Aircraft Maintenance Programs (AMPs) provide a structured framework for ensuring the continued airworthiness of aircraft. A critical element within these AMPs is the management of Hard Time (HT) components. These components have strict lifespans measured in flight hours, cycles, or calendar time, requiring work such as an overhaul at designated intervals.
Last Done Next Due and Hard Time Tracking
The Last Done Next Due (LDND) is integral to effective maintenance planning, it is the heart of the planning and used to schedule long and short-term planning. It involves meticulously tracking when maintenance tasks were last performed and when they are next scheduled. For HT components, this means knowing the date or flight hours/cycles (FH/FC) of the last time the required task was carried out such as an overhaul and comparing this to the component’s specified lifespan.
Lease agreements governing aircraft engines place significant emphasis on the remaining life of critical components – this is to address the cost exposure for the lessor of such items and ensure serviceability and asset value for the engine along.
There will be several significant areas of inspection and return conditions to be aware of, noting that much of the areas are internal and as such require shop visits and come with high cost and time impacts.
Borescope Inspections look at the internal condition of the engine and blades, the condition assessment offer a detailed view of the turbine engine’s internal health, revealing wear, damage, or potential issues – within the hot section is typically highest wear.
Building a Boeing Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP) is a multi-faceted process, essential for ensuring an aircraft’s safety, airworthiness, and compliance with regulatory standards. This comprehensive approach involves integrating a variety of considerations and once created it needs to be maintained throughout the aircraft life.
The Maintenance Planning Document (MPD) is the foundation of the AMP, providing detailed guidelines for routine maintenance based on effectivity, configuration and status of the aircraft.
In aircraft leasing the insurance protections will oblige the lessee is mandated to maintain both hull and liability insurance.
The Hull insurance is paramount as it covers the physical damage to or total loss of the aircraft, thereby protecting the lessor’s asset value and it is typically aligned with the higher of market value or an agreed value, which might reflect a premium over the lessor’s book value during the lease period.
Liability insurance encompasses broader legal liabilities such as third-party, passenger, and baggage legal liabilities and acts to ensure that the lessor and other relevant parties are shielded from potential legal claims and liabilities arising from the operation of the aircraft.