SELECTING THE OPTIMAL OPTION FOR A GROUND-BASED AUTOMATED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AIRBORNE ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

Abstract

The current state of civil aviation operations is characterized by a rapid increase in the complexity of on-board avionics and flight navigation systems (FNS). The high level of system integration means that operational monitoring on the apron is limited by the capabilities of the built-in monitoring systems (BMS). However, the limited reliability of the ISC results in a significant number of erroneous removals of serviceable easily removable units (ERUs), creating a stream of ‘unconfirmed defects’. This requires airlines to implement effective ground-based automated inspection systems (GAIS) capable of performing in-depth diagnostics on removed equipment. The problem lies in the absence of a unified methodological approach to selecting the AGS architecture (centralized or distributed) depending on the size of the aircraft fleet and economic risks. The object of the study is the processes of maintenance and restoration of the operational capability of An-148 aircraft using automated ground control systems. The subject of the study is the methods and indicators for assessing the effectiveness of the structural design of the AGCS based on the criterion of total operating costs. The study employs a comprehensive approach based on methods of systems analysis, queuing theory and industrial engineering. To assess efficiency, a mathematical model has been developed that integrates indicators of power plant reliability, VSK reliability and NASK throughput capacity. Particular attention is paid to accounting for the time value of capital investments (discounting) and the cost of the LZB replacement fund during the post-warranty period of operation. Scientific novelty and results obtained. 1. For the first time, a comprehensive methodology has been developed for selecting the optimal NASC structure which, unlike existing approaches, accounts for the probabilistic losses from aircraft downtime due to queues at security checkpoints. 2. A comparative analysis of centralized (single-site) and distributed (multi-site) NASC architectures has been carried out. It has been demonstrated that universal single-site systems, despite their lower initial cost, have limited resilience: any system failure or overload leads to a complete halt in the fleet diagnostic process. 3. Based on calculations for the An-148 aircraft, a pattern has been established: the economic efficiency of the transition from a centralized to a distributed NASC structure directly depends on the size of the registered fleet. A critical value of 12 aircraft has been determined; once this is exceeded, a distributed structure becomes the priority due to the minimization of costs associated with forming a surplus exchange fund and the prevention of operational downtime. The results obtained enable airlines and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) centers to plan the development of their ground-based diagnostic facilities in an informed manner, optimize the costs of after-sales maintenance for An-148 aircraft, and improve the fleet’s technical utilization rate