Developing the 777 airplane information management system (AIMS): a view from program start to one year of service

The 777 Airplane Information Management System (AIMS) has successfully completed its first year of airline revenue service. This in-service success follows a development and integration program that was an exceptional challenge, primarily due to the system size, technical innovation, and aggressive program schedule. Honeywell and Boeing had to work closely together to complete the design and development of AIMS in a time frame that supported the 777 early extended twin operations (ETOPS) goal and the initial 777 airplane certification. With teams from the two companies working as one unit, redundant activities were eliminated, technical and program problems were identified and solved rapidly, and schedule time was saved by both teams helping with tasks that were traditionally considered to be the other team's job. In service, airline maintenance personnel are finding that the AIMS Central Maintenance Computer System is a tremendous asset in maintaining the 777, and AIMS reliability is exceeding predictions.