Developing a dynamic programming model for aircraft-engine maintenance scheduling

항공기 엔진 정비 일정 수립을 위한 동적 계획 모델 개발

According to flying hours, aircraft engines require regular overhaul for preventive maintenance. Because of hostile defense environment of Republic of Korea, the aircraft of republic of Korea Air Force(ROKAF) have been operated at the maximum level of availability and have similar overhaul schedule in several months. The concentration of overhaul schedule in a short period demands additional spare engines far exceeding the spare engines for corrective maintenance. If ROKAF decides to purchase extra engines for the preventive maintenance, the extra engines will be used only for the preventive maintenance and will be excess inventory for the most of aircraft life ccle. Also, the procurement of extra engines is significant investment for ROKAF. To help ROKAF schedule the preventive maintenance without significant spending, this study develops a dynamic programming model that is solvable using an integer programming algorithm. The model provides the number of engines that should be overhauled for a month for multiple periods under given constraints. ROKAF actually used this model to solve a T-59 engine overhaul problem and saved about three billion won at one time. ROKAF plans to use this model continuously for T-59 and other weapon systems. Thus, saving for long term will be significant to ROKAF. Finally, with minor modification, this model can be applied to deciding the minimum number of spare engines for preventive maintenance.