Search results

The purpose of this paper is to present the development results of the overhaul melioration plan for the following aircraft types: MiG‐21Bis, G‐4 Galeb and SA‐341 helicopter. This research has been conducted based on available knowledge and extensive experience gained by performing general maintenance of the Air Force of Serbia aircraft.

A general analysis was performed by processing data collected while performing maintenance and repair procedures. The magnitude of data is based on detecting the delays and errors that occurred while going through the operational and inter‐operational stages of aircraft overhaul. On the basis of the obtained research results, a proposal for the aircraft overhaul optimization is offered.

The proposed overhaul improvement plan points out the priority steps to be taken in order to optimize the most critical features that jeopardize the quality of the aircraft overhaul process relating to organization, technology and design. Moreover, existing technical logistics have been used for providing actions to achieve the objective in focus: the all‐encompassing optimization of the above selected aircraft overhaul.

The method of the overhaul optimization has so far been applicable to the aircraft of the Army of Serbia. However, the particular methodology can be proved potentially useful and highly germane when applying to other aircraft types.

A plan to optimize the overhaul is based on a one‐year monitoring process of the aforementioned aircraft. It enables significant savings in performing overhauls within the financial realm as well as time‐wise.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate into the improvement strategies for lead time reduction of military aircraft major overhaul (enhance the overhaul task from present seven to nine-plus aircrafts as agreed to customer) for ABC Company.

This research has been conducted based on the available knowledge and extensive experience gained while working in the overhaul unit of the case organization for a long period of time. The research employs an integrated approach of multi-criteria decision method (in specific analytic hierarchy process (AHP)), theory of constraint (TOC) and simulation for M/M/1/K queuing environment for investigating the improvement strategies for lead time reduction in major overhaul of military aircraft. This has mainly included: Step 1: analysis of existing activity network using actual overhaul data; Step 2: ranking of constraint activities that most affects the lead time using AHP; Step 3: revised flow activity network using time buffers (TBs) concept of TOC; Step 4: mathematical model formulation for effective utilization of TB using single server finite queuing approach (M/M/1/K queuing environment); Step 5: discrete event simulation representing present overhaul conditions and revised overhaul conditions with different scenarios; and Step 6: sensitivity analysis and interpretation of results. The proposed methodology has been tested on an industrial case study dealing with an aircraft overhaul in India (namely ABC Company).

The proposed overhaul lead-time reduction plan points out the augmentation of resources in order to achieve more than 50 per cent reduction in lead time and waiting time under two scenarios – with overtime and without overtime.

An integrated approach proposed has so far been applicable to the specific aircrafts (Jaguar/Mirage/Kiran) of the ABC Company overhaul division. However, the particular methodology can be proved potentially useful and highly practical when applying to other aircraft types.

The results indicate several problems with the current overhaul strategies that need focused process improvements and a need for capacity augmentation for achieving the enhanced overhaul task of nine+ aircrafts per year with reduced overhaul lead time. The proposed approach also provides the maintenance planners with a platform for decision analysis and support often ignored the capacity augmentation.

This paper aims to build a novel model and approach that assist an aircraft MRO procurement and overhaul management problems from the perspective of aircraft maintenance service provider, in order to ensure its smoothness maintenance activities implementation. The mathematical model utilizes the data related to warehouse inventory management, incoming customer service planning as well as risk forecast and control management at the decision-making stage, which facilitates to alleviate the negative impact of the uncertain maintenance demands on the MRO spare parts inventory management operations.

A stochastic model is proposed to formulate the problem to minimize the impact of uncertain maintenance demands, which provides flexible procurement and overhaul strategies. A Benders decomposition algorithm is proposed to solve large-scale problem instances given the structure of the mathematical model.

Compared with the default branch-and-bound algorithm, the computational results suggest that the proposed Benders decomposition algorithm increases convergence speed.

The results among the same group of problem instances suggest the robustness of Benders decomposition in tackling instances with different number of stochastic scenarios involved.

Extending the proposed model and algorithm to a decision support system is possible, which utilizes the databases from enterprise's service planning and management information systems.

A novel decision-making model for the integrated rotable and expendable MRO spare parts planning problem under uncertain environment is developed, which is formulated as a two-stage stochastic programming model.

FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND ENGINEERING FACILITIES These words are extracts from a statement issued by P.I.A. on 1st March, 1975. Having been to Pakistan as P.I.A.'s guest a year or so later I see no reason to change them.

DEVELOPMENT of the Kansas City base of Transcontinental and Western Air has been proceeding since 1946, in which year the wartime Army‐operated modification centre in the city for B‐25 bombers and Constellations was leased from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and converted to peacetime use at a cost of $1,000,000. The hangars, shop and office buildings enclose a combined area of 427,000 square feet and are surrounded by more than 1,000,000 square feet of concrete ramp or apron. The hangars are fitted to accommodate at the same time three Constellations and eight Stratocruisers, DC‐4's or DC‐3's. Nearly 2,000 men and women are employed at the base.

This is our report on this first international assembly of Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering, held in Zurich 6th–9th February 1979. This was AIRMEC 79 — and, as was foreseen in our Comment in the January issue, the significance of this innovation among aviation occasions was taken up by thirty‐six countries who sent 276 delegates to the convention, which was supported by the Exhibition, attracting 112 exhibitors from 17 countries. There is every chance that this event will take its place with Farnborough, Paris and Cranfield as a regular feature of the aviation scene and of considerable interest to all engaged in aircraft maintenance. The organisers did announce at the end of that Show that AIRMEC 81 would take place, again in Zurich, in February of that year. And perhaps it is interesting to comment at this stage about the decision to return to Zurich. While it might be said that the event was a success, the fact that the convention was held in a venue separate from the Exhibition, did have some disadvantages and the consensus among the exhibitors was that this did discourage many of the 2260 in attendance from really taking in the Exhibition. Perhaps the only exception to this were the Chinese whose delegation spent almost all of every day in the Exhibition halls, visiting every stand and spending considerable time at each one.

THE Garuda Maintenance Facility (GMF) is an integral part and the backbone of the maintenance of its fleet of planes as they provide domestic, regional and international air transportation services. The GMF provides Garuda Indonesia, the flag carrier, with a competitive advantage amidst the increasingly keen atmosphere of competition in international air transport.

Describes the development of an application for a computer‐integrated manufacturing environment which facilitates the communication links between different sub‐systems of the manufacturing system. Using the Pick operating system and a database management system, a prototype was designed for an aircraft engine overhaul system. The model incorporated several processes to implement the overhauling sub‐systems including marketing, business and manufacturing operations.

The 3rd international Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Exhibition and Congress, AIRMEC 83, was staged in Düsseldorf for the first time. The space‐city style raised walkways, with their oval glass roofing, which link the halls and buildings of the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, made an appropriate setting for an Exhibition of modern Aerospace technology. The Exhibition occupied a stand space of approximately 3,000 sq. metres. The displays offered a comprehensive picture of current developments in the servicing and overhauling of aircraft of all kinds. AIRMEC 83 attracted exhibitors from 15 countries. Of the 110 companies taking part, 45 were from West Germany. Britain had the second largest group, with 18 stands covering a floor space of 352 m2. Thirteen of the British contingent were grouped together in a British Joint Venture organised by the British Overseas Trade Board. Visiting the various stands, I found that most of the exhibitors were pleased not only with the attendance figures (2,500), but also with the quality of the visitors. Those attending the show came from 34 countries, and were, almost without exception, members of the technical management of their company or were sales executives. More than half were from establishments with more than a thousand employees. However, on the Friday, which was the last day, a number of exhibitors were complaining about the timing of the Conference in relation to the exhibition. The Conference ended on the Thursday lunch‐time, as a result, attendance at the Exhibition was somewhat sparse on the Friday morning and virtually non‐existent in the afternoon. Many exhibitors felt that the Conference should have been spread over the full period of the Exhibition. During the Conference, experts from 10 countries delivered a total of 32 lectures on aircraft maintenance and overhauling. These ranged from a series of lectures on hangars to training of personnel, design of engine maintenance and computer‐aided maintenance and spares management. The knowledge gained was not only of significance for airlines of developing and emerging industrial countries that have no sophisticated maintenance facilities of their own, but also to long‐established airlines. In times of dwindling profits, every airline has to keep a careful eye on possibilities for cutting operating expenditure, whilst at the same time ensuring optimum safety of the aircraft. Through the international exchange of experience and the presentation of new maintenance techniques, AIRMEC greatly contributed to the achievement of this objective.

THE information contained in this report was gathered from Allied documents on the German Air Force, from prisoner of war interrogation reports, from interrogation of German technical officers and enlisted personnel captured on enemy fields, and from examination of airfields, hangars and equipment in the British Second Army area. Much of the equipment was damaged by bombing, and, in some cases, demolition; most of the personnel and records had been evacuated from the majority of the fields visited. However, it was possible to find sufficient information to reconstruct a sufficiently clear picture of the German aircraft maintenance programme, and to note therein a number of examples of organization and practice which are worth consideration by the U.S. Navy. The material is presented in three sections: organization, maintenance information, and summary and recommendations.