Fleet Management System for an Advanced Helicopter Platform - Requirements Analysis

The advanced defence helicopter fleet will be undergoing a major acquisition process including upgrade under a 20+ year strategic plan. This program develops aims to rationalise the number of helicopter types operated, simplify operational requirements and reduce through life support costs. The helicopter fleet presently comprises of nine helicopter types, to be grouped to three to four fundamental types. A fleet management methodology needs to be developed and modelled for each fundamental type of helicopter. This research will assess current practices in aerospace technology management of military aircraft fleets and establish requirements for both, civil and military rotary-wing platforms and design a specific methodology for the fundamental Multi-Role Helicopter (MRH) of the defence forces. The outcome will be a technology management methodology, demonstrated through simulation for application on the MRH.