CF6 engine operational reliability and maintenance optimization

Operational reliability and maintenance optimization of CF6-80C2 engines that are used to power Boeing 747-400 aircraft is studied. Engine manufacturer General Electric Company (GE) recommended that the first engine overhaul check be at 18,000 flight hours or three years, whichever was first reached. Based on T airline maintenance data, it is found that some engines reach the first shop visit due to high running hours within one calendar year. The sampled data include 15 samples of CF6-80C2 corrective maintenance. The engine operating hours can be assumed to be the same as the aircraft flying hours. The purpose of maintenance is to retain the reliability of equipment on an acceptable level, GE hopes to keep the reliability of the CF6-80C2 at 99% under the specified maintenance regime. By applying the reliability models, a numerical simulation of engine reliability is provided.