A Methodology for Assessing and Selecting Life Extension Options for Aging Aircraft

The proposal describes a method for developing a dynamic simulation model of aircraft life cycle aging and obsolescence. The model will assist USAF program managers in identifying and quantifying life extension options for aging aircraft. The model can capture, in as much detail as described, each of the critical systems and components within an aircraft or system and track their aging and obsolescence over time. For each system, the model will compute performance deterioration as well. Periodic maintenance and refitting will reset model parameters to reflect increased performance levels. USAF program managers will be able to test a variety of operational "what-if?" scenarios in order to discover the optimal choices that best meet mission requirements and, at the same time, satisfies both short-term and long-term budget constraints. Model output will provide cost and performance curves as well as the present value of cumulative costs for alternative acquisition and maintenance policies for aircraft systems.