To read this content please select one of the options below:

LCA of the maintenance of a piston-prop engine

Yasin Şöhret (Department of Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey)
Selcuk Ekici (Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Eskisehir Technical University, Eskişehir, Turkey)
Onder Altuntas (Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Eskisehir Technical University, Eskişehir, Turkey)
T. Hikmet Karakoc (Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Eskisehir Technical University, Eskişehir, Turkey)

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology

ISSN: 0002-2667

Article publication date: 7 January 2019

Issue publication date: 15 August 2019

1891

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to introduce an approach to evaluate environmental impact of a piston-prop engine from the view point of life cycle assessment (LCA).

Design/methodology/approach

In the aviation industry, safety is an important issue. For reliable and safe flights, the maintenance of aerial vehicles and engines is mandatory. Additionally, regular and correct maintenance plays a key role in keeping efficiency at a high level. With this in mind, a LCA of a regular 50 hourly maintenance process of Cessna type training aircraft is conducted. During the assessment, the starting of the engine before maintenance, replacement of the oil filter, test procedure of the spark plugs, a compressor test, engine cleaning and engine starting following maintenance are taken into account.

Findings

At the end of the study, normalization and characterization values for the maintenance, electricity consumption during maintenance and used fuel are obtained.

Practical implications

Regarding the number of this type aircraft worldwide, the current study offers a valuable contribution to the literature. The authors also intend to introduce an approach which may be useful for the assessment of large body aircraft still in service.

Originality/value

The present paper is a pioneer for future applications of LCA methodology to piston-prop engines and training aircraft.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Eskişehir Technical University and Süleyman Demirel University for the valuable support provided.

Citation

Şöhret, Y., Ekici, S., Altuntas, O. and Karakoc, T.H. (2019), "LCA of the maintenance of a piston-prop engine", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 91 No. 7, pp. 987-993. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-05-2017-0116

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

Related articles