Economical validation of a new repair concept for CF-thermoplastics by its comparison with an ongoing repair process (e.g. CF-thermoset)

Kurzfassung

The goal of any commercial aircraft maintenance and repair crew is the safe return of aircraft to service in limited time. Especially in view of the fact that cost in lost revenue of an unscheduled aircraft on ground is on average $100,000 per day. This is becoming a hectic moments for all OEMs, airlines and MROs thinking that how composite repair can be made faster and reliable. Considering that the average composite permanent repair, as permitted in SRM takes roughly 15 to 16 hours according to CACRC. With the help of the required process steps to perform a hot bonded repair, a new repair concept for carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastics is compared with an ongoing repair process (e.g. carbon fiber reinforced thermoset). For both repair processes, the several steps are estimated regarding time as a basis for an approximated cost calculation. It is approximated from some literatures, experiences and theoretically that about 10 hours earlier an aircraft can be dispatched back to service with the help of new repair concept. By the use of this time, cost estimation is done in terms of labor cost and the aircraft downtime cost.