Effectiveness of Condition-Based Maintenance in Army Aviation

Technology has significantly enhanced our ability to detect and monitor the health and condition of critical components in Army aviation. By combining these technological advances with the existing systems for vibration analysis, we have developed a maintenance management program based on the health condition of the components rather than time-driven inspections and replacements. One vibration analysis program, the Health Usage and Management System HUMS, developed for the UH-60 Blackhawk, was examined in this study. The purpose of this thesis is to determine whether Condition-Based Maintenance CBM provides a distinct advantage over phase or time-driven inspections and component replacement in Army Aviation. To answer this question we have identified a series of metrics to assess the efficiency and usefulness of CBM. During the analysis portion of the study we examined two assault helicopter battalions, one HUMS-equipped and one without, and applied these metrics. The study determined that HUMS provides an advantage in flight hours completed and operational readiness rates, coupled with a marginal decrease in hours of nonmission capable for maintenance reported. While the thesis also found an increase in efficiency in dollars spent per operational flight hour, the data set was too small to draw major conclusions. Recommendations for further study include incorporating this new system into failure mode identification and improved maintenance procedures.