Branimir Stojiljković, Ljubiša Vasov, Olja Čokorilo and Goran Vorotović
The purpose of this paper is to present novel recursive expressions for modelling the replacement costs of aircraft engine life-limited parts during shop visits to assist engine…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present novel recursive expressions for modelling the replacement costs of aircraft engine life-limited parts during shop visits to assist engine operators in both evaluating their decisions regarding the applied life-limited parts management strategies and tracking the replacement costs consistently throughout the life of the engine.
Design/methodology/approach
The replacement costs of aircraft engine life-limited parts are modelled analytically in this research, which strives to quantify the costs of used and unused lives of the replaced parts, incurred during engine shop visit events. Inputs for this model include the list price of life-limited parts, the replacement decisions made on all previous shop visits and the number of cycles the engine has operated at different thrust ratings on all previous operating intervals.
Findings
The average annual escalation rate of life-limited parts list prices was shown to range from 5% to 7%. The presented model is not only suitable for calculating the costs of used and unused lives of life-limited parts during past engine shop visit events but also for application in the life-limited parts replacement cost forecasting and optimisation models.
Originality/value
Uniquely derived recursive expressions represent the final result of the developed model which, to the authors’ knowledge, had not been studied elsewhere in the academic literature. The analysis of aircraft engine life-limited part list prices carried out to account for the average annual escalation rate enables the prediction of replacement costs during subsequent shop visits.
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Lidija Tomić, Olja Čokorilo, Ljubiša Vasov and Branimir Stojiljković
The paper aims to investigate the compatibility of manned-aircraft airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS) for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to investigate the compatibility of manned-aircraft airborne collision avoidance systems (ACAS) for use on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the Fault Tree method for defining ACAS model adapted for the UAV operations, with the aim of showing the presence of certain factors that configure in such ACAS system, and whose failure can lead to an adverse event – mid-air collision.
Findings
Based on the effectiveness analysis of ACAS solution adapted for the UAV operations, for given inputs, it can be concluded that the probability of ACAS failure is on the order of 10–4, as well as that in the case of autonomous ACAS solution for the UAV, the probability is reduced to 10–5. The most influential factors for the failure of the UAV’s ACAS are as follows: technical implications on the UAV, human factor, sensor error, communication and C2 link issue.
Practical implications
The established model could be used both in the UAV’s ACAS design and application phases, with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of the adopted solution. The model outputs not only highlight the critical points of the system but also provide the basis for defining the Target Level of Safety (TLOS) for the UAV operations.
Originality/value
The developed model can be expected to speed up the design and adoption process of ACAS solutions for the UAVs. Also, the paper presents one of the first attempts to quantify TLOS for the UAV operations in the context of collision avoidance systems.
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Milica Milovanović, Olja Čokorilo, Ivan Ivković, Branimir Stojiljković and Ljubiša Vasov
Accidents occur in all transport modes and can cause significant material damage and loss of life. To efficiently allocate resources that enable the reduction of accidents, it is…
Abstract
Purpose
Accidents occur in all transport modes and can cause significant material damage and loss of life. To efficiently allocate resources that enable the reduction of accidents, it is necessary to estimate the value of a statistical life (VSL). This study aims to show how the statistical value of human life in air and road traffic is determined.
Design/methodology/approach
This study examines and applies recent empirical evidence aimed at clarifying the basic concept of the VSL and defining the reasons for its importance in evaluating public policies in aviation safety and road traffic safety. The research focuses on the principal equity indicators, both theoretical and empirical, that must be confronted to provide a credible estimate of the VSL.
Findings
Previous research shows that the VSL could have a considerable range of possible values. This study emphasizes that risk reduction funds need to be distributed in a consistent and equitable manner to achieve the best outcomes for society as a whole.
Practical implications
This research will guide future research efforts towards understanding the impact of the estimated statistical life value on air and road safety implications.
Social implications
This study strengthens awareness of the importance of the VSL in evaluating public policies in the field of aviation and road safety.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to compare air and road traffic from the perspective of the VSL evaluation.
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P. Mirosavljević, S. Gvozdenović and O. Čokorilo
The purpose of this paper is to define minimum cost technique of turbo fan transport aircraft in the presence of dynamic change of aircraft performance. Results can be practical…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to define minimum cost technique of turbo fan transport aircraft in the presence of dynamic change of aircraft performance. Results can be practical applicable in airlines for achieving minimal operation costs.
Design/methodology/approach
Logarithmic differential is applied for defining conditions in order to achieve optimal Mach number for minimal climb cost. This condition is solved numerically by using Newton‐Ramphson method, to obtain optimal Mach number distribution with altitude. Conclusion about optimal top of climb (TOC) is defined after analyses for different aircraft mass and cost indexes.
Findings
Proposed method of minimum cost climb resulting in potential savings up to 5 per cent compared to Aircraft Flight Manual climb law. Proposed method also made correction of climb law and optimal TOC under existence of aircraft performance degradation.
Practical implications
Use of defined climb law and optimal TOC will minimize cost of en route flight profile.
Originality/value
At present, there is no definition of climb technique for minimum cost of en route flight profile, under dynamic degradation of aircraft performance. Final results are standardized to become applicable and easy to use with modern and old type of flight management system.
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Digital transformation has created an important framework for the commercial aviation industry. Aviation companies that develop a digital strategy or implement the strategies…
Abstract
Digital transformation has created an important framework for the commercial aviation industry. Aviation companies that develop a digital strategy or implement the strategies successfully are seeing improvements in their overall efficiency, cost, flexibility and security performances with the effect of digitalization. For aviation businesses, digitalization is seen as one of the important conditions of competition. For this reason, many aviation businesses prioritize digital investments and make the major strategic moves necessary to gain a competitive advantage. However, the digitization of aviation businesses cannot be achieved by investing in technology alone. Digital arguments need to be aligned with customer expectations and the goals of the business. The increase in the number of airline companies has caused airline companies to create new strategies that will increase cost efficiency. IATA (International Air Transport Association), which is a member of airline companies and works for the efficiency of commercial air transportation revealed its vision of a ‘Digital Airline’, which represents what an airline can look like in 2025. Digitalization and efficiency, reflections on human resources, digital applications of airlines, benefits of airline companies from digital transformation, airline mobile applications, online check-in and boarding services (self-check-in, kiosk), online travel assistant, digital baggage cards (RFID – radio frequency identification), digital cabin management systems, in-flight entertainment systems, cabin cleaning robots, digital loyalty programmes, a new perspective in aviation education, interactive virtual reality environments, big data technology and applications and disadvantages of digital transformation are evaluated in the chapter.
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Aleksandar Knezevic, Ljubisa Vasov, Slavisa Vlacic and Cedomir Kostic
The purpose of this paper is to define conditions under which improved availability of fleet of G-4 jet trainers is obtained, and optimization of intermediate-level maintenance…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to define conditions under which improved availability of fleet of G-4 jet trainers is obtained, and optimization of intermediate-level maintenance through imperfect maintenance model application. This research has been conducted based on available knowledge, and experience gained by performing intermediate-level maintenance of Serbian Air Force aircrafts.
Design/methodology/approach
Analysis of the data collected from daily maintenance reports, and the analysis of maintenance technology and organization, was performed. Based on research results, a reliability study was performed. Implementation of imperfect maintenance with its models of maintenance policies (especially a quasi-renewal process and its treating of reliability and optimal maintenance) was proposed to define new maintenance parameters so that the greater level of availability could be achieved.
Findings
The proposed methodology can potentially be applied as a simple tool to estimate the present maintenance parameters and to quickly point out some deficiencies in the analyzed maintenance organization. Validation of this process was done by conducting a reliability case study of G-4 jet trainer fleet, and numerical computations of optimal maintenance policy.
Research limitations/implications
The methodology of the availability estimation when reliability parameters were not tracked by the maintenance organization, and optimization of intermediate-level maintenance, has so far been applied on G-4 jet trainers. Moreover, it can be potentially applied to other aircraft types.
Originality/value
Availability estimation and proposed optimization of intermediate maintenance is based on a survey of data for three years of aircraft fleet maintenance. It enables greater operational readiness (due to a military rationale) with possible cost reduction as a consequence but not as a goal.
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Natalia Distefano and Salvatore Leonardi
The risk of aircraft runway excursion, dependent on multiple factors, is related to operating conditions. The purpose of this paper is to identify the correspondence between…
Abstract
Purpose
The risk of aircraft runway excursion, dependent on multiple factors, is related to operating conditions. The purpose of this paper is to identify the correspondence between features belonging to different aspects that occur in runway excursion events, distinguishing between take-off and landing phases.
Design/methodology/approach
To define the correspondence between the characteristic features of runway excursions, this study has applied multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). MCA is used to represent and model data sets as “clouds” of points in a multi-dimensional Euclidean space. There are five variables used in MCA: geographical region, potential cause, aircraft class, flight nature and aircraft damages. For the purpose of this research, the database contains only runway excursion accidents that took place between 2006 and 2016 among all categories of aircraft in all world regions. The events contained in the database were analyzed by separating those that occurred during take-off and those that occurred during landing.
Findings
With this method, this study identified a few particularly interesting variable combinations. Generally, the consequence of an aircraft runway excursion is substantial aircraft damage. Also, the most common cause of runway excursion during take-off is aircraft system faults, while during landing, it is weather conditions. Furthermore, the destruction of an aircraft is a result of a runway excursion due to bad weather conditions, both during take-off and landing.
Practical implications
The results of this study can be used by a broad range of civil aviation organizations for runway risk assessment and to select the most effective safety countermeasures for runway excursions.
Originality/value
The authors believe this study is original, especially for the statistical analysis method used.
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María Zamarreño Suárez, Rosa María Arnaldo Valdés, Francisco Pérez Moreno, Raquel Delgado-Aguilera Jurado, Patricia María López de Frutos and Víctor Fernando Gómez Comendador
Air traffic controllers (ATCOs) play a fundamental role in the safe, orderly and efficient management of air traffic. In the interests of improving safety, it would be beneficial…
Abstract
Purpose
Air traffic controllers (ATCOs) play a fundamental role in the safe, orderly and efficient management of air traffic. In the interests of improving safety, it would be beneficial to know what the workload thresholds are that permit ATCOs to carry out their functions safely and efficiently. The purpose of this paper is to present the development of a simulation platform to be able to validate an affective-cognitive performance methodology based on neurophysiological factors applied to ATCOs, to define the said thresholds.
Design/methodology/approach
The process followed in setting up the simulation platform is explained, with particular emphasis on the design of the program of exercises. The tools designed to obtain additional information on the actions of ATCOs and how their workload will be evaluated are also explained.
Findings
To establish the desired methodology, a series of exercises has been designed to be simulated. This paper describes the project development framework and validates it, taking preliminary results as a reference. The validation of the framework justifies further study to extend the preliminary results.
Research limitations/implications
This paper describes the first part of the project only, i.e. the definition of the problem and a proposed methodology to arrive at a workable solution. Further work will concentrate on carrying out a program of simulations and subsequent detailed analysis of the data obtained, based on the conclusions drawn from the preliminary results presented.
Originality/value
The methodology will be an important tool from the point of view of safety and the work carried out by ATCOs. This first phase is crucial as it provides a solid foundation for later stages.
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Vittorio Di Vito, Bartosz Dziugiel, Sandra Melo, Jens T. Ten Thije, Gabriella Duca, Adam Liberacki, Henk Hesselink, Michele Giannuzzi, Aniello Menichino, Roberto Valentino Montaquila, Giovanni Cerasuolo and Adriana Witkowska-Konieczny
Urban air mobility (UAM) development and deployment into future cities is gaining increasing and relevant interest in the past years. This study, a conceptual paper, aims to…
Abstract
Purpose
Urban air mobility (UAM) development and deployment into future cities is gaining increasing and relevant interest in the past years. This study, a conceptual paper, aims to report the high-level description of the most relevant UAM application use cases (UCs) emerging from the research activities carried out in the ASSURED UAM project.
Design/methodology/approach
The UAM application UCs have been obtained from the ASSURED UAM project dedicated activities that have been carried out to, first, develop suitable operational concepts for UAM deployment in the next decades and, then, to further refine and design the most relevant UCs for UAM deployment in the next decades, leading to the public issue of dedicated overall document.
Findings
The ASSURED UAM UCs for UAM deployment in the next decades encompass both public (point-to-point, point-to-everywhere, direct medical transport of people) and private (direct last-mile delivery, advanced last-mile delivery, automatic personal aerial transportation) services applications, evolving in incremental way over time according to three considered time horizons (2025, 2030 and 2035), toward progressive integration into metropolitan transport system.
Originality/value
This paper provides final outline of the ASSURED UAM UCs, starting from the analysis of overall identified possible UAM applications, focusing on the description of the six main UCs considered as relevant for the application under the wider societal benefits point of view. The UCs are described in terms of expected operational environment, needed technological enablers and envisaged regulatory implications.
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The purpose of this paper is to present an objective decision-making framework and conduct a benchmarking study in the air cargo industry.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present an objective decision-making framework and conduct a benchmarking study in the air cargo industry.
Design/methodology/approach
The decision-making framework and benchmarking methodology evaluates the aircraft value for money (VfM) as a benefit-to-cost ratio calculated adopting a measure of relative efficiency. This efficiency score is measured as a comprehensive efficiency index obtained by combining several efficiency scores calculated by implementing four data envelopment analysis (DEA) models.
Findings
The framework is used to carry on a benchmarking study in the air cargo industry on a sample of 27 airplanes. The average VfM is 67.04 percent, with measurements between 39.96 and 116.03 percent. Only three airplanes achieve full VfM and behave as benchmarks to the remaining airplanes. Boeing B727-200 is a broad player in the market. Some old cargo models (DC 9-30F) deliver the same amount of VfM as more recent aircraft models (i.e. MD-11F and A300-600F).
Research limitations/implications
The decision-making framework and benchmarking methodology can usefully support managers to make sound decisions and plans. Even though DEA generates attributes weights to different alternatives that are independent of the buyer preferences, the framework flexibility allows introducing a weighting scheme to take into account the managers preferences for certain aircraft performance/functional features. It can easily include new functional/performance measurements and adapt the VfM measurement to the particular economic context, strategy, and business model of the airlines, or be transferred to different industries.
Originality/value
The framework combines technical, functional performance, and economic cost measurements to get a unique efficiency index to evaluate the airplane VfM.