Optimally Scheduling EA-6B Depot Maintenance
Abstract
Ranging from Operation Desert Storm to combat actions in the Balkans, EA-6B Prowler aircraft lie at the heart of nearly all tactical aircraft strikes. Providing a fleet capable of such combat actions in the next decade challenges the Prowler community to efficiently schedule EA-6B depot maintenance services. By 2009, EA-6B depots must conduct 80 wing center section replacements, 144 major aircraft modifications and standard depot level maintenance 154 times. There are several complex rules governing when each Prowler is eligible for each service; these rules are also flexible enough to allow more induction schedules than can be evaluated manually in a reasonable amount of time. Since each service removes aircraft from mission inventory for six to 12 months and performing multiple services together requires less time than performing services independently, services should be combined whenever possible. This thesis develops a mixed integer linear program, EA-6B Depot Maintenance Optimization Model (EDMOM), to help schedule EA-6B aircraft for depot maintenance services. EDMOM minimizes total time aircraft are removed from mission inventory; it produces an induction schedule for the EA-6B fleet through 2009 that adheres to all appropriate rules and conducts 378 services in only 216 inductions, requiring 2,446 total months. Without combining services, it would require 3,630 months, nearly a 50 percent increase.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA369581
Entities
People
- Bradley P. Meeks
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School