Maintenance Technology Commons^™

Orbital Reliable Printed Circuit Boards, Thomas Maxwell Starnes, Keegan Blake Jordan, Ian Griffith, Grant Monroe Pesqueira, Vishal Navin Patel

Senior Design Project For Engineers

Deep Interstellar Solutions is proposing a device to produce custom, serviceable printed circuit boards (PCBs) in low Earth orbit. This technology uses blank PCBs that are laser-etched and prepared for electrical components, then stored in the module. This method of PCB production allows for rapid repairs or prototyping without the need for subsequent resupply missions. By implementing this technique, future missions will achieve greater autonomy, sustainability, and resource efficiency. The goal of this development is to pioneer the creation of custom circuitry for use in deep-space missions where resupply is neither cost-effective nor timely.

Barriers To Modernizing Aviation Maintenance Technician Education To Meet Emerging Industry Needs, Durwa Chavan

All Theses

Modernizing aviation maintenance education is essential to keep pace with emerging technologies, including electric propulsion systems and advanced avionics. As aircraft systems become more digitized and interconnected, there is a growing demand for qualified technicians who can conduct advanced diagnostics and maintenance. However, training programs have not kept pace with these technological shifts, creating a gap between workforce preparation and industry needs.

Using a qualitative research approach, this study conducted semi-structured interviews with industry professionals, educators, and regulatory personnel to identify gaps in existing training programs and Airman Certification Standards (ACS). This study addresses the disconnect between current aviation maintenance …

Examining The Relationship Between Title 14 Code Of Federal Regulations (Cfr) Part 147 Maintenance School Aviation Maintenance Technician (Amt) Instructor Experience And Instructor Pass Rates For Airmen Certification Standards (Acs) Element Subject Areas, Richard Lyman Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative, correlational study examined the relationship between Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) instructor experience and student pass rates in 14 CFR Part 147 maintenance schools. Data were collected from February to August 2025 using purposive and snowball sampling, which yielded 67 complete responses. Instructor experience, measured in months of A&P-rated maintenance work prior to teaching, ranged from 1 to 684 months (M = 253.54, SD = 197.97). Student pass rates, defined as the proportion of students passing ACS element subject area courses, ranged from .52 to 1.00 (M = .95, SD = .07). Most instructors were male, White, over 50 …

Aircraft Water And Waste Systems Curriculum Alignment For Updated Airmen Certificate Standards (Acs), Myles Miller

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

The purpose of this project was to create a curriculum that aligns with the updated Airmen Certificate Standards (ACS) related to aircraft water and waste systems. The curriculum was designed to align with the FAA standards outlined in the ACS section II. Airframe Subject O. Water and Waste Systems. The curriculum includes components, operation, inspection, and servicing requirements for potable water and lavatory waste systems. The curriculum should equip students with the ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with lavatory waste systems, and the ability to locate and explain the procedures for servicing water and waste systems. The …

Technology Acceptance Of Virtual Reality For Aircraft Maintenance Training, Lusine Carlsson

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

A study was conducted to investigate Virtual Reality (VR) technology acceptance for aircraft maintenance training by student mechanics. The study employed a survey methodology using the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical framework. Participants were student mechanics from Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved aircraft maintenance schools within the United States. The study attempted to address how the variables of perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU) influence the students' behavioral intention (BI) to use VR technology for aircraft maintenance training, and how external variables of self-efficacy (SE), perceived enjoyment (PE), perceived health risk (PHR), performance expectancy …

Efficacy Of Virtual Reality-Based Simulations In Training Aviation Maintenance Technicians On Maintenance Procedures, Gayatri Anoop

All Theses

The COVID-19 pandemic forced institutions of higher education (IHEs) to halt in-person classes and transition to online platforms. Given the intricate process of adapting hands-on experiments to the online environment, this transition seemed particularly challenging for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM) labs. The abrupt nature of this transition added to the difficulties, given that the IHEs were inadequately prepared for seamless continuity during the pandemic. In the first phase of this project, a literature review was conducted to understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on education. Specifically, the review explored the challenges that institutions of higher education faced, …

Railroad Condition Monitoring Using Distributed Acoustic Sensing And Deep Learning Techniques, Md Arifur Rahman

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Proper condition monitoring has been a major issue among railroad administrations since it might cause catastrophic dilemmas that lead to fatalities or damage to the infrastructure. Although various aspects of train safety have been conducted by scholars, in-motion monitoring detection of defect occurrence, cause, and severity is still a big concern. Hence extensive studies are still required to enhance the accuracy of inspection methods for railroad condition monitoring (CM). Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has been recognized as a promising method because of its sensing capabilities over long distances and for massive structures. As DAS produces large datasets, algorithms for precise …

Developing Systems Engineering And Machine Learning Frameworks For The Improvement Of Aviation Maintenance, Fatine Elakramine

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops systems engineering and machine learning models for aviation maintenance support. With the constant increase in demand for air travel, aviation organizations compete to maintain airworthy aircraft to ensure the safety of passengers. Given the importance of aircraft safety, the aviation sector constantly needs technologies to enhance the maintenance experience, ensure system safety, and limit aircraft downtime. Based on the current literature, the aviation maintenance sector still relies on outdated technologies to maintain aircraft maintenance documentation, including paper-based technical orders. Aviation maintenance documentation contains a mixture of structured and unstructured technical text, mainly inputted by operators, making them …

Investigating The Costs And Economic Impact Of Flight Delays In The Aviation Industry And The Potential Strategies For Reduction, Ashmith Anupkumar

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

This study addressed a critical issue in our travel life: flight delays. This study covers all aspects of a flight delay, from its causes and consequences to reduction strategies. The focused research questions were: To determine the outcome of flight delays in the aviation industry, to determine costs associated with flight delays for airlines, airports, and passengers, and to determine strategies for reducing flight delays in the aviation industry for robust findings. The findings for each question were as follows: the primary causes were overscheduling, airport hubbing, late check-ins, technical failure, etc. And the consequences were significant financial loss, the …

An Investigation Into The Economic Useful Life Of Commercial Aircraft As Impacted By Maintenance And Economic Variables, Robert Gallagher

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This research involved examining the economic useful life of commercial aircraft and the impact of maintenance and economic variables on the viability and longevity of the asset. The data sample consisted of the entire population of Boeing commercial aircraft produced between 1956 and 2021. The objective was to determine the effect of both maintenance and economic variables on the longevity and usefulness of commercial aircraft. As manufacturers work with issues such as service life, economic life, safety, and critical design features, those in the aviation community focus on the operational side of the equation––how long can one operate the asset, …

Generalizable And Adaptable Data-Driven Methods For Overcoming Barriers To Practical Industrial Condition Monitoring, Matthew B. Russell

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

The future of smart manufacturing relies on predictive maintenance systems that intelligently minimize expensive downtime through timely assessment of machine condition. Deep Learning (DL) has achieved excellent performance in industrial condition monitoring experiments, but the constraints of the manufacturing environment prevent many algorithms from being practically deployed on the factory floor. Ubiquitous sensing from online machines generates high velocity data streams that require new techniques for efficient transmission and storage. Despite these ever-increasing data lakes, many applications still lack the data needed for training DL fault diagnosis and wear tracking models since most data is unlabeled and only from nominal …

Building A Frameworks For Apron Planning, Design, Optimization, Future Proofing And Expansion, Adam K. Wing

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Airports are a significant economic driver that impact local and national interests. As such, in an ever connected world, these critical components of infrastructure face a growing number of influences which contribute to systems complexity and frequently impede further development. The point of this dissertation is to discuss and highlight the benefit of systematic thinking as planners approach airport planning challenges and update the aging aviation infrastructure in many regions of the world.

This dissertation looks at a series of three papers that, examine the impact and influences of technology, distinguishes the effects of social and procedural changes, and offers …

Coronavirus Disability Survey: Assessing The Impact Of Covid-19 On Young Adults With Disabilities, Hena Rashid

Departmental Honors & Graduate Capstone Projects

This paper seeks to inform individuals of the importance of digital inclusivity, diminish the digital divide, and accessibility to technological services of college students who experience a form of disability. The United States has conducted minimal research on the digital disability rhetoric, promoted minimal disability-inclusive measures to protect the rights and well-being of college students, and minimal assistance to mitigate Coronavirus (COVID-19) impacts to this population subgroup. This subject can have a big impact on individuals who suffer from disability stigma, low accessibility issues, and who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Furthermore, this subject will benefit college students …

Design And Evaluation Of High Power, High Efficiency And High Power Density Motor Drives For More Electric Aircrafts, Zhao Yuan

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

More-electric aircraft (MEA) is an attractive concept as it can reduce carbon dioxide emission, relieve fossil-fuel consumption, improve the overall efficiency of aircraft, and reduce the operational costs. However, it poses substantial challenges in designing a high-performance motor drive system for such applications. In the report of Aircraft Technology Roadmap to 2050, the propulsion converter is required to be ultra-high efficiency, high power density, and high reliability. Though the wide band-gap devices, such as the Silicon-carbide based Metal Oxide Silicon Field Effect (SiC-MOSFET), shows better switching performance and improved high-temperature performance compared to the silicon counterparts, applying it to the …

3d Printing For Solving Part Obscolescence, Ayman G. Alqarni

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to highlight the issue of parts obsolescence and to highlight the possibility of using alternative methods to overcome parts shortage. Specifically, this thesis sought to answer the research question: is the three-dimensional printing technology (3D) an applicable approach to overcome part obsolescence. The research question was answered through data research and survey analysis. Notwithstanding, the diminished manufacturing sources and material shortages (DMSMS) management and other existing approaches, such as forecasting, contracting, and reverse engineering (RE), were discussed briefly in the literature review and profoundly in chapter IV to differentiate among applicable existing solutions toward …

Development Of A Multi-Probe Kelvin Scanner Device For Industrially-Relevant Characterization Of Surface-Activated Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites, Kirby Simon

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) composites are becoming increasingly attractive materials in manufacturing due to their lightweight nature, mechanical strength, and corrosion resistance. Surface activation of these materials is usually required during processing to increase the bond strength of assemblies (aerospace and automotive industries) or improve adhesion with implants (biomedical industry). Industrially-relevant, nondestructive quality control methods for assessing the activation state of these materials do not currently exist, however. Applying principles discovered through the use of scanning probe microscopy, a multiple-probe Kelvin scanning (MPKS) device has been developed that can assess the uniformity of the activation state of plasma-treated CFRTP …

The Impacts Of Using Augmented Reality To Support Aircraft Maintenance, Terry R. Hebert Jr.

Theses and Dissertations

The United States Air Force (USAF) expends significant resources to address the rise in aviation mishaps derived from an overworked, understaffed maintenance community, and high operational environment. Currently, paper-based technical orders (T.O.) are utilized by maintainers to accomplish aircraft inspections, servicing, and maintenance tasks. As technology advances, many civilian agencies have begun to leverage augmented reality (AR) to improve organizational proficiency. This research seeks to identify if the inclusion of AR within aircraft maintenance will positively or negatively affect maintenance task accuracy and completion time. A single variable randomized complete block design (RCBD), within-subject design of experiment (DOE) asses the …

Examining The Drivers Of C-130j Maintenance Requirements Through Multiple Regression Analysis, Andrew V. Gill

Theses and Dissertations

As a result of increasing system complexity and cost, new aircraft acquisition, upgrade and repair timelines continue to lengthen. As a result, aircraft are kept in service longer than originally intended. Therefore, age-related wear continues to play a large part in determining mission-capable status, and therefore, aircraft availability (AA) rates. Combined with decreasing fleet sizes and manpower resource pools, each aircraft declared not mission capable (NMC) exerts an out-sized influence upon fleet AA rates. This research used multiple regression analysis to identify and quantify the effects of age, Major Command (MAJCOM) and operating location ambient weather on unscheduled not mission …

Application Of Dupont’S Dirty Dozen Framework To Commercial Aviation Maintenance Incidents, Greg M. Mellema

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

This study examined the 12 preconditions for maintenance errors commonly known as the Dirty Dozen and applied them to actual incident and accident data provided by a participating airline (PA). The data provided by the PA consisted of Maintenance Event Reports (MERs) (reactive), Maintenance Operations Safety Assessment (MOSA) reports (proactive), and the results of the 2017 Maintenance Climate Awareness Survey (MCAS) (subjective). The MER and MOSA reports were coded by aviation maintenance subject matter experts (SMEs) using the 12 Dirty Dozen categories as the coding scheme, while the MCAS responses were parsed according to the precondition category they best represented. …

High Dynamic Range Optical Devices And Applications., Elijah Robert Jensen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Much of what we know about fundamental physical law and the universe derives from observations and measurements using optical methods. The passive use of the electromagnetic spectrum can be the best way of studying physical phenomenon in general with minimal disturbance of the system in the process. While for many applications ambient visible light is sufficient, light outside of the visible range may convey more information. The signals of interest are also often a small fraction of the background, and their changes occur on time scales so quickly that they are visually imperceptible. This thesis reports techniques and technologies developed …

Automatic Testing In The United States Air Force, Pearson Wade

Computer Science and Computer Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The need for standardized Automatic Testing Equipment in the United States Department of Defense has brought about new policies and procedures within entities like the United States Air Force. The diversity and lifespan of systems such as jets, missiles, drones, and other electronics have brought on the need for a new system known as the Versatile Depot Automatic Test Station, or VDATS. The VDATS handles the automatic testing of replaceable digital circuits from different systems. I was introduced to this system firsthand during my time as an intern at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. This new standardized approach to testing a diverse …

Secure Aircraft Maintenance Records Using Blockchain (Samr), Ahrash Aleshi

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

We propose to enhance the security and transparency of aircraft maintenance records in the aviation industry through the use of blockchain technology. A physical aircraft maintenance logbook is susceptible to being lost or destroyed. A nonexistent aircraft maintenance logbook hurts the confidence in integrity and reputation of the aircraft. Furthermore, fraud can occur through forgery of FAA personnel signatures and the installation of non-official aircraft parts. The scope of this work is to develop a secure blockchain that can store aircraft service records and information in a digital distributed ledger. By keeping the maintenance logbook on a digital ledger, records …

Effect Of Active Learning On Instrument Rated Pilots’ Knowledge And Self-Efficacy, Robert Leroy Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The study examined the effect of active scenario-based training on the knowledge and self-efficacy of instrument rated pilots who were not instrument current. Additionally, this study addressed an issue that was not present in the existing literature by validating the potential of using at-home personal computer scenario-based simulation for instrument currency. The current method of maintaining instrument currency does not require any context or scenario-based training. At a minimum, a pilot must perform a specific number of instrument approaches and holds in an airplane, approved simulator, or training device.

Sixty-two non-current instrument rated pilots who represented the U.S. general aviation …

More Electric Systems Architecture Effect On Business Jet Performance, Kelsey M. Mazur

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

A more-electric systems architecture, using current state of the art components, is proposed for the business jet Dassault Falcon 2000. A model of the existing aircraft, both of its overall flying characteristics and performance and of its detail systems layout, is created using Pacelab APDc and SysArcc programs. The model is validated with respect to the aircraft published data. Then, another model of the same aircraft is created but, this time, it is for the aircraft with the new architecture and their respective performance is compared. In particular, this results in changes in mission range and the overall system's weight. …

Study On Some Issues About Safety Assurance And Maintenance Of China's Maritime Search And Rescue Helicopter, Zhenhua Xiang

Maritime Safety & Environment Management Dissertations (Dalian)

No abstract provided.

Experiment And Simulation Of The Acoustic Signature Of Fatigued-Cracked Gears In A Two-Stage Gearbox, Matthew James Ostiguy

Master's Theses

This thesis focuses on the development of a health monitoring system for gearbox transmissions. This was accomplished by developing and understanding a two-stage gearbox computer model that emulates an actual gearbox test rig. The computer model contains actual gearbox geometry, flexible shafts, bearings, gear contact forces, input motor torque, output brake torque, and realistic gearbox imbalance. The gear contact force of each gear stage and the input bearing translational acceleration were the main outputs compared between a healthy gearbox and damaged gearbox computer model. The damage of focus was a fatigue crack on the input pinion gear. A sideband energy …

Finite Element Modeling Of Macro Fiber Composite Actuators With Application To Wing De-Icing, Boutros Youssef Azizi

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Icing can have a profound impact on aircraft performance during inclement weather conditions. Aircraft icing primarily occurs on the leading edge of wings, tails and engines. The de-icing/anti-icing technologies currently in use are typically bulky, heavy, cover the entire airfoil surface and consume high energy. These drawbacks highlight the need for a de-icing technique that can overcome some or all of the aforementioned problems. Therefore, in this thesis, a proposed de-icing technique is studied in which lightweight Macro Fiber Composite (MFC) actuators are used to break the adhesive bond between the leading edge of a wing and an accumulated ice …

Estimation Of Real-Time Runway Surface Contamination Using Flight Data Recorder Parameters, Donovan C. Curry

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Within this research effort, the development of an analytic process for friction coefficient estimation is presented. Under static equilibrium, the sum of forces and moments acting on the aircraft, in the aircraft body coordinate system, while on the ground at any instant is equal to zero. Under this premise the longitudinal, lateral and normal forces due to landing are calculated along with the individual deceleration components existent when an aircraft comes to a rest during ground roll. In order to validate this hypothesis a six degree of freedom aircraft model had to be created and landing tests had to be …

The Effect Of Cockpit Noise On The Temporary Threshold Shift Of Cessna 172sp Flight Instructors, Andrew Robert Bellini

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

The purpose of this thesis was to study the temporary threshold shift of general aviation flight instructors resulting from their working environment. Exposure to noise before a temporary threshold shift completely recovers can cause a permanent threshold shift with no possibility of recovery, resulting in permanent hearing loss. A result showing minimal to no temporary threshold shift would indicate that hearing personal protective equipment is working properly. This study used sound-level measurements, and audiometric testing, together with survey data to determine whether or not flight instructors were at risk for potential hearing impairment due to temporary threshold shift. Independent t …

The Effect Of Shift Turnover Strategy And Time Pressure On Aviation Maintenance Technician Performance, William R. Warren

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

Aviation maintenance technicians (AMTs) provide the technical and applied knowledge required to maintain airworthiness in aircraft. In commercial aviation, maintenance tasks are performed across multiple shifts. When AMTs share a maintenance task between shifts, the shift turnover strategy used may determine if information is effectively transferred between AMTs. Ineffective shift turnover strategies are a contributing factor in many aviation accidents and incidents. Additionally, time constraints on certain maintenance tasks may cause AMTs to commit error when performing a task. The present study examined the effect of shift turnover strategy (face-to-face or written) and time pressure on error capture, accuracy, and …