5. WEATHER RADAR SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS ON AN AIRBUS 320-200 AIRCRAFT AT PT GMF AEROASIA USING FMEA AND RCA TO IMPROVE RELIABILITY AND SAFETY

Abstrak

This study aims to analyze the failure of the Weather Radar System using a
mixed-methods sequential explanatory approach. Flight safety is highly dependent on the
reliability of avionics systems, one of which is the Weather Radar System that functions to
detect extreme weather phenomena. Damage to this system is categorized as a no-go item
in the MEL and based on data from the Top Delay Report of PT GMF Aero Asia Tbk for the
period 2020–2024, it ranks fifth as the highest cause of delays on the Airbus A320-200, with
341 failure reports. The quantitative stage uses Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
and Pareto Diagrams to identify critical components, while the qualitative stage uses Root
Cause Analysis (RCA) and Fishbone Diagrams to explore the root causes of failure. The
results show that the Transceiver is the most problematic component with 39% of
unscheduled removals with the dominant failure mode being Intermittent Signal with an RPN
value of 336. RCA reveals the main causal factors including human error, non-compliance
with procedures, limited tools, low material quality, and exposure to extreme environments.
Recommendations for improvement include improving technician competency, tool
procurement and calibration, stringent material vendor selection, and system protection from
extreme weather. This research is expected to support increased maintenance effectiveness,
reduce delays, and strengthen the safety culture at GMF.