Method and apparatus for improving fault isolation

A software program comprising software instructions arranged to run on a processor to improve fault isolation for failure modes in a complex system, the software program when installed and operating on a processor resulting in the processor:

• capturing a set of symptoms that is consistent with a failure mode of the complex system;
• identifying a set of repairs for the complex system that are consistent with said set of symptoms;
• ranking, when said set of repairs includes more than one repair, said repairs in a sequence that will minimize an average cost to repair the complex system;
• determining possible tests that are consistent with said failure mode;
• and
• ranking said possible tests according to their respective net improvement in said average cost to repair the complex system.

An aircraft maintenance and operations diagnostic system for improved assistance with fault isolation for a fault condition within an aircraft based on a fault model for the aircraft, the system comprising in combination:

• a user interface;
• a computer, coupled to the user interface, having memory for storing software instructions and databases and a processor for;
• executing said software instructions to process information to facilitate the fault isolation for the fault condition according to a fault model, the software program resulting in the computer;
• capturing a fault code from a fault classification process, said fault code being part of the fault model that is consistent with the fault condition;
• identifying a set of repairs for the aircraft that are consistent with said fault code;
• ranking, when said set of repairs includes more than one repair, said repairs in a sequence that will minimize an average cost to repair the aircraft;
• determining possible tests that are consistent with said fault code;
• and
• ranking said possible tests according to their respective net improvement in said average cost to repair the aircraft.