Disposal Analysis Procedure Handbook and Analysis Tool Development - Use Case: Aircraft Environmental Control System

The main objective of the thesis is to implement a new standardized series of instruments and processes to carry out an Aircraft Disposal Analysis. The analysis should allow to identify all the requirements, strategies, risks, logistic support elements and costs relevant to an aircraft Disposal. The proposed analysis is placed within the context of the International S-SERIES ILS Specifications, in particular with the S3000L regulation. The implementation is approached in three consecutive steps: - The first one involves the development of a Procedure Handbook to rationalise the process into a series of logical-decisional actions to simplify its execution; - The second one involves the development of a Disposal Analysis Tool, using Microsoft Access to manage a database that contains all the information needed to carry out the processes described in the Handbook. The aim of the tool is also to support and automatize the analysis operations; - The third one is a test of the above-mentioned Handbook and Tool, through a selected Use Case. A main aim of the implementation is to harmonize the analysis with the steps of the aircraft life cycle phases, such as concept, design, development, in-service phase and disposal, highlighting the importance of performing continuous trade-off in terms of systems performances, disposal requirements and costs. The implementation has been carried out in a two-person team, in concurrence with Leonardo Aircraft Division. With reference to the structure of this study, first, there is an introduction section, to provide a better understanding of Disposal procedures and the necessity of implementing a good phase-out process to remain competitive in the aviation world. The identified main reasons are of a technical, technological and economic nature. Then the S-SERIES ILS Specifications are briefly reviewed in order to present the complex structure of the already mentioned regulations and thus better positioning the Disposal Analysis. The chapter also shows how these specifications can be used from the design to the in-service phases of a project. This is followed by a presentation of the new implemented Procedure Handbook, highlighting its key points. The main procedures and steps that led to the definition of a Disposal plan are outlined, highlighting how this analysis must be developed from the earliest stages of product life cycle. In particular, in this study is presented a focus on Disassembly analysis phase. The next chapter, relevant to a new developed Disposal Cost Evaluation process, represents another essential aspect of the analysis. Here it is highlighted that continuous cost evaluation and monitoring is essential to optimize each action taken during the disposal plan definition and execution. Cost evaluation and monitoring it is hereby not intended as a final step of the analysis but must be carried out in parallel with the whole process. Then, the Disposal Analysis Access Tool is presented, showing its structure and functionalities. It is given an overview of the data involved during the analysis and how they are modelled in the relevant tables to achieve a continuous, interactive and iterative flow of information. The analysis ends with a practical application of the Handbook and the Access Tool on a multirole tactical transport aircraft, twin-engine turboprop Use Case. In particular, the Environmental Control System of the aircraft has been taken as a reference to test the implemented series of instruments.