The two level maintenance-I level dilemma

Abstract

Previous attempts at implementing the two-level maintenance philosophy for Navy aircraft did not prove to be workable, and an 'I' level capability was added at a later stage in at least one major program. In this work, an attempt is made to define the real requirements for a workable two-level system, and some actual cases of what can be done on some major weapon systems in the Navy are shown. Recommendations on how to implement and test for a working weapon system BIT/BITE (built-in-test/built-in-test equipment) are offered along with some criteria to measure success. Additionally, related issues such as design for testability and repair capability are addressed since these items can easily take a back seat or be omitted entirely when driving hard to a two-level maintenance concept.<>