Inspection and Maintenance - Decreasing Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Gas Emissions in Transportation - page 194

Fig. 13.6 Flow diagram for
the maintenance plan

Maintenance Review Board

MRB report

Maintenance Planning Document
worked out by producers

Aircraft Maintenance Schedule
worked out by the user

13.2.2 Maintenance of Airplanes

Requirements and aims are described within the Maintenance Program (MP) and
methods are summarized in the Aircraft Maintenance Manual and in the Task
Cards [ 25 ]. The work of the maintenance is recorded by the Maintenance Review
Board (see Fig. 13.6 )[ 26 , 27 ].
The extent of the maintenance event depends on the number of flight hours, the
number of landing cycles, and the time elapsed. Each event in the life of an
airplane, e.g., flight, maintenance, and repairs that are evaluated and recorded have
an influence on the MP [ 28 ].
Maintenance events include the routine examination of technical systems which
are important for the daily operation as well as a thorough overhaul of the airframe.
Depending on the aircraft type, the A Check must be done every 350-650 flying
hours and the B Check approximately every 3 months. The C Check means the
detailed inspection of the airplane structure and the test of the system. Depending
upon the type of aircraft, the C Check is done every 12 months (see Table 13.5 )
[ 29 ].
Measurement of combustion processes does not belong to the typical control of
engine technology yet, although changes due to wear caused by engine operation
lead to higher fuel consumption and higher exhaust gas emissions.

13.2.3 Maintenance Steering Group

The Maintenance Steering Group (MSG) has its own type of maintenance
philosophy and requires a change within the organization of air carriers [ 30 ].
A MSG-3 supports the operational safety net and provides a positive contri-
bution to the fiscal bottom line of air carriers. It was released by the Air Transport