A Systems Approach - Minimizing Avionics Life Cycle Cost

THIS PAPER INTRODUCES a new concept in air-airframe environmental control system (ECS) and avionics (airborne electronic equipment) integration which provides a method of optimizing system reliability while minimizing system life cycle cost (LCC). This concept is being introduced under a new program sponsored by the Aeronautical Systems Division at Wright-Patterson AFB for defining equipment thermal and reliability requirements and optimizing cooling capacity and its allocation to equipments. The proposed systems approach provides increased effectiveness in achieving reliability throughout the acquisition process. This is accomplished by putting product assurance in the hands of the design engineers rather than relying totally on the test or quality control engineer. The concept addresses specific tasks that need to be accomplished at both the system and subsystem levels to ensure the integrity of the total program. It generally is applicable to any electronic equipment, military or commercial.