SofemaOnline Considers General Introduction to Aircraft Reliability Systems

What is Reliability?

The term “reliable”, as used by the aviation industry, applies to the dependability or stability of an aircraft system or a part thereof under evaluation. Maintainability is also an important part of reliability engineering.

What does reliability deal with?

?              The accumulation of relevant data,

?              The study, evaluation, and life-cycle management of this data.

Reliability is the characteristic of an item expressed by the probability that it will perform a required function in a stated environment for a stated period of time.

What does Reliability also refer to?

We use Aircraft reliability programs to help manage the maintenance environment and to ensure both system safety and dependability.

We aim to achieve the optimum level of aircraft dispatch reliability at minimum cost.

Data-Driven

A reliability system is driven by operational data, pilot reports as well as assessment of strip reports and assess the overall effectiveness of the maintenance programs.

Essential Elements of the Reliability Process

Operational data collection systems to gather efficiently the maximum amount of Data.

Being able to define the Reliability data analysis to ensure it meets the organisations objectives as well as considerations regarding the possibility of improvements driven by service bulletin incorporation.

Supporting the Maintenance Program with Reliability Metrics.

Using the Reliability Program to drive Maintenance program optimization.

An effective Reliability Program will:

?              Quantifies Expected behaviour.

?              Qualifies Maintenance Programme Effectiveness.

Considering the Primary Elements of Probability   

FUNCTION - The component in question must perform a specific function(s).

Failure of an engine cowling to close is not an engine failure.

CONDITIONS - The device must perform its function under given conditions.

Use of equipment outside of stated operation ranges and failure occurs.

Should not charge failures to these units.

TIME - The device must perform for a period of time.

Never present a reliability figure without specifying the time in question.

FAILURE - What constitutes failure(s) for the component?

Must be agreed prior to testing & use.

?         Contains a set of procedures aimed at collecting data related to the failure of the aircraft, its systems, sub-systems, components, and parts.

?         Further analysis of the data collected together with meaningful inferences using engineering judgment also forms part of the programme.

Next Steps

Sofema Aviation Services (SAS) www.sassofia.com and SofemaOnline (SOL) www.sofemaonline.com provide Maintenance Planning, Technical Records and Reliability Training. Please see the websites for details or email [email protected]