Experience Based Fault Diagnosis
Benefits
Effective Fault Diagnosis can:
- Increase profitability
- Increase aircraft availability by minimising downtime through prompt rectification.
- Reduce costs by avoiding unnecessary “No Fault Found” repairs.
- Establish sound relationships with OEM Customer Support staff.
- Assist in creating a knowledge or data base of historical faults.
- Identify the route cause of potentially expensive conditions associated with major assemblies such as engines, propellers and avionics systems.
- Improve confidence with the aircraft.
Aim
Mature aircraft suffer from in-service defects that are normally rectified in a prompt and efficient manner, however, new operators may not possess this depth of knowledge or previous experience and have difficulties in rectifying some of these problems. This can be damaging to the operator(s) who is looking to provide new services at a time that their performance can come under close scrutiny from both customers and local government agencies. Equally it can be expensive in terms of service cancellations; man-hours expended and incorrectly replaced components. The solution is to deliver training that provides this experience in the form that assists the new operator in developing their own knowledge and techniques.
Tasks
- Understanding the nature of defects and the mechanisms for reporting; either verbally or in the technical log.
- Recognising other sources of information in relation to reported defects.
- Developing a format for the accurate recording of work performed in the resolution of defects.
- Provide practical examples of known problems and their solutions.
- Provide direction on where to find maintenance data that assists in trouble shooting.
- The application of the appropriate technique; systems testing, fault reproduction and substitution of components.
- Development of a component “Hold” procedure.
- Awareness of the external sources of assistance available.
Vector Experience
Supported a regional airline, delivering despatch reliability above the SAAB 340 world wide fleet average. Also gained a significant understanding of the operational defects experienced by the SAAB 340, both in conventional passenger schedules and on the UK CAA flight test program.
