PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the results of research into the support activities of commercial aircraft (A/C).Design/methodology/approachThe work is associated with A/C operations (OPS) providing a structure establishing the A/C sustaining during the in‐service phase. The process involved the implementation of a field survey in order to capture heuristically A/C support practices to enable one to identify system requirements. This part of the work utilized the collaboration of 21 A/C operators and maintenance repair and overhaul companies from various regions of the world.FindingsUsing systems engineering methodology, the research process led to the development of a prototype sustaining system. The solution comprises a tree of support functionalities (similar to a work breakdown structure). The result was verified by major local national airlines which confirmed the ability of the solution in terms of representing a viable structure establishing an A/C sustaining system.Originality/valueThe research initiative presented represents a contribution in the domain of A/C OPS, namely in terms of management aspects, by making available a solution that serves as a reference element, with a holistic nature, that integrates, normalizes and unifies commercial A/C support practices.

The Air Transportation is the type of activity that exhibits significant complexity mainly due to the fact that to take place a great number of interlinked services need to be made available, ranging from air traffic control and management to ground services as well as to maintenance. In this respect, the utilization of software is permanent, allowing the operators to perform, among various aspects, the relevant operational support of commercial aircraft essentially oriented to aircraft maintenance or in other words compliance with the applicable Continued Airworthiness Instructions. Despite the fact much commercial software is available, little literature exists describing conceptually the whole process. Starting from situation, this book chapter provides the reader and those involved in the development of software for aircraft support the structure and the type of information related thereto.