Aging Systems Panel

6th joint FAA/DoD/NASA

Conference on Aging Aircraft

Dominique CHEVANT
Aircraft Aging System manager
Customer Servicing Engineering
AIRBUS S.A.S.
Aging Systems Panel

! In response to the White House Commission on Aviation Safety

and Security, the FAA formed the Aging Transport Systems
Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ATSRAC) in January 1999.

!Three aircraft manufacturers (Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed) are

represented in this committee which comprises numerous
organisations.
Aging Systems Panel
Aerospace Industry of America
Airbus

Boeing SAE Aerospace

NASA, Navy,
Current ATSRAC Department of
members defense

FAA NADA, ALPA,

NEMA, GAMA,
IAM

JAA,
ATA, IATA
Transport Canada
Aging Systems Panel

The ATSRAC was initially tasked with five tasks, which

encompassed:
! Collecting data on aging wiring systems through airplane
inspections,
!Reviewing airplane manufacturer’s service history,
!Reviewing maintenance criteria & maintenance programs,
!Reviewing and updating Standard Wiring Practices (ESWPM),
!Reviewing training programs and recommend actions to address
aging electrical systems.
Aging Systems Panel

In January 2001, the FAA rechartered the ATSRAC committee to

provide more details on the recommendations and develop
implementation plans.
Four new tasks have been assigned:
• Task 6: Review and consolidate the wire system certification
requirements,
• Task 7: Review and update Electrical Standard Wire Practices
Manual (ESWPM),
• Task 8: Develop a plan for a training program,
• Task 9: Develop an Enhanced Zonal Analysis Procedure (EZAP)
Aging Systems Panel
Wire system certification requirements harmonization
Task 6
working group
! Working group 6 includes representatives and experts from Type
Certificate Holders and supplemental Type Certificate Holders, Operators,
and regulatory Authorities. Airbus and Boeing are co-chairing this working
group.
! Based on initial tasking, working group 6 recommended creation of 29
new proposed regulations and revision of 8 existing regulations (new
regulations will only apply for new programs),
! No significant impact anticipated on either existing or future Airbus
program design evolution,
! Task 6 recommendations will however involve additional cost for
manufacturers for demonstration of compliance with the new requirements,
! A380 aircraft will be concerned by the new proposed regulations.
Aging Systems Panel
Electrical Standard Wire Practice Manual (ESWPM)
Task 7
harmonization working group
! Composition of this working group includes technical
representatives from ATA, OAMs, OEMs and regulatory authorities.
Both Airbus and Boeing are co-chairing this working group,
! Investigation resulted in the creation of a Master Breakdown
Index (MBI),
! MBI supplements the Table of Content (TOC) and existing
indexes by providing a method for searching documents using
topical information,
! Basic content of the documentation satisfactory. Some
improvements will be brought for harmonization of manufacturer
ESWPMs.
Aging Systems Panel
Enhanced training program harmonization working
Task 8
group
! Composition of this working group includes technical expertise
from air carriers operators, repair stations, OAMs and regulatory
authorities. Two operators are co-chairing this working group,
! Wiring maintenance training program was developed for eight
target groups and include:
• Wiring system condition,
• Applicable repair schemes,
•Wiring modifications and ancillary repairs to wiring systems
and components.
! As far as Airbus is concerned, a training program has been
developed and will be available on request to the Airbus Training
Division starting 2003.
 Aging Systems Panel
Enhanced Maintenance Criteria harmonization
Task 9
working group

!Composition of this working group includes technical expertise in

wiring/avionics maintenance, maintenance program development,
and use of instructions for continued airworthiness. Two operators
are co-chairing this working group,
! With respect to scheduled maintenance, working group 9
recommendations will lead for operators to retroactively update their
maintenance programs and for manufacturer to ensure that EZAP
(Enhanced Zonal Analysis Procedure) is applied prior to certification
of future designs.
! The FAA plans to release a Special Federal Aviation Regulation
(SFAR) to require enhancement of electrical wire systems. A time
frame will also be provided to uniformly address inspection and
maintenance of electrical wire installation on affected airplanes,
 Aging Systems Panel
Enhanced Maintenance Criteria harmonization
Task 9
working group (continuation)

! Application of EZAP provides an appropriate level of attention to

be given to the electrical wire installation system,
! EZAP is well suited to maintenance programs that contain a
dedicated Zonal Inspection Program (dedicated ZIP’s exist for all
Airbus types). This minimises the number of new inspection that
might otherwise need to be created,
!Airbus is currently testing application of the EZAP on a sample of
A300B4. New and modified tasks arising from this activity will be
promulgated by service bulletin for the A300 and will be reflected in
all Airbus types Maintenance Planning Documents.
! Manufacturers will also have to assess Service Bulletins to
identify modificatuion that could alter the outcome of the EZAP.
 Conclusion

! FAA has launched an important program on Aircraft system

aging,
! Airbus has actively participated and will continue to support /
participate in ATSRAC activities,
! The Airbus operators have been regularly informed through the
Operator Information Telex (OIT) channel,
! As a proactive initiative and to anticipate ATSRAC future
requirements, Airbus decided to launch an Electrical Installation
Maturity Review (EIMR) on first delivered A320’s,
! Thanks to the good electrical installation aging evolution on
Airbus aircraft and existing Zonal Inspection Program, Airbus is
confident that the impact of the ATSRAC recommendations for
Airbus operators will be minimum.