RCM / MSG-3 News

The purpose of this page is to provide useful information in the News relevant to RCM / MSG-3 Analysts:

MSG-3 Revision 2009.1 Released:

The MSG-3 document has been revised with the following key changes:

  • Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) and Scheduled Structural Health Monitoring (S-SHM) introduced.
  • Fatigue Damage (FD) analysis revised.
  • Wear damage definition and detail added.
  • Clarification included that MSG-3 analysis process accounts for all the aircraft's certificated operating capabilities.
  • Emphasis added that all elements of assemblies defined as SSIs must be considered.
  • General Visual Inspection (GVI) addressing Evident Safety and Hidden Safety Consequences can no longer be addressed by Zonal Inspections - This aligns with the logic used in the UK MoD J(D)AP100C-22 RCM Guide.
  • Hidden Functions of Safety / Emergency systems or equipment to take into account redundancies within the system or equipment to allow a Hidden Non-Safety Consequence outcome.

Further information is available from the Air Transport Association.

UK MoD Ceases RCM Delivery Services:

The UK MoD MAEI-RCM (Air) will cease providing transactional services, i.e. the upkeep, amendment and publishing of Maintenance Schedules, to customer Project Teams (PTs) by 31 Mar 2011.  Since mid 2009 MAE-I has been able to offer only a prioritised service for amendment of Maintenance Schedules to existing customers. No new tasking, including schedule reviews will be taken on.  The intention is to transfer work to PTs who would in turn outsource it to contractors.

New UK MoD Military Aviation Authority:

The new Military Aviation Authority (MAA), which will provide the regulatory framework for all aspects of military aviation, has started operating on 01 April 2010.

The MAA will take over responsibility from various Defence organisations who currently deliver military airworthiness regulation. The establishment of the MAA was a key recommendation of the independent Nimrod Review Report written by Mr Charles Haddon-Cave QC.

The MAA will be responsible for RCM policy, assurance, and advice and guidance.

Ageing Aircraft Electronic Equipment - Intermittent Faults:

MSG-3 / RCM analysts often face the challenge of dealing with failure data histories of intermittent faults on ageing aircraft electronic equipment because of ageing wiring and connections. The root cause of these faults are often loose or corroded wire wrap, cracked solder joints, corroded connector contact, loose crimp connections and hairline cracks in printed circuit traces.

 

A maintenance tool is being developed that has the potential to feature in Preventive

Maintenance strategies to address ageing aircraft electronic equipment failure modes.

Further details are available at Aviation Today

New UK MoD Air Environment RCM Guide:

The UK MoD Military Aircraft Engineering Integrity (MAEI) organisation have released an updated RCM Guide (JAP(D)100C-22).  This new guide is broadly based on Def. Stan. 00-45 with elements of MSG-3, the previous DAP100C-22 and lessons-learnt from recent RCM projects.

Maintaining Composite Materials - Ultrasonic:

Composites pose new challenges to aircraft maintainers as their usage continues to expand from secondary to primary structures.  Improved NDI / NDT methods will be required to better detect and characterize anomalies in these materials such as due to impacts and manufacturing flaws.  Further details of a new ultrasonic imaging tool are available at Aviation Today

For More Information:

Please Call 07588 688319 or alternatively, use the Contact Form