Comparative Vacuum Monitoring Solutions to Advance US Air Force KC-46A Condition-Based Maintenance Plus

The KC-46A Pegasus, a Boeing 767 (B767) commercial derivative aircraft (CDA), is a key part of the United States Air Force's (USAF) efforts to modernize their aging tanker fleet. The Department of Defense (DoD) and the USAF have heavily emphasized the desire and need for Condition-Based Maintenance Plus (CBM+) to improve aircraft maintenance programs such as the KC-46A. This study reviews existing CBM+ practices on B767 and related aircraft fleets at Delta Air Lines to identify initial steps for implementing CBM+ in the KC-46 maintenance program. Specifically, comparative vacuum monitoring (CVM) sensors are proposed for KC-46A structural health monitoring (SHM) as a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-certified CBM+ technology. As demonstrated at Delta Air Lines Technical Operations (Delta TechOps), CVM sensors satisfy the technological, procedural, financial, and regulatory requirements to advance KC-46A SHM and serve as a template for future CBM+ initiatives.

Automated summary

The KC-46A Pegasus is crucial for the US Air Force's efforts to modernize their aging tanker fleet and implementing CBM+ is seen as vital for improving its maintenance program. This study examines existing CBM+ practices on B767 and related aircraft fleets at Delta Air Lines to identify initial steps for applying CBM+ to the KC-46 maintenance program. Specifically, the use of comparative vacuum monitoring (CVM) sensors as a FAA-certified CBM+ technology is proposed for structural health monitoring of the KC-46A. The findings from Delta Air Lines provide a viable template for advancing KC-46A SHM and future CBM+ initiatives.