Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ns-mx!iowasp.physics.uiowa.edu!ceres.physics.uiowa.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!news.cs.indiana.edu!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: news@newcastle.ac.uk Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Message-ID: <1991Feb19.033346.19290@cbnews.att.com> Date: 19 Feb 91 03:33:46 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 72 Approved: military@att.att.com From: news@newcastle.ac.uk Newsgroups: sci.military Path: turing!n01qu >From: A.G.Poole@newcastle.ac.uk (Alex Poole) Subject: Re: Aircraft turnaround and maintenance Organization: University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU Message-ID: <1991Feb18.133203.7598@newcastle.ac.uk> Sender: news@newcastle.ac.uk Date: Mon, 18 Feb 1991 13:32:03 GMT References: <1991Feb13.221910.6268@cbnews.att.com> jlc@milton.u.washington.edu (Jeffrey Casterline) writes: > As a mere observer, I have another set of questions about >how the air operations really work. Excuse me, please, if these >seem simple or stupid: Not at all, not much attention has been paid to details... this may be for security reasons, but this is unlikely as all this is available in books! > a. Are aircraft assigned to only one pilot? I could see >an advantage to having only one particular ground crew. But, with >turnaround time being what it is and the rest requirements for pilots >after extended missions, do they assign more than one pilot per plane >to maximize efficiency for the use of the aircraft? Yes. Each plane is tailored for its aircrew (pilot/navigator in the RAF, pilot (or a/c commander)/weapons system officer in the USAF/USN). The seats etc are built for the crew, with HUDs etc aligned for his (or her...) particular height. There is also an advantage that each a/c is *slightly* different, and keeping with one means that you learn the unique effects of your personal bird; some nasty accidents could occur if you're used to fly on the edge of the envelope in one a/c, and you have to swap to an a/c with even marginally different operating parameters. This doesn't matter as much now as it once did, as they are built to much more exacting standars, but changing planes *does* make a difference. > b. I read and hear that thousands of sorties are flown each >day and this has been continuing for weeks. How often to these high- >tech, sophisticated, planes need a "complete overhaul." I assume that >aircraft are being cycled in and out of service. But, are we reaching >a point more progressively more aircraft will require extended downtime? Yes, sort of. Only having one crew per plane means that there is a fair amount of time spent on the ground anyway, and military a/c are *the* best maintained machines in the world (altho' no doubt the Army/Navy will argue about this...). The servicing on a/c is very thorough, and *any* fault will ground the plane until it is fixed. Normally, this is not a problem, as there is usually enough time betwen flights for most minor time. As time goes on, tho', general wear and tear, made worse by the conditions in which the planes have to fly, will result in an increased amount of servicing, but the crews work as hard as they can to prevent this becoming necessary, by routine maintanace. > c. Is the payload of one of the navy aircraft restricted >when launched from a land base? On an aircraft carrier, the catapult >aids the takeoff. With no such ground assist, do these planes carry >less when they take off from a land base? It shouldn't make a differnce; if anything, they should have *more* payload on land, as their take-off run is not so restricted. Alas, I don't really know much about carrier ops, so I can't give a real answer. Sorry. > Thanks to all who will help me understand. Your welcome... Alex ----- All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. ----- People who think they know it all really annoy those of us who do -----