Feasibility and Cost Effectiveness of Airborne Tire Pressure Indicating Systems.
Abstract
The cost-effectiveness and feasibility of airborne tire pressure indicating systems are evaluated for potential application to modern air carrier transports having 6, 10, and 18 wheels. Both wheel mounted pressure readout gauges and devices and cockpit tire pressure warning indicators are studied. Typical wheel mounted readout devices and eleven conceptual cockpit indicating systems are discussed. Information on accuracy, temperature compensation requirements, weight, installation cost, system cost, and system maintenance cost is provided. Each cockpit system is evaluated against important design criteria which require that cockpit systems cause no false warnings and that each system be capable of being tested periodically to determine its ability to detect a low pressure tire when it occurs. A study of tire failures is made for 1973-1976 identifying rate of tire failures and aircraft damage costs resulting from tire failures. The study presents data that shows that 65% of airframe damage cost is related to underinflation - induced or related tire failures which may be avoided by a properly designed tire pressure indicating system. Average airframe damage cost per departure for each study aircraft, based on actual airline data, is presented with comments on delay and cancellation costs. Aircraft damage costs and tire maintenance costs that may be avoided are compared to tire pressure indicating system life cycle costs to show that tire pressure systems are basically feasible, but marginally cost effective aircraft testing of promising systems is recommended. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA065513
Entities
People
- R. L. Suiter
Organizations
- Douglas