A Maintainability Prediction Methodology for Use in Aircraft Design

Aircraft design specifications include stringent quantitative maintainability targets which must be achieved during the design stage of a new aircraft programme. The manufacturer is required to provide servicing guarantees and elapsed time guarantees for the removal/replacement of all mission‐critical, line‐replaceable units. This demonstrates the need for an aircraft‐orientated maintainability prediction methodology, for use in the design process. A suitable methodology is here presented. Initial work checked the servicing requirements and showed initial adequate performance. An elapsed time removal/replacement methodology was evolved which was then computerised to facilitate repeated application during the design process.