Description

A Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) records the status of critical systems and components on helicopters so that early detection of progressive defects, or indications of them, is possible and rectification can be achieved before the defects impact operational safety. The on-board equipment stores data on a PCMCIA card. For analysis, the card is downloaded after flight and maintenance analysis can then be performed on a ground-based computer. These systems were first deployed in the early 1990s as a response to the relatively poor continuing airworthiness record and their introduction led to, and continues to support, significant improvements in safety and reliability.