Method and apparatus for determining an effective jet engine maintenance schedule

A method for determining a maintenance schedule for a jet engine, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing flight pattern data relating to the jet engine, the flight pattern data comprising a take-off location, a landing location of the jet engine, thermal cycle data and time on wing data;
• measuring environmental data proximate to the take-off location;
• archiving the measured environmental data from the take-off location;
• measuring environmental data proximate to the landing location;
• archiving the measured environmental data from the landing location;
• correlating the archived environmental data from the take-off location and the landing location to wear of the jet engine;
• determining the maintenance schedule of the jet engine based on the step of correlating and using the thermal cycle data and the time on wing data.

A system for determining a maintenance schedule for a jet engine using at least remotely-gathered environmental data, the system comprising:

• a remote monitor for collecting and transmitting the remotely-gathered environmental data, the remote monitor comprising:
• at least one sensor for measuring the remotely-gathered environmental data;
• a controller connected to the at least one sensor;
• and
• a remote communications device connected to the controller for transmitting the remotely-gathered data;
• a processing unit for receiving the remotely-gathered data from the remote monitor and determining the maintenance schedule for the jet engine, the processing unit comprising:
• a processor communications device for receiving the remotely-gathered data transmitted from the remote monitor;
• a processor connected to the processor communications device for processing the remotely-gathered environmental data;
• an environmental database connected to the processor for compiling and storing the remotely-gathered environmental data;
• and
• a flight database connected to the processor for compiling and storing flight data for the jet engine wherein the flight data includes at least thermal cycle data and time on wing data,
• wherein the processor is adapted to generate the maintenance schedule for the jet engine based on the remotely-gathered environmental data and the flight data.

A system for determining a maintenance schedule for a jet engine using at least remotely-gathered environmental data, the system comprising:

• a remote monitor comprising at least one sensor for collecting the remotely-gathered environmental data;
• a data pathway connected to the remote monitor;
• a processor connected to the data pathway for processing the remotely-gathered environmental data collected by the remote monitor;
• an environmental database connected to the data pathway for compiling and storing the remotely-gathered environmental data;
• and
• a flight database connected to the data pathway for compiling and storing flight data for the jet engine, the flight data including at least thermal cycle data and time on wing data,
• wherein the processor is adapted to generate the maintenance schedule for the jet engine based on the remotely-gathered environmental data and the flight data.