Dispatch reliability is as important to operators of business aircraft as it is to airlines. With that in mind, Dassault seeks to give its Falcon Jet customers a handle on system failures before they disrupt a trip.

Knowing in advance when a system or component is going to fail, removing the offending part from an aircraft, and having a replacement positioned where and when it needs to be ready for installation, test and sign off -- all with little or no human intervention -- is the Holy Grail in terms of aircraft support. In such a world, there would be dramatically fewer maintenance-related flight delays and cancellations.

PMA suppliers have lobbied airlines and their lessors to approve their products for years. With the entry of Pratt & Whitney into the PMA business, their efforts may have turned the corner.