Event details
Traditional aircraft data recording worked when the goal was safety and compliance. But today’s predictive maintenance needs a different infrastructure.
Aircraft data harvesting for predictive maintenance is constrained by avionics, yet requires a high-throughput, scalable architecture with direct airline control.
WHAT’S CHANGING?
Timely, higher-volume, and continuously available data drives the need for onboard platforms capable of aggregating, processing, and securely distributing data at scale.
WHAT GETS UNLOCKED
- Expanded data acquisition beyond traditional limits
- Integration of additional and wireless sensor sources
- Onboard (edge) analytics and event-driven data flows
- Independent predictive maintenance services
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
This webinar outlines how next-generation avionics with integrated 5G connectivity are transforming aircraft data harvesting, making predictive maintenance accessible to airlines and enabling more reliable, efficient operations.
Presenters
Lee Hayhurst
(Moderator)
COO, Aviation Business News
William Cecil
FTG
Director Sales
William “Willie” Cecil is a pioneer in aircraft data connectivity and Senior Director of International Sales at Firan Technology Group (FTG), where he is helping shape the future of data-driven aviation systems.
He began his career as an avionics engineer on Lynx and Gazelle helicopters before spending more than 25 years at the forefront of aircraft data and connectivity innovation.
Long before “big data” and cloud platforms became industry standard, Willie championed wireless flight data harvesting advancing the use of cellular networks to automatically capture full-flight data in response to airlines’ need for more reliable safety and operational insights. His work helped define the early foundation of today’s connected aircraft ecosystem.
Today, he is focused on how next-generation technologies such as 5G and SATCOM can enable real-time data pipelines that support predictive maintenance, operational efficiency, and more intelligent fleet management, helping move the industry from reactive to truly predictive systems.
While not a licensed pilot, Willie has logged over three hours of flight time, primarily in freefall, as a sport parachutist descending from 12,000 feet.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic Engineering from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland and now resides near Chicago with his wife.