A Maintenance Packaging and Scheduling Optimization Method for Future Aircraft

Abstract

This paper proposes an optimization method for aircraft maintenance tasks packaging and scheduling integrated in an aircraft lifecycle simulation. It is demonstrated that the developed methods are feasible to model a prognosis-based maintenance concept. Such maintenance concepts are a prerequisite for a profitable application of prognostics and health management systems in future aircraft. The applicability of the method is analyzed and economically assessed over an aircraft lifecycle considering aircraft operation. The analysis shows that a variation of the maintenance opportunities frequency for a short-range aircraft, provided in the aircraft rotation plan, can have a significant influence on the operator’s net present value (NPV). A benefit of up to 2.8 million USD, representing 1.2% of the operator’s NPV, can be realized, when maintenance opportunities are provided every 3 instead of every 7 days, while aircraft utilization is assumed to be constant. Compared to a traditional block check concept the presented method leads to higher maintenance costs, under the condition that the same volume of maintenance work has to be carried out.