Reliability of Aircraft as Determined by Operational Field Tests: The Need for Proper Test Design and Data Requirements

摘要

The paper is concerned with complete aircraft systems, such as tactical fighter squadrons and intratheatre (or airline) transportation systems. Industry on the one hand, and operators (airlines, military services) on the other, are faced with the problem of agreeing to specifications concerning reliability and maintainability, validating these specifications in the finished product and deciding what value to attach to reliability and maintainability. The problem of validation is particularly elusive. Laboratory or subsystem tests provide one set of figures. Different airlines using the same equipment experience different reliabilities. The same military aircraft type behaves differently at different bases, or when flying different mission types. Apparently satisfactory planning factors for procurement of spare parts, or maintenance manpower, turn out to be at wide variance with the requirements generated in operational environments. (Author)