A Systems Approach to the Design & Development of a Helicopter Fleet Management System - Phase 1 and 2

This research is part of a major helicopter acquisition program including upgrade under a 20+ year strategic plan. The program aims to rationalise the number of helicopter types operated, simplify operational requirements and reduce throughlife- support costs. The helicopter fleet presently comprises of nine helicopter types, to be grouped to three to four fundamental types. A coherent fleet management system (FMS) is to be developed and modelled for the rationalised number of helicopter types. The research will assess current practices in aerospace technology management of civil and military aircraft fleets and establish requirements for military rotary-wing platforms and design a specific methodology for the fundamental Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH, NH-90) of the defence forces. The outcome will be a technology management methodology, implemented for simulation and demonstration on the MRH platform.