EAS425 Flight Line & Hangar Management Assignment- Aspire Airways is a new low-cost carrier (LCC) based in Singapore, Singapore

Assignment Details:

Question 1

Aircraft Maintenance Strategy for Aspire Airways

Aspire Airways is a new low-cost carrier (LCC) based in Singapore. It aims to meet the bourgeoning air transport demands within the ASEAN countries by providing flight services to 20 major airports in the region. The airline operates a young and small fleet of Airbus aircraft consisting of five A319-111s and fifteen A320-214s, leased from aircraft leasing companies. The aircraft are configured to use CFM56-5B5 engines. Airbus is appointed by Aspire Airways to support its full maintenance needs till 31 Dec 2018. The data for these aircraft (as at 1 July 2018) is listed in Table 1.

Aspire Airways has engaged your company to strategise and propose the maintenance strategy plan that it should adopt to optimize its operating cost as well as to maximise its aircraft availability. The proposed maintenance plan shall cover a period of 2-years commencing from 1 Jan 2019. Your company has tasked you to develop the 2-year maintenance plan. Your proposal shall cover the following perspectives:

(a)Discuss the maintenance requirement mandated by the aviation legislation to ensure continuous airworthiness for the fleet of Airbus A319 / A320 aircraft. Project the letter checks for the airframe, and the shop visits for the powerplants and landing gear systems scheduled for the fleet over a 2-year duration (from 1 Aug 2018). (30 marks)

(b) Evaluate the maintenance strategies available to meet the maintenance requirement for the aircraft, the powerplants and the landing gear system. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages offered by each maintenance strategy. (25 marks)

(c) Shortlist qualified MRO service providers in which Aspire Airways can consider for the outsourcing option. Recommend at least 2 candidates each for the aircraft MRO, the engine MRO and the landing gear MRO services, highlighting their respective key strengths for the nomination. (25 marks)

(d) Analyse and recommend the most appropriate maintenance strategy that Aspire Airways should adopt for its aircraft fleet. Substantiate your recommendation with logical rationales and relevant data. (20 marks)