C check length

[pharmy]

Just leased/bought a bunch of 717-s in game 2 and then decided to refresh my knowledge regarding the last MD designed plane :

found the following info on http://www.boeing.com/commercial/news/feature/717.html :

There's also good news on 717 maintenance, with data from operators showing much lower costs compared with the DC-9. For instance, AirTran Airways reports that it's doing better than Boeing expectations. Out-of-service time for its 717s is 80 percent less than for DC-9s. The airline's extensive maintenance inspections, such as C-checks, are averaging three days for the 717 and 21 days for the DC-9.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has extended AirTran's interval maintenance checks, based on its good in-service experience with the 717. The time between C-checks increased to 4,500 hours or 18 months.

AirTran reports that the 717 saves labor hours compared with the DC-9. It also finds that C-check costs for the 717 are 10 percent of those for the DC-9. Hawaiian has found that the 717 allows it to lower costs by taking advantage of the airplane's digital technology to know how each system and component is performing to anticipate problems before they happen.

So far in the game c and d check times are based on 3 size categories of planes,  but wouldn't it be great if this was one more variable (well two if length between C checks was in place as well) in a plane, as this could really influence plane purchase patterns . Tried searching the FAA website but came up short.

Sami  if enough info was found by people, then could it be possible that C check lengths and intervals be more plane specific?. Planes where no info was found could stay at the default levels they are now. I am sure that people with a bunch of 737 NGs and A320s would all of a sudden scour the net for info, if this could give them an advantage over older planes.

[pharmy]

Some more info from AA website : http://www.aa.com/content/amrcorp/corporateInformation/facts/fleet.jhtml

American Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Procedures

American Airlines is proud of its maintenance record, procedures and employees. The airline performs 11 man-hours of maintenance for every one hour of flight time on its aircraft. The time frame for maintenance procedures is based on a combination of the number of hours the aircraft flies, the number of take-offs and landings (referred to as "cycles") it makes, plus the age of the aircraft. Here is a brief explanation of American's maintenance check procedures:

"PS" Daily Checks
Each aircraft is checked every 2-3 days in its "PS" (Periodic Service) check. The aircraft is visually inspected and its maintenance log book is checked for entries and maintenance needs. The "PS" check can be performed overnight or during downtime during the flight day. It averages approximately two man-hours.

"A" Checks
The "A" check is more detailed than the "PS" check. "A" checks are performed every 7- 9 days (approximately 80 - 100 flight hours). The "A" check is performed at one of 40 stations around American's system. It averages 10 - 20 man-hours.

"B" Checks
The "B" check is an even more thorough maintenance check. The "B" check is accomplished approximately every two months (roughly 500 - 600 flight hours). Besides specific service performed on the aircraft, a detailed series of systems and operational checks are performed. American always performs "B" checks inside one of its hangars at seven different cities around its system. A "B" check requires approximately 100 man-hours on narrowbody aircraft (those with only one aisle) and approximately 200 - 300 man-hours on widebody aircraft (those with two aisles).

"C" Checks
The "C" check is the most thorough type of maintenance work performed by American. The airframe - virtually the entire aircraft - goes through an exhaustive series of checks, inspections and overhaul work. It is performed at either of American's heavy maintenance and engineering centers in Tulsa, Oklahoma or the Alliance Maintenance Facility in Fort Worth, Texas. There are different levels of "C" checks depending on the type of aircraft.

These include:

Narrowbody "C" Checks
American does two types of "C" checks on its narrowbody planes. The first is a "Light C" check, which occurs approximately every 15 - 18 months. It requires approximately 2,100 man-hours and three days to accomplish. Every fourth "Light C" check becomes a "Heavy C" check. This check requires 20,000 - 30,000 man-hours and takes from three to five weeks to accomplish.

Widebody "C" Checks
Because of the complexity of widebody aircraft, all "C" checks are "Heavy C" checks. The complete airframe inspection and service is done every 24 - 30 months. It takes approximately 10,000 man-hours and from two to four weeks to accomplish a widebody "C" check.

   

[JJP]

Wow, nice research.  It would be great to have maintenance on a per plane type basis also, especially as technology gets better.  Obviously, in some cases, service times are much less than in-game.

[Sami]

The maintenances, their names and durations are always aircraft type specific. For example the AA link describes only some general system.

However modelling the maintenance durations for each plane group is not possible as there is not enough reliable source data for that and also I believe it would become too complicated for the player. Instead the maintenance costs vary according to aircraft model, age and condition. And the duration has been split into three different categories according to the plane size.

[pharmy]

No it was just wishful thinking, I was hoping the FAA website contains general guidelines per plane type. But as far as I can see only AirTrans were granted the 18 month interval, air hawaii due to high their high cycle schedules were not. No its a good system (the one in the game), I was just trying to get a leg up on older MD operators