Shock-N-Awe in 21st Century Aviation Maintenance

The theme of this book is that 21st Century Technology aircraft (NEXGEN) has out paced the data and knowledge for aging aircraft programs today. Persons involved with NEXGEN aircraft have minimum historical data and knowledge to base maintenance practices on to ensure airworthiness. The economy of the industry for the last twenty years has resulted in reducing maintenance training to diminish maintenance costs and by using contract onshore and offshore facilities for maintenance and inspection. This mixture of maintenance actions has left the industry vulnerable to sub-grade maintenance practices on aging aircraft as well as NEXGEN aircraft. Aging Aircraft Structural Programs parameters and time lines do not track the same as Aging Aircraft Nonstructural Programs; e.g. computer, electronic, electric, fuel and hydraulic systems. The Aging Nonstructural Systems Research began with a White House Commission on Aviation Safety and Security in 1997 by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) William J. Hughes Technical Center and is still being studied today. Meanwhile NEXGEN aircraft experience system failures around the world.