Opportunities Exist to Achieve Greater Standardization of Aircraft and Helicopter Seats

摘要

We reviewed the efforts of DOD and the services to standardize flight life-support equipment. While formal management structures and informal agreements have resulted in several standardized life-support items, we found a proliferation of tactical aircraft and helicopter seat systems, the most expensive items of life-support equipment. We believe that the past methods of acquiring seats have been costly; that standardization opportunities have not been adequately defined; and that for the most part, standardization efforts undertaken have not been adequately organized, planned, and supported either by DOD or the services. Increased management emphasis by the Under Secretary of Defense (Research and Engineering) and the services could increase standardization of aircraft seats and lower acquisition and support costs. Implementation of the Deputy Secretary of Defense's April 30, 1981, initiatives, which recognized that increased standardization of subsystems and support systems cannot only reduce life-cycle costs but also increase reliability, should result in additional economies. (Author)