The major objective of this book was to identify issues related to the introduction of new materials and the effects that advanced materials will have on the durability and technical risk of future civil aircraft throughout their service life. The committee investigated the new materials and structural concepts that are likely to be incorporated into next generation commercial aircraft and the factors influencing application decisions. Based on these predictions, the committee attempted to identify the design, characterization, monitoring, and maintenance issues that are critical for the introduction of advanced materials and structural concepts into future aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force is grappling with the challenge of aging fleets and the optimal time to replace them. This monograph examines commercial aviation data to draw inferences about aging aircraft that may be relevant to the Air Force. It focuses on "aging effects"-i.e., how aircraft maintenance costs change as aircraft grow older. Although commercial aircraft clearly differ from military aircraft, the aging-effect estimates might help the Air Force to project changing maintenance costs over time.

Many of the aircraft that form the backbone of the U.S. Air Force operational fleet are 25 years old or older. A few of these will be replaced with new aircraft, but many are expected to remain in service an additional 25 years or more. This book provides a strategy to address the technical needs and priorities associated with the Air Force's aging airframe structures. It includes a detailed summary of the structural status of the aging force, identification of key technical issues, recommendations for near-term engineering and management actions, and prioritized near-term and long-term research recommendations.

Aging Aircraft Maintenance: Additional FAA Oversight Needed

This book provides the first comprehensive comparison of the Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP) requirements of the two most widely known aviation regulators: the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). It offers an in-depth examination of the elements of an AMP, explaining the aircraft accident investigations and events that have originated and modelled the current rules. By introducing the Triangle of Airworthiness model (Reliability, Quality and Safety), the book enables easier understanding of the processes by which an aircraft and its components are deemed to be in a safe condition for operation from a cost-effective and optimization perspective. The book compares the best practices used by top airlines and compiles a series of tools and techniques to improve the standards of the AMP. Aircraft maintenance engineers, students in the field of aerospace engineering, and airlines staff, as well as researchers more widely interested in safety, quality, and reliability will benefit from reading this book