Maintenance Credits Using IVHM Systems
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Abstract
A successful PHM system depends on integrating sensed data with knowledge about system operations from accurate models, so that estimates can be made about system behavior and system health, now and in the future. To convert this knowledge into monetary benefits needs the aircraft operator to be able to modify maintenance practices so that either inspections are reduced or eliminated, or system faults caught and evaluated in time so as to avoid failures. The first method would yield the bigger gains because normal operations and maintenance should reduced the incidents of the second part. Until quite recently, the use of PHM systems to either increase inspection intervals or eliminate them in favor of fully condition-based maintenance has not been deemed acceptable by regulatory authorities. In this talk we will outline a few developments in recent times that point to a more favorable future for PHM systems in affecting established maintenance practices, and that is via the concept of maintenance credits. There have been a few limited successes in this field already, and we will discuss these so as to learn from them. The role of the IMRBPB and the MPIG will be key to the success in this area.