Cost-Effective Airframe Depot Level Repair Through the Airframe Condition Evaluation (ACE) Program

A program called ACE, Airframe Condition Evaluation, was established to evaluate aircraft structural integrity. The objective of this technique is to reduce airframe depot level repair costs through profiling the condition of fielded aircraft. This will improve improve airframe availability by identifying those airframes that should be candidates for depot level repair and by achieving maintenance goals. This paper will address the Army’s approach in dealing with the problem of airframe depot repair - its past experience, its current method of on-condition maintenance through profiling the condition of the airframes, and its future plans.