Air Engineering (AAA)

Ageing Aircraft Audit

Our team has significant experience in scoping and tailoring Ageing Aircraft Audits (AAA) with stakeholder groups to suit both the complexity of the platform and, importantly, to identify specific areas of concern to enable the airworthiness risk to be quantified in service. We carry out all AAAs in accordance with RA5723 with reference to guidance material and best practice in Structures, Systems and Propulsion domains. AR is also a member of the Ageing Aircraft Programme Working Group (AAPWG).

Furthermore, our AAAs draw on all previous relevant independent audit data to avoid nugatory additional audits where it is deemed that the requirement is met. AAAs should support all aspects of continued airworthiness and reach beyond the physical condition of the platform. Our work is completely independent and, importantly, provides our customers with both tangible data and recommendations to highlight risks associated with the insidious effects of ageing and long serving platforms.

Our AAAs provide assurance to Platform Type Airworthiness Authorities (TAA) that both effective airworthiness management is in place and a detailed airworthiness risk assessment can be made for any potential Out of Service Date (OSD) extension.

Reliability Centred Maintenance

RCM is the formal application of engineering logic supported by experience and engineering judgement which, if applied correctly, will result in a recommendation for the most cost-effective engineering failure management programme to ensure assets continually meet required performance standards. It also helps demonstrate that “Duty of Care” is being exercised as required by national and international legislation.

Aviation Requirements as a member of the Joint MoD/Industry Maintenance Schedule Review Advisory Group (MSRAG) is a key stakeholder in the development of RCM Policy for the MoD including the development of the associated MAA Regulatory Articles.

Using our wealth of RCM experience we have delivered numerous Rotary and Fixed Wing RCM Contracts. These include recent support to both the Gazelle helicopter and the SPMAP Defender & Islander platforms all of which required full Master Maintenance Schedule Reviews (MMSR) of the Topic 5 series of publications for the respective platforms. These have delivered improved maintenance regimes, cost savings and enhanced airworthiness.

Following each MMSR, Aviation Requirements has undertaken all Technical Authoring and produced Camera Ready Copies for associated publication. Our team has decades of experience; our RCM knowledge and ability to build on our Engica database knowhow presents a low risk and cost effective solution that meets our customer needs.

Requirements Management & Systems Engineering

Aviation Requirements has been involved with all aspects of Requirements Management and Systems Engineering within the Air Domain for many years.

We have successfully delivered numerous contracts which include the development of User Requirement Documents (URD), System Requirements Documents (SRD), Role Equipment Matrices, underpinned by the development of bespoke DOORS databases, their population and management as well as providing direct technical support to MoD Requirements Managers across multiple platforms (Rotary, Fixed Wing and UAS).

Aviation Requirements supported both the MoD and Industry teams from Concept through to the Design and Manufacture stages of the Wildcat helicopter programme, developing and delivering cost capability trade mechanisms within the DOORS database; developing a contractual requirement which met capability, affordability and time constraints. Performance assessment and management of compliance data (held in DOORS) to underpin the ITEAP, Certification and Release to Service Recommendations of the Wildcat helicopter variants.

Ship Air Integration

AR has been at the forefront of assisting in the delivery of Ship Air Integration (SAI) Projects and Programmes for many years. It holds a wealth of experience in this discipline across a number of helicopter and ship platforms. Over the last four years we have provided technical assistance and systems integrator support to the Chinook and Wildcat Delivery Teams.

Both Chinook and Wildcat are required to operate in a maritime environment on multiple maritime platforms and in a number of different roles. With the introduction of the Chinook Mk6 and Wildcat Aircraft at the same time as new maritime platforms (MARS, QEC), AR has provided support in operationally critical areas to ensure that SAI is delivered to underpin aircraft certification.

The deliverables demanded by these projects are wide ranging and require a deep understanding of the aircraft in all their operational and training roles, liaison with the Design Organisations (DO), an up to date knowledge of current and emerging MAA regulations and key representation at global operators workshops and meetings. AR also embarked on maritime platforms to run first of class flight trials and support developmental SHOL trials.

Technical Authoring

In support of the delivery of our Technical Services, in particular Reliability Centred Maintenance, Aviation Requirements undertakes all Technical Authoring in-house, using suitably qualified and experienced personnel and proprietary publishing tools including ‘FrameMaker’ to deliver high quality Camera Ready Copy.

In addition Aviation Requirements delivers SQEP Operator SMEs to the Lightning DT for the Flight Manual Product Set which includes all pilot orientated publications as well as in-cockpit Human Machine Interface (HMI) / Human Factors Integration (HFI) of electronic data from programme inception. The requirement includes the tailoring of US material to align to UK Regulatory requirements.