ADAS - Swissair’s dynamic SAS/AF®

aircraft data analysis program

Peter Flach, TWEZ, Swissair technical services

1. Abstract
Swissair uses an Aircraft Data Acquisition System (ADAS) on all aircraft. During all
flight phases many values are recorded and then processed after flight at the Swissair
Computer Center.
The presentation shows the user interface to the application functions and SCL program
technics:
1. An overview of the ADAS system shows the datahandling in the air and on the ground.
2. Menupoints are table controlled. The concept will be introduced by an example.
3. The application is build out of standardized list- and record-programs. The concept
will be introduced by an example.

2. Overview of the ADAS system

2.1 What is ADAS ?

Aircraft
Data
Acquisition
System

Swissair operates an Aircraft Data System called ADAS on all aircrafts. It records many data
during several flight phases that will be processed at the Swissair Computer Center.
ADAS data is made available to many organizations of the company, such as aircraft
maintenance, engineering and operation. The data is used for short-term decisions about
airworthiness of aircrafts. Also the data is used for investigations of incidents and troubles or
to analyze trends of important components (e.g. engine).
2.2 Data acquisition on the aircraft

Blackbox
ADAS Recording System
(Crashrecorder)

1000 Megabytes
daily
Swissair Computer Center

Before the data can be processed on the ground it must be collected by airborne systems. In
addition to the mandatory blackbox, Swissair uses a second flight data system on all aircrafts:
The ADAS Recording System.
The ADAS system records up to 1600 parameters from several engine- and aircraft-systems
during the whole flight. The sampling rate is up to 8 times per second.
The data is stored on cassette, optical disk or partly transmitted via satellite. An average of 70
cassettes/optical disks with 300 flights arrive daily at the Swissair Computer Center, which
is equivalent to 1000 megabyte. The data is retained for 21 days.
2.3 Data processing on ground

Acquisition System
System Manager
Engine
Manufacturer Operator
Flight
Control
Engine Data
Quality

MCS ADAS System

Runtime Evaluation User
SR System

Navigation Evaluation
Flight
Planning Personnel
ADAS
COSMOS Applications
SR System F5A/D5 COMPASS
SR System SR System

Data processing on ground starts when the flight data arrives at the Swissair Computer
Center. The operator receives the cassettes and starts the readout of the data, makes quality
checks and sends them to the host.

The ADAS System communicates with many processes and users. One of the important
processes are the ADAS Applications. They are specified by users and control several aircraft
systems automatically.
For example the application Flight Analysis of the flight safety department is used to control
flight-operational correctness of all flights. Out of range values will be detected and analyzed
for safety reasons.
Users are able to choose and analyze any recorded parameters on-line.

The ADAS software system is build out of 390 SAS and FORTRAN modules in combination
with job control language and runs under MVS.

3. Table controlled menupoints

3.1 Task

The target was to create table controlled menupoints in an easy and flexible manner. CBT
entries would bring the easy creation but not the flexibility. SAS/SCL programs have the
flexibility. The solution was the combination of SAS/SCL programs and SAS files to
realize the following working method: One SAS/SCL program controls the display of the
menu screen and starts the processing of related programs in combination with two utility
files.
3.2 Menu information stored in two Files

File 1 contains all informations of a menupoint in one record. (e.g.: Identifier, description, ...).
File 2 contains all menu-point-descriptions of one screen in one record. It combines many
records of file 1 in one record and makes the display faster.
3.3 Utility program to manage the files

Information of every menu point:

• Menu node identification of menupoint
• Menu node status P: Menu point visible and active in prod and test system
T: Menu point visible in test and prod system but only active in
test system
• Item name description of the menu point
• Called program name of called program
• Called key program name of program to generate active keys
• Selection code allowed selections for the called program (select, delete, print)
• Help member name of helptext member
• Logical application code controlling of ADAS applications
• RACF allowed allowed groups to have access
3.4 One SAS/SCL program controls the ADAS menus

Only one SAS/SCL module controls the menu points of the ADAS system. It displays the
menu-point-description and starts the related programs with the help of the two above
described files. The necessary information (e.g.: Selection code) will be passed to the
programs.

3.5 Advantages

• SCL functionality
• Only one SCL program
• Support several terminal sizes
• Access control of each menupoint
• Additional menupoint information
• Good performance
• Less maintenance for menu-hierarchy
• Fast path
4. Standardized List- and Record Programs
4.1 Task

Display and update of data are the most used tasks in the ADAS system. They normally
appear in the following sequence:
1. Display and update several records
2. Display and update one record
To simplify the work of software developers and to standardize functions and appearance of
the programs, these task are realized by only two SAS/SCL programs.
The working method of these programs is described as follows: The List Program shows
several records. When one record is selected it is presented by the called Record Program.
The only development task is to copy the predefined skeleton programs and adjust them by
selection of the available functions.

4.2 Standardized List Program

This display part of a module is derived from the standardized List Program only by
adjusting the general attributes, the screen variables and by selecting the needed functions.
List programs are defined as extended tables and display data like a table.
4.3 Standardized Record Program

This display part of a module is derived from the standardized Record Program only by
adjusting the general attributes, the screen variables and by selecting the needed functions.
Record programs display the data of each record. The screen contains a static and a dynamic
part.
These programs are always called by List Programs and show their selected records.

4.4 Included Functionality

• Base Functions
• Add record
• Copy record
• Edit record
• Delete record
• Browse record
• Search record
• Sort records
• Point to a record
• Select record
• Predefined pulldown menus
• Predefined function keys
• Additional call of List- or Record-Programs out of a Record Program with passing of
informations like where-clause or selection-code.
4.5 Advantages

• All tasks are presented in a standard way

• Only two SCL programs
• Functionality
• Extensions possible
• Programstructure easy to maintain

5. Contact

Address Peter Flach, TWEZ, Swissair technical services, CH-8058 Zurich-Airport

Telephone +41 01 812 29 88
Telefax +41 01 812 90 15
Internet [email protected]

Acknowledgments

SAS is a registered trademark of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries.
 indicates USA registration.
Brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective
companies.