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The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

How MROs Determine Aircraft Maintenance Downtime

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Thu, Mar 17, 2011 @ 01:27 PM

Contributed by Doug Schmitt, Operations Planning Coordinator

downtime planning

Good planning is required to deliver efficient downtimes for aircraft maintenance.

Your aircraft is an important business tool and needs to be available to fly when needed. However, scheduled maintenance and inspections are a part of aircraft ownership and require downtime. And downtime requires planning. Just how does your MRO of choice take into consideration all that is required and deliver the most efficient downtime schedule to meet your needs? It’s all in the planning.

The following are the Best Practices of a skilled aircraft scheduling team.

1. Detailed review of quoted workscope.

It all begins with a thorough and accurate workscope that includes required dates, aircraft information, detailed description of work and accurate man hours for each area.

2. Consideration of available space and manpower.

Everyone involved has input. A scheduler from each production team manages and schedules projects specific to their expertise. All schedulers work together, negotiating a full down time that maximizes capacity and manpower.

3. Review of parts and material needs.

As the development process occurs, parts and material needs should always be considered. Lead times should be analyzed and considered as the flow of the project is determined.

4. Present the schedule to the customer.

A final schedule with relevant milestones is assembled and presented to the customer. At this time, all concerns arising during the creation of the plan will be discussed.

5. Critical Communication.

The complete schedule, plan and flow are effectively communicated to each team within the facility. Flow charts are developed and published, allowing any employee access the schedule. This plan and flow is continually referenced throughout the project and is updated with more detail several times before delivery.

6. Planning doesn’t stop.

Planning doesn’t end at the development of the schedule. Throughout the entire project from input to delivery day, the schedule must be referenced and managed. Each project is assigned a Project Manager who takes the lead in managing of the project. They work with the teams to stay on schedule, achieve milestones and deliver on time.

As an aircraft scheduling coordinator, I know how critical the downtime of a customer’s aircraft can be. Whether you own one aircraft or a fleet, having your aircraft down for maintenance changes the way you are allowed to do business.

Duncan Aviation has a multi-step process developed by a team of experts who have perfected the art of planning over many years.

Doug Schmitt is an Operations Planning Coordinator at Duncan Aviation specializing in maximizing the full utilization of the Lincoln, Neb. facility by coordinating pending projects and aircraft schedules. He began working in aviation in 1986.

Tags: Airframe Maintenance, Customer Service, Maintenance Event Planning

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