrics, and maintain Spec 2000 Chapter 11 and 13.2. This specification includes exchange of a wide variety of operational and maintenance data about aircraft, engines and components. The soon to be released 2023.1 revision will include a detailed engine shop findings data set and a number of miscellaneous changes from the last 2019 revision. There is also major work being finalized to update the reliability metrics in 13.2 to better align with prognostics and health management activities.
Visit the Reliability Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Repair Administration
The Repair Administration Working Group (RAWG) is developing XML standards to support component repair, including ensuring that the XML supports various industry blockchains.
Visit the Repair Administration Working Group or contact the ATA e-Business Program to learn more or to join the effort.
Spec 2000 Procurement
The Spec 2000 Procurement Working group recently finalized version 2023.1 to update Spec 2000 Gen 2 based on findings during implementation activity. The group is meeting in Jun 2023 to continue updates on the next revision.
Visit the Procurement Working Group to learn more or to join the effort.
Technical Data Standards (ATA iSpec 2200, ATA Spec 1000BR, and S1000D)
The ATA Technical Data Working Group (TDWG) is working on the 2023.1 revisions of Spec 1000BR_4.1 and Spec 1000BR_4.2, Civil Aviation Business Rules for S1000D issues 4.1 and 4.2, planned for publication in fall this year.These revisions will include:
- Updated guidance for data deliveries
- An updated General Civil Aviation Business Exchange (BREX) data module (Section 2-4)
- Guidance for using the S1000D applicability model for Civil Aviation projects
TDWG is working on iSpec 2200, Information Standards for Aviation Maintenance, revision 2023.1, planned for publication in summer this year. This revision will include:
- Revising the AIPC DTD to provide support for 3D interactive illustrations
- A new DTD for a non-graphic (media) companion file
- Replacement of gender-biased terms with gender-neutral alternatives
- Addition of change description to the EIPC DTD
- Modifications to several DTDs to enable updates to TR lists
TDWG continues working with the S1000D Steering Committee and various working groups on S1000D topics and revisions in its role as the S1000D representative body for the international Civil Aviation industry.
Visit the Technical Data Working Group to learn more or join the effort.