Wichita State University, in conjunction with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the United States Forest Service (USFS), conducted research in the area of structural integrity requirements for aircraft flying in firefighting missions. The primary goal of this research was to conduct a comprehensive operational loads analysis of the heavy air tanker fleet. The objectives of this program were to evaluate typical operational in-service data and compare the results with the data used in the design and qualification of such aircraft and to provide a basis to improve the structural criteria and methods of operation and maintenance of these airplanes. The scope of this program included (1) defining the service-related factors that affect the operational life of heavy air tankers and (2) reducing, analyzing, and providing processed data in statistical formats, which will enable the FAA, the USFS, and the operators to better understand and control the factors that influence the structural integrity of these aircraft. For this research, data were collected from various P2V and P3A air tankers in actual operation over several fire seasons; 5316 flight files were collected during the 2008 and 2009 fire seasons, using an Appareo Systems recording system, and 3958 flight files were collected from the 2007 and 2008 fire seasons, using an older recording system from Systems and Electronics, Inc.
Usage and Maneuver Loads Monitoring of Heavy Air Tankers
2011
88 pages
Report
No indication
English
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