Application of SysML for digital transformation of aircraft cabin systems

Abstract Status information from avionics systems is typically transmitted to airlines, but aircraft cabin systems remain largely disconnected and frequently reliant on manual, paper-based logbooks for defect recording. This results in error-prone processes that compromise data consistency and complicate maintenance planning. Digitalisation offers solutions to these challenges by enabling predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring and streamlined data sharing, improving operational reliability and efficiency. However, developing such systems is inherently complex due to operational constraints and stringent safety and security regulations. Model-based Systems Engineering (MBSE) effectively manages complexity, provide standardised system visualisation and enhance multidisciplinary communication. From a methodological perspective, approaches from literature suitable for addressing aviation maintenance systems were selected and enhanced with allocation techniques and subsequently applied to create system models for both current and digitalised aircraft cabins. This paper showcases MBSE’s relevance to develop digitalised aircraft cabin systems by using the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) enabling stakeholders to visualise system architectures and to make better-informed design decisions. The analysis of the presented SysML models highlights the error-prone structure of current non-digitalised aircraft cabin systems while illustrating new use cases unlocked by digitalisation. A model-based comparison underscores the improved efficiency, reliability and predictive capabilities achieved through digital transformation. This study demonstrates that MBSE provides qualitative advantages in system development by enhancing stakeholder collaboration, clarifying complex system architectures, and providing actionable insights into system behaviour and improvements.