Aircraft Maintenance Disruption Severity Index
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems fail to efficiently and cost-effectively manage unscheduled maintenance events on aircraft by not considering both flight and maintenance schedules, and do not calculate the disruption severity of such events when coordinating repairs.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that include a disruption severity module to calculate a disruption severity index value based on various flight operation factors, and a flight recommendation module to decide whether to resolve the unscheduled maintenance event before a subsequent flight or fly the aircraft without fixing it, using real-time data from flight and maintenance schedules, and external sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If conventional maintenance management systems coordinate maintenance resources to repair faults, then maintenance capability is improved, but flight schedule disruption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of maintenance prioritization from fixed protocols to dynamic disruption severity indexing. By calculating disruption severity indices based on multiple flight operation factors, the system adapts maintenance priorities to current operational conditions, allowing faults to be resolved in order of their actual impact on flight schedules rather than following rigid maintenance rules
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces dynamic decision-making for maintenance scheduling. Instead of static maintenance plans, the system continuously evaluates flight operation factors and adjusts maintenance priorities in real-time. The disruption severity module dynamically re-ranks maintenance tasks based on current flight schedule impacts, enabling flexible adaptation to changing operational conditions
2Adaptability or versatility
If flight scheduling systems adjust schedules for delays, then flight operation flexibility is improved, but coordination with maintenance schedules deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges flight scheduling and maintenance management into a single integrated platform. The disruption severity module simultaneously considers both flight operation factors and maintenance requirements, creating unified decisions that coordinate both functions. This integration eliminates the need for separate systems to communicate and resolve conflicts independently
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system performs multiple functions: it manages flight scheduling, tracks maintenance requirements, calculates disruption severity, and coordinates repair activities all within one platform. This multi-functional approach replaces multiple specialized systems, reducing inter-system complexity while maintaining operational flexibility
3Measurement precision
If disruption severity calculation is implemented, then maintenance prioritization accuracy is improved, but computational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The disruption severity calculation is segmented into distinct flight operation factors (e.g., delay duration, aircraft type, route importance, maintenance window availability). Each factor is evaluated separately and then aggregated into an overall disruption severity index. This segmentation makes the complex calculation manageable by breaking it into standardized, reusable components
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is an apparatus that includes a disruption severity module and flight recommendation module. The disruption severity module calculates a disruption severity index value associated with an unscheduled maintenance event of an aircraft. The disruption severity index value is calculated based on a plurality of flight operation factors affected by the unscheduled maintenance event. The flight recommendation module recommends one of resolving the unscheduled maintenance event of the aircraft before a subsequent flight of the aircraft or flying the aircraft without resolving the unscheduled maintenance event of the aircraft based on the disruption severity index value.