Army Aircraft Maintenance Problems.

Abstract : The Army's modernization thrust in the 70's and 80's will greatly advance its readiness to combat the threat, but the speed at which we have fielded many major weapons, particular modern, complex Army aircraft has pointed out the need to modernize materiel support systems as well. Procedures for developing a force structure to maintain modern Army aircraft in peacetime and in war are not adequate and must be refined. They must be more accurate and more timely so as to pinpoint the cost of manpower to maintain new systems and they must clearly show the need to resource maintenance of these vital systems even when uniformed manpower is not available. The Army aviation community is exploring issues to improve its ability to further maintain Army aircraft especially new systems beginning with the Blackhawk and Apache. TRADOC is conducting an on-going study to determine fixes to the present system. This study examines current issues and provides recommendations to the Army that would correct aircraft maintenance system flaws. Keywords: aircraft maintenance; maintenance management, theses.