Smart and shared services platform

A computer-implemented method for an aircraft repair management server configured to automatically coordinate repair of a non-operational aircraft among a multiplicity of computerized support systems, the aircraft repair management server including a database and a supply-and-demand matching engine, the method comprising:

• automatically performing operations with at least one processor communicating over at least one computer network with at least:
• an electronic system on board the non-operational aircraft,
• a mechanics mobile device gateway providing real time two-way electronic communications with mobile devices associated with aircraft mechanics,
• a maintenance controller providing parts and tools procurement, and
• a flight dispatcher computer,
• the at least one processor providing a networked platform connecting and exchanging data with the electronic system on board the non-operational aircraft, the mechanics mobile device gateway, the flight dispatcher computer and the maintenance controller in a real time interactive environment, with the management server automatically matching demand and supply of products and services to automatically coordinate repair of the non-operational aircraft, the at least one processor performing automatic operations comprising:
• (a) electronically receiving at least one problem report message from the electronic system on board the non-operational aircraft, the message including an engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS) message and aircraft health monitoring data, the at least one problem report message including aircraft type, aircraft location and a fault code;
• (b) processing the at least one received problem report message to determine tools and/or parts needed to repair the non-operational aircraft, including accessing a historical database based on the aircraft type and the failure code to determine tools and/or parts and actions previously re quire d to solve the same or similar aircraft fault, and initiating real time electronic communications over the at least one computer network to arrange for the provision of such determined tools and/or parts to the location of the non-operational aircraft;
• (c) in response to the received at least one problem report message and based on the location of the non-operational aircraft, dynamically searching for a mechanic with skills and location to repair the non-operational aircraft, including;
• (c1) automatically and remotely determining availability status values of e ach of plural mechanics determined by a dynamic search to be within geographical proximity to the location of the non-operational aircraft, and
• (c2) calculating a score representing suitability of each of the plural mechanics having status values indicating availability to repair the non-operational aircraft based on mechanic skill qualifications and estimated time required for each said plural mechanic to travel to the location of the non-operational aircraft;
• (d) based on the calculated score, using the mechanics mobile device gateway to contact a mobile device associated with a selected one of the plural mechanics, communicating information concerning the aircraft location, aircraft type and failure code to the mobile device associated with the selected mechanic, confirming that the selected mechanic agrees to repair the non-operational aircraft, and in response to the confirmation, arranging for the selected mechanic to travel to the non-operational aircraft location;
• and
• (e) in response to geolocation information received from the mobile device associated with the selected mechanic, tracking travel of the selected mechanic and providing to the electronic system on board the non-operational aircraft, a notification of the contacted mechanic's proximity and/or estimated time of arrival to the location of the non-operational aircraft;
• and
• (f) electronically publishing over the network to the electronic system on board the non-operational aircraft and to the flight dispatcher computer, a progress indicator providing ongoing visibility of the non-operational aircraft repair progress.