Opportunistic Maintenance Policies for Economic Replacement of Internal Life-Limited Components in Modular Aircraft Engines

New USAF aircraft engines have modules, each with internal life-limited components. Engines are repaired by replacing modules. Modules are repaired at either base or depot. An opportunistic maintenance policy specifies how early life-limited components may be replaced provided that the engine (or module) is already in repair.

A repair level policy specifies when to repair a whole engine at depot instead of at base. Expected long term costs are calculated using computer simulation. Costs are maintenance manhours, pipeline requirements, shipping, and component replacement. Costs are graphed and the least cost policy choices are identified.