No.

B777/AV/32
Airworthiness Management
Issue II
TECHNICAL NOTICE Date 15-11-2017
15-11-2017
Subject: AIMS BPv17A software Upgrade on B777 Fleet Page 1 of1 of6 6

PURPOSE OF TECHNCIAL NOTICE:

a) To inform maintenance personnel of upcoming AIMS BPv17A Software upgrade.
b) To provide interchangeability impacts between BPv17A and non-BPv17A
c) To provide list of important enhancements and in-service fixes included in subject upgrade

BACKGROUND:
The complete load content originally planned for the AIMS BP V17 could not be incorporated due to architecture
limitation within the AIMS-2 cabinet. To accommodate new features and functionalities for AIMS-2 platform
equipped 777’s, Boeing has developed the BP V17A OPS.

Significant software architectural changes are introduced in the Maintenance and Communication (COMM)
systems to support new functionality being offered.
The architectural changes were necessary to support additional throughput needs relative to the Central
Maintenance Computer Function (CMCF), Data Communications Management Function (DCMF) and Flight
Deck Communications Function (FDCF) in AIMS.

Also, since one of the changes being introduced was to add an Aircraft Condition Monitoring Function (ACMF)
function to the right AIMS cabinet, the opportunity was taken to expand the capability of the left AIMS cabinet
ACMF so that operators had 50% more room to populate their customized ACMF Airline Modifiable Information
(AMI) to capture more data and reports.

These significant architectural changes will impact maintenance and configuration control practices by operators
going forward on AIMS-2 airplanes.

AIMS BLOCK POINT STATUS ON PIA FLEET:

Presently, PIA all B777 Airplanes (excluding AP-BMS) are installed with AIMS BPv17.1. PIA has planned to
upgrade AIMS BP to v17A as per Boeing SB 777-31-0218, 777-31-0264 and 777-31-0263 on its B777 Fleet.

AIMS BPv16 is installed on recently inducted dry leased airplane AP-BMS. AIMS BP will be upgraded to v17.1
on AP-BMS as per Boeing SB 777-31-0227, soon after availability of required ECL software and customized
QRH (AP-BMS) from Flight OPS. Once AIMS BPv17.1 installed on AP-BMS, it will also be upgraded to AIMS
BPv17A to standardize AIMS BP version on PIA B777 Fleet.

IMPORTANT ENHANCEMENTS & INSERVICE FIXES (BPv17A):

ENHANCEMENTS:
 Addition of ACMF in the Right AIMS Cabinet: New ACMF-R AMI is installed on the core processing module
CPM/STD in the right cabinet
 ACMF increased processing: The ACMF throughput capability will be increased by approximately 50 percent
with BP V17A upgrade.
 CMCF moved from Core Processing Module/Communication (CPM/COMM) to IOM (M003) to increase
throughput and resources on the CPM/COMM. This change allocate more spare throughput resources on
the CPM/COMM for hosted functions like DCMF, FDCF, DFDAF for future growth.
 Added Global Positioning System (GPS) Left/Right Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS)
Advisory messages: Allows flight crew alerting for a GPS Left or GPS Right sensor failure
 FMCF TMF Data Transfer Corruption Mitigation: The TMF partition, protective code has been added to
mitigate the effects on the autothrottle due to a potential corruption of data from the FM to the TM partition.

IN-SERVICE FIXES:
Some of the in-service fixes introduced in AIMS BPv17A are:
 Suppression of Nuisance RADIO ALTIMETER MONITOR Left/Center/Right (L/C/R) EICAS Status Message
 Modified Fuel Spar Valve Indication Logic to Prevent Latching in an Invalid State
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 CMCF LDI Update: A five second Transited Delay (TD) was added to fault reports for following maintenance
messages (prior TD value was zero): 31-69949, 31-69950, 31-69951, 31-69952, 31-69953, 31-69954, 31-
69955, and 31-69956
This change will alleviate the need for action per the Boeing MT MT 34-045 .
 Modified Electronic Check List (ECL) Logic to Suppress the “CHKL INCOMPLETE NORM” Message
Appropriately
 Fixed Condition of ECL Reset Causing Navigation Display (ND) and Multi-Function Display (MFD) to Blank
Momentarily
 Modified ECL Logic to prevent reset of the ECL when Central Processing Modules/Graphics Generator
(CPM/GG) master changes
 Primary Flight Display (PFD) Logic Modified to Prevent Indication of Amber ILS Tuning Disagree when the
MMR tuning oscillator fails
 Fixed Unexpected Aggressive Climb in Vertical Navigation (VNAV) Descent. The change will alleviate the
need for action per the 777 FCOMB “Altimeter setting while in VNAV”
 FMCF Modified To Correct Auto-throttle Commanding “IDLE” In Specific “DES NOW” scenario during level
flight
 The FMCF software is modified so the system fuel does not revert to “MANUAL” after the flight is complete
 FMCF Modified to Delete Assumed Temperature from the Thrust Management Function When a Takeoff
Uplink is Loaded with No Derate.
 FMCF Modified to Prevent Inappropriate Blanking of Fuel Predictions following an Engine Out Selection.
 FMCF Modified to Prevent Dual FMC Reset During Wind Request
 DCMF Modified to correct software anomaly introduced in BPv17.1 for Mode’0’ interface with VHF Radio
(Airplanes unable to establish VHF Data link using old analog VHF Radio, which is only capable of Mode’0’
Data link interface).
 Core software modified to correct an ARINC629 transmission issue (Missing FMC Prompt on either the left
or right CDU).

NOTE: For more detail of Enhancements and in-service fixes introduced in BPv17A, Refer latest revision of
Boeing SL 777-SL-31-047

INTERCHANEGABILITY:
1. The AIMS-2 BP V17A software configuration includes installation of new OPS part numbers. The new OPS
part numbers are not intermixable or interchangeable with AIMS modules that contain previous AIMS OPS
part numbers.

2. Additionally, due to significant software architectural changes introduced in the AIMS-2 BP V17A OPS, the
following new interchangeability limitations apply. These limitations do not impact dispatch criteria, and
the airplane will be able to dispatch if the software noted below is not loaded correctly.

CPM/Standard (STD) modules:

 The new right ACMF AMI part number cannot be installed in the left CPM/STD module. Similarly, the left
ACMF AMI part number cannot be installed in the right CPM/STD module.
 Swapping the CPM/STD modules between the left and right cabinet will require reload of the ACMF-L
and ACMF-R AMIs. Failure to reload ACMF AMIs will cause ACMF inoperability but will not affect
dispatch
 Replacement CPM/STD modules will need to have the correct ACMF AMI part number installed after
installation.

Failure to reload the correct ACMF AMI in the CPM/STD modules results in Maintenance Message
indicating an AMCF AMI software error and no operation of the ACMF. All other software partitions (FMCF
and TMCF) are fully functional.

NOTE: Information that the Left and Right CPM/STD modules each have unique ACMF AMI part numbers (not
interchangeable), is also reflected in AMM Task 31-41-05-420-801 (CPM/STD Software installation)
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IOM modules:
 Although CMCF moved to IOM (M003) but the AIMS OPC, the CMCF AMI, and CMCF LDI must be
loaded into all IOM modules to ensure IOMs can be swapped between positions following installation of
the AIMS-2 BP V17A OPS.
 Any replacement IOMs will need to have the above software loaded after the module is physically
installed on an airplane.

Failure to load these software components into the IOM modules results in the following messages. The IO
software is not impacted by these databases and remains fully functional.
 No AIMS OPC loaded on IOM(M003): CMCF will still run in a degraded mode. AIMS Maintenance
Message is asserted indicating a software configuration error. CMCF will lose access to the MAT hard
drive and will revert to Floppy/CD data loading only. The AIMS OPC enables/suppresses maintenance
messages based on the airplane configuration. Therefore nuisance maintenance message could be
asserted/suppressed.
 No CMCF AMI loaded on IOM(M003): When CMCF is accessed from the MAT, a pop up window will
state the CMCF does not operate. However, CMCF will still run in a degraded mode. A CMCF
maintenance message is asserted indicating a software configuration error.
 No CMCF LDI loaded on Left IOM(M003): CMCF Left will not run. When ONBOARD MAINTENACE is
selected on MAT, screen will indicate to connect to CMCF Right or load LDI into Left IOM(M003).
 No CMCF LDI loaded on Right IOM(M003): CMCF Right will not run. When ONBOARD MAINTENACE
is selected on MAT, screen will indicate to connect to CMCF Left or load LDI into Right IOM(M003).
 No CMCF LDI loaded on Left and Right IOM(M003): CMCF Left and Right will not run. When
ONBOARD MAINTENACE is selected on MAT, screen will indicate to load LDI into Left IOM(M003) and
Right IOM(M003).
NOTE: The requirement for loading AIMS OPC, the CMCF AMI, and CMCF LDI into replacement IOM
Module has also been reflected in AMM Task 31-41-11-420-806 (IOM Software Installation). Requirement
applicable on airplanes installed with AIMS BPv17A upgrade (Refer below AMM Snapshot)
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Noteworthy Problems Reported on AIMS BPv17A:
Latched ‘WXR Fail’ on ND:
Preconditions: AIMS cabinet powered and Weather Radar (WXR) selected on the EFIS Control Panel
Condition: Weather Radar data is lost or invalid for 18+ seconds and then returns
Effect: Per the defined logic, AIMS-Displays sets the ‘WXR Fail’ indication on the ND. ‘WXR Fail’ does not clear
when WXR Input/Output (IO) is valid again and no WXR data displayed on ND, then the WXR System (SYS)
Status message is asserted.
Recovery: Deselecting and select ‘WXR” on EFIS CP when WXR IO is valid will clear latch
Boeing MT 31-060 addresses the problem and may be referred for further detail & for clearing messages

Latched ‘TERR Fail’ on the ND:

Preconditions: AIMS cabinet powered and ‘TERR’ selected on the EFIS Control Panel
Condition: Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning Systems (EGPWS) data is lost or invalid for 18+ seconds and
then returns
Effect: Per the defined logic, AIMS-Displays sets the ‘TERR Fail’ indication on the ND. ‘TERR Fail’ does not
clear when EGPWS IO is valid again and no EGPWS data displayed on ND
Recovery: Deselecting and select ‘TERR” on EFIS CP when EGPWS IO is valid will clear latch
Boeing MT 31-060 addresses the problem and may be referred for further detail and for clearing messages

Partial or Full loss of Data link:

Two Possible Conditions:
a) May intermittently occur if the DCMF RESET button pressed, or
b) If airplane is operating with only VHF coverage and the VHF link goes to a not available state after initiation
of a datalink message over VHF.
Effect: System intermittently either loses ability to send downlinks or loses both uplink and downlink datalink
messages from the aircraft.
Recovery:
a) Refrain from pressing DCMF RESET.
b) If issue occurs, clear by cycling AIMS power including Hot Battery.
For temporary resolution, the AIMS Data Radio can be switched to use the alternate VHF Data radio until the
AIMS power can be cycled.
Boeing MT 23-072 addresses the problem in more detail and may be referred for clearing messages

Maintenance personnel should be aware of fore-mentioned problems and their resolution as

addressed in Boeing Maintenance tips
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AIMS GENERAL DIAGRAM (Pre-V17A): Page 5 of 6

AIMS GENERAL DIAGRAM (Post-V17A):

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Issue I
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AIMS SOFTWARE FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION (BPv17.1) Page 6 of 6

AIMS SOFTWARE FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION (BPv17A)

This is for advance information, recurrent training and compliance of all concerned.