I am very interested in understanding the methodology of calculating the maintenance man-hours for these helicopters.
The hours I see quoted are so far removed from anything I have ever seen in commercial aviation, that they are beyond comprehension.
Does anyone have a definitive system that is being used? What is, and is not included in this count. How are man-hours attributed to a machine. What is included in the count? What level of management and indired labour is included in this total?
How can these hours be interpreted into a more realistic and comprehensible format. I think this would have to include the utilisation. Of course, there are always those who might consider that the numbers are skewed because the contractor has an interest in billing hours, as opposed to creating efficiencies. Likewise the level of crewing, may be more a function of the requirement to maintain high utilization capability, rather than the less demanding normal operational pace?
Anyone have any answers?