FIELD EXPERIENCE SHOWS MODERN TEST EQUIPMENT HELPS CONTAIN COSTS

The U.S. Army began testing advanced technology instrumentation with recording capability on T53 engines in 1986. In 1990, use of this technology was expanded to T55, T63, T700, and T703 helicopter engines. Each test produces data that is more comprehensive than that obtained from a test cell. Artificial intelligence programming processes the data into diagnostic information about the engine under test. The decision maker, using the program’s output, can see differences in the condition of individual engines and rank them on their relative capability. The resulting data base from these tests clearly shows each engine’s on-condition status. The value of this information as the basis for decisions used to direct the limited resources to the least capable engines is obvious. Cost reductions and operability improvements associated with the use of a modern test instrument package have been significant.