Extending the Lifetime of Operational Systems through Corrosion Tracking and Prediction

摘要

Corrosion tracking using the USAF Maintenance Data Collection System was extended to the B-52 fleet, another system of large but elderly aircraft in USAF inventory. This and a study of the C-141A fleet show that MDCS data, together with PACER LIME environmental severity ratings, could provide a basis for optimizing corrosion maintenance, extending operational life of the systems and minimizing overall costs. MDCS is seriously defective, however, and these benefits can not be realized with current data. Changes in USAF maintenance policy, essentially the adoption of reliability-centered, phased inspections, also have produced a different MDCS. These changes are not suitable to the unique problems of corrosion, although the new system may be an improvement with respect to other maintenance requirements. (Author)