Effects of condition-based maintenance on costs caused by unscheduled maintenance of aircraft

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effects of condition-based maintenance based on unscheduled maintenance delays that were caused by ATA chapter 21 (air conditioning). The goal is to show the introduction of condition monitoring in aircraft systems. Design/methodology/approach The research was done using the Airbus In-Service database to analyze the delay causes, delay length and to check if they are easy to detect via condition monitoring or not. These results were then combined with delay costs. Findings Analysis shows that about 80 percent of the maintenance actions that cause departure delays can be prevented when additional sensors are introduced. With already existing sensors it is possible to avoid about 20 percent of the delay causing maintenance actions. Research limitations/implications The research is limited on the data of the Airbus in-service database and on ATA chapter 21 (air conditioning). Practical implications The research shows that delays can be prevented by using existing sensors in the air conditioning system for condition monitoring. More delays can be prevented by installing new sensors. Originality/value The research focuses on the effect of the air conditioning system of an aircraft on the delay effects and the impact of condition monitoring on delays.

Cost-Effectiveness of Structural Health Monitoring in Fuselage Maintenance of the Civil Aviation Industry †

“…It is noted that the main source of cost in the aviation industry is the weight. Since the take-off weight of an aircraft is fixed, if an extra weight is added to the aircraft, the payload has to be reduced, which was not clearly mentioned in the cost analysis literature [5][6][7]13,14] for SHM.…”

Concept and Economic Evaluation of Prescriptive Maintenance Strategies for an Automated Condition Monitoring System

“…The basic principle of aircraft maintenance follows the approach of a reliability-centered maintenance (RCM). The goal here is to maximize the operational safety and reliability of any physical asset while minimizing the associated costs (Gerdes, Scholz, & Galar, 2016). In general, it can be subdivided into two main categories: preventive and corrective maintenance.…”

Deployment of Prognostics to Optimize Aircraft Maintenance – A Literature Review

“…In this way, MRO activities of dozens of airlines are carried out at a single location, where expensive equipment, spare parts, and skilled personnel is located. These maintenance providers are extensively trying to optimize their operations, but still are obliged to schedule maintenance according to maintenance plans provided by authorities as shown by (Gerdes et al, 2016;Air Transport Association of America, 2007). This scheduling of maintenance based on time intervals is part of the Preventive Maintenance (P.M.) strategy.…”

“…This scheduling of maintenance based on time intervals is part of the Preventive Maintenance (P.M.) strategy. P.M. is the standard maintenance strategy used in aviation and three types of P.M. are identified (Federal Aviation Administration, 1978;Gerdes et al, 2016).…”

“…This accelerates the development of new prognostic models on components for which no clear degradation pattern or failure mode can be identified. Research shows that 80% of all failures are preventable (Gerdes, Scholz, & Galar, 2016), if prognostics is carried out accurately, one could predict when failures will occur and act accordingly.…”