SUPPORTING MATURE AIRCRAFT IN A DECREASING BUDGET ENVIRONMENT

Over the past decade the increase in military hardware has resulted in a proportionate increase in the dollars needed to maintain and support it. Today, both the military and defense contractors confront concerns over reduced defense budgets. The challenge now facing us is providing the support necessary to maintain these weapon systems given the limited dollars available. The helicopter provides a unique opportunity to meet this challenge, given its expanded mission roles and support requirements. Understanding these requirements is essential to providing both efficient and effective customer support programs. In addition, proactive Contractor/Customer interface at the operational level is key to improving and maintaining fleet readiness. Initiating innovative Reliability and Maintainability Improvement programs is another method formulated to meet these challenges, while confronting mission degraders is yet another. Providing the customer with an Engineering Change Proposal process flexible in cost and expedient in acquisition time also adds value in helping to enhance fleet operational goals. Finally, utilizing the myriad of high technology communications devices now available allows field response time reductions unheard of only a few years ago. This paper will address the various aspects of readiness and supportability given the challenges of todays economic environment. Emphasis will be placed on combined Engineering and Logistic initiatives, with examples of approaches taken and results achieved.