Ensuring cost effective legacy fleet sustainment and airworthiness Ageing Aircraft concerns have dramatically escalated in the military aviation community during the past decade. Some models, which have already
been in service for more than 40 years, will need to be
retained for another two decades or longer, often serving in roles and in theatres very different from what was envisioned when they were originally designed.
What are the typical Ageing Aircraft challenges? - Technological obsolescence
- The spectre of runaway maintenance costs
- Safety issues
- Spare parts, processes and tooling may no longer be available
- Logistic procedures may have changed
- Suppliers may be out of the business
- Budgetary limitations
- Higher fleet utilisation will increase the demand to cope with ageing structures
- Reliance will grow on major subsystems like engines and avionics
The top issues of discussion at Ageing Aircraft 2011 are: - How to manage aircraft structural fatigue, deterioration and corrosion to ensure successful fleet life extension, with case studies from the Polish Air Force, US Air Force, NATO, UK MoD and the Royal Netherlands Air Force
- Insight from DSTL, US Air Force Research Laboratory and the Civil Aviation Authority into successfully combating aircraft obsolescence: Including replacement and maintenance initiatives for systems, components and operational capabilities
- How to cost effectively ensure legacy aircraft are combat capable in today s operating Environment
