Maintenance Cost Assessment Program (MCAP)

(MCAP) is intended to provide a tool for quantify maintenance cost for “next generation” propulsion systems. A repair module will also be included that will address the cost of repairing high value hardware. (MCAP) will identify and quantify maintenance cost divers as a function of flying schedules, mission type, and operating environment.

ABSTRACT

The goal is to develop a state-of-the-art Maintenance Cost Assessment Program (MCAP) software tool that shall estimate maintenance and repair cost metrics for VAATE engine configurations for the following engine classes:

Phase I - Turbofan/Turbojet

- Large Turbofan / Turbojet

Phase II - Turbofan / Turbojet

- Small Turbofan / Turbojet

- Turboshaft / Turboprop

- Small and Large Configurations

- Expendable engines

An independent software model based on the Propulsion Directorate's (AFRLFRTP) "VAATE MCM" prototype maintenance cost model shall be developed as an interactive tool with the ability to perform trade studies. The MCAP software shall retain the salient features of the VAATE MCM pilot for implementing on the Advanced Interactive Cost Analysis Tool (AICAT) platform. A new process-oriented repair cost module shall be developed for estimating repair costs of select high value, advanced technology hardware and process-oriented techniques shall be applied for estimating maintenance cost elements identified as cost drivers. MCAP software shall be designed to quantify relationships between maintenance and repair cost and inputs such as maintenance environment parameters, flying schedules, mission type and operating environments. Maintenance cost drivers of statistical significance such as number of aircraft, age, maintenance environment (e.g. 2-level or 3-level), and reliability of advanced hardware shall be considered. MCAP shall enable cost and maintenance metric projections for advanced and innovative concepts and technologies as well as baseline engines. While the principal focus of the MCAP software shall be to estimate maintenance metrics and maintenance costs, suitability of the model to evaluate alternative maintenance concepts, such as contractor logistics support will be investigated.