The Index
Jim
I am reassured - to a certain extent - by what you have said but I still wonder about the way engine failures are analysed and categorised. My previous work has brought me into contact with parts of the world where poor maintenance has been a major contribution to the IFSD rate. How are such regional deviations from the norm handled? I know of one region that would never pass the test. Would that region lose it's PC2e 'licence' or would the whole world be affected by one area's poor performance?
It might be possible for the engine manufacturer to 'bury' maintenance problems by asigning a low index to such events because they can argue such failures are 'one -off'........ but if the engine is problematic to service, for example is prone to the effects of the slightest fuel contamination, might it not be argued that this is partly to do with poor design as much as poor husbandry.
I know it's a touch of thread-creep but it is a very interesting point and I bet I am not alone in considering it very very unlikely that we would ever see a PC2e clearance 'pulled'. There would always be a way of fudging the figures to allow the very necessary 'get-out' clause. It would be catastrophic to the industry if one of the major players had it's worldwide fleet unable to operate PC2e. Out of interest does anybody envisage such an event in their 'contingency planning' ? What could the Plan B be? PC2?
G