A Survey of Aircraft Structural-Life Management Programs in the U.S. Navy, the Canadian Forces, And the U.S. Air Force

by Kim, Yool; Sheehy, Stephen; Lenhardt, Darryl

• ISBN13: 9780833038623
• ISBN10: 0833038621
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-05-15
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

The aircraft in the U.S. Air Force are aging, and keeping them healthy and safe is lilkely to require attention to clear policies and regulations on sustaining the aircraft.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	ix
Tables	xi
Summary	xiii
Acknowledgments	xxi
Abbreviations	xxiii
Introduction	1	(10)
The Air Force's Aging Fleets	1	(1)
Fleet-Management Challenges with Aging Fleets	1	(2)
The U.S. Air Force Aircraft Structural Integrity Program	3	(1)
Current ASIP Challenges	4	(2)
Study Purpose and Scope	6	(1)
Approach	7	(2)
Selection Method and Data Collection	8	(1)
Potential Bias	9	(1)
Report Organization	9	(2)
Background	11	(8)
Fatigue as a Limiting Structural-Life Factor	11	(1)
Fatigue-Design Concepts: Damage Tolerance Versus Safe-Life	12	(3)
Safe-Life: The Choice of the U.S. Navy and the Canadian Forces	13	(1)
Damage Tolerance: The Choice of the U.S. Air Force and the Canadian Forces	14	(1)
Principal Elements of the Aircraft Structural-Life Management Process	15	(4)
Aircraft Structural-Life Management in the U.S. Navy	19	(14)
Program Structure	19	(3)
Governing Policy	20	(1)
Principal Authorities	20	(2)
Aircraft Structural-Life Management Process	22	(6)
Establishing Structural-Life Limit	24	(1)
Structural-Life Tracking	24	(1)
Structural-Life Assessment	25	(2)
Service-Life Extension or Retirement	27	(1)
Risk Management	28	(1)
Regulatory Processes	29	(1)
Summary	30	(3)
Regulations	30	(1)
Communications	31	(1)
Resource Management	31	(2)
Aircraft Structural-Life Management in the Canadian Forces	33	(16)
Program Structure	34	(4)
Governing Policy	35	(1)
Principal Authorities	35	(3)
ASIP Process	38	(5)
Development of Basis of Certification	38	(1)
Structural Condition Monitoring	39	(2)
Updates of ASIP Master Plan	41	(1)
Risk Management	42	(1)
Regulatory Processes	43	(3)
Airworthiness Certification	44	(1)
Design-Change Certification	44	(1)
Risk Acceptance	45	(1)
Periodic Audits and Reviews	45	(1)
Summary	46	(3)
Regulations	47	(1)
Communications	47	(1)
Resource Management	48	(1)
Aircraft Structural-Life Management in the U.S. Air Force	49	(18)
Program Structure	49	(5)
Governing Policy	50	(2)
Principal Authorities	52	(2)
ASIP Process	54	(9)
Developing ASIP Master Plans	55	(1)
Developing Force Structural Maintenance Plans	56	(2)
Tracking Structural Use	58	(1)
Updating FSMPs	59	(1)
Implementing FSMPs and ASIP Master Plans	60	(3)
Risk Management	63	(1)
Regulatory Processes	63	(1)
Summary	64	(3)
Regulations	65	(1)
Communications	65	(1)
Resource Management	66	(1)
Observations About Aircraft Structural-Life Management Approaches	67	(10)
Approaches to Regulation	67	(3)
Governing Policy	67	(1)
Oversight Approach	68	(1)
Distribution of Regulatory Responsibilities	69	(1)
Approaches to Communication	70	(2)
Types of Information Shared	70	(2)
Information Sharing Mechanisms	72	(1)
Approaches to Resource Management	72	(3)
Dedicated Funding Line	73	(1)
Degree of Regulation	73	(1)
Types of Information Used in Resource Management	74	(1)
Formal Planning Processes	75	(1)
Summary of Observations	75	(2)
Observations About Options for the Future	77	(4)
Summary of Approaches	77	(1)
Options for the Future	78	(3)
Clear Policies	78	(1)
Formal Processes and Independent Assessments	79	(1)
Good Communications and Working Relationships	79	(1)
Standardization	80	(1)
Dedicated Funding	80	(1)
Appendix History of the Air Force ASIP	81	(4)
Bibliography	85