Accession Number:

ADA620864

Title:

Army Aviation Equipment Useful Life Cost Benefit Analysis

Descriptive Note:

Master's thesis

Corporate Author:

NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA

Personal Author(s):

• Baker, Patrick
• Scott, Jeremy
• Riddle, Bryan

Report Date:

2013-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

59.0

Abstract:

Army Aviation is considering pursuing the development of a future vertical lift FVL aircraft to replace its aging medium variant helicopters, which are the UH-60 Blackhawk and AH-64 Apache. The medium variant platforms comprise about 75 percent of the current Army fleet. Although its current fleet is over 30 years in age, to date, the Army is unsure if the fleet should be replaced based upon cost, material condition, and technological capability. The critical issue is that the Army lacks objective research data to support the decision to either pursue a new aircraft or retain the current fleet. The intent of our research is to determine exactly how much any individual medium variant platform costs, per flight hour, and project its cost behavior over time. That information will then be compared to a cost benefit analysis of a new build platform to help Army Aviation leadership with its FVL ambitions.

Descriptors:

• *ARMY AVIATION
• ARMY EQUIPMENT
• COST ANALYSIS
• HELICOPTERS
• LIFE CYCLE COSTS
• MAINTENANCE
• THESES

Subject Categories:

• Military Aircraft Operations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE