LCA of the maintenance of a piston-prop engine
Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology
ISSN: 0002-2667
Article publication date: 7 January 2019
Issue publication date: 15 August 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to introduce an approach to evaluate environmental impact of a piston-prop engine from the view point of life cycle assessment (LCA).
Design/methodology/approach
In the aviation industry, safety is an important issue. For reliable and safe flights, the maintenance of aerial vehicles and engines is mandatory. Additionally, regular and correct maintenance plays a key role in keeping efficiency at a high level. With this in mind, a LCA of a regular 50 hourly maintenance process of Cessna type training aircraft is conducted. During the assessment, the starting of the engine before maintenance, replacement of the oil filter, test procedure of the spark plugs, a compressor test, engine cleaning and engine starting following maintenance are taken into account.
Findings
At the end of the study, normalization and characterization values for the maintenance, electricity consumption during maintenance and used fuel are obtained.
Practical implications
Regarding the number of this type aircraft worldwide, the current study offers a valuable contribution to the literature. The authors also intend to introduce an approach which may be useful for the assessment of large body aircraft still in service.
Originality/value
The present paper is a pioneer for future applications of LCA methodology to piston-prop engines and training aircraft.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to Eskişehir Technical University and Süleyman Demirel University for the valuable support provided.
Citation
Şöhret, Y., Ekici, S., Altuntas, O. and Karakoc, T.H. (2019), "LCA of the maintenance of a piston-prop engine", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 91 No. 7, pp. 987-993. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-05-2017-0116
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited