The Value of Fleet Experience in Exploiting the Full Economic Potential of Aircraft Structures

As a fleet of aircraft builds more and more experience in the real operational environment, the data flowing from that experience can contribute significantly to:

1. (a)
   better forecasts of future maintenance needs and costs,
2. (b)
   better focus of the inspection and maintenance efforts,
3. (c)
   special new equipment/techniques to reduce costs in specific cases,
4. (d)
   high confidence in continued safe operation.

Several extensions of historical approaches have been developed to support the early models of the jet fleet. The general characteristics of these techniques and their potential economic contributions are discussed.