Approximately 10% of an aircraft’s operating costs are attributable to maintenance and servicing. This makes maintenance the third-largest expense for airlines, after fuel and personnel costs [1]. Analyzing engine damage and its causes is therefore of significant economic importance. It enables better assessment, prediction, and minimization of damage. During operation, aircraft are exposed to a wide range of environmental influences. These factors affect the engine with varying intensity and often in combination, leading to wear on critical components.
The PreJET (Predictive Jet Engine Technology) project is a collaboration between IFAS, MTU Maintenance Hannover GmbH, and Sightwise GmbH. Its aim is to identify correlations between damage in the high-pressure turbine and external influencing factors. IFAS is responsible for system modeling: Based on flight and weather data, as well as detailed simulations of aircraft and engine behavior, the stress on the engine is determined. The results are intended to help plan maintenance processes more precisely and detect damage at an early stage.