Modifications Flashcards
What is a modification?
An approved in-service design change to an aircraft or associated equipment that arises due to operational requirements or to improve equipment.
What is the purpose of a modification?
They are used to improve safety, op efficiency, capability, reliability, maintainability and to ease production or overcome obsolescence.
What are the different types of modification?
Design organisation Modification
Service Modification
Cover Modification
Urgent operational modifications
Design organisation Modification
During the life of a project, there are likely to be changes required to the build standard of an Air
System (and related products, parts, appliances or Air Launched Weapons (ALW)).
- The design and embodiment of modifications is to be actively managed.
- The primary route to embody this change is through Design Modification (DM) action, which is to be initiated by the Project Team (PT).
- Changes made are on a permanent basis.
- The modification is provided with the applicable technical instruction and spares/tooling packages.
Service Modification
- In certain circumstances the Delivery Team (DT) may use the Service Modification (SM) process
to change the design of their military Air System (or related products, parts and appliances).
- This may be in preference to the Design Modification (DM) route if it is of an urgent, special or short-term nature.
- Although it is not the preferred route, a SM provides the DT with the flexibility to embody the change.
- DT retains control of the Modification until it is either superseded or it is removed. - SM’s must be trailed before use.
- SM’s are deemed to take less than 50 man hours to embody.
- Increases capability
- Improves Maintainability/availability
- An SM may be cancelled whenever is purpose is fulfilled, it is superseded or the original requirement no longer exists.
Cover Modification
- Used to make a Service Modification into a permanent change with the Design Authority.
- Design Authority will take ownership of the modification and provide a spares contract.
- The Design Authority can choose to re-design the Modification to meet design standards if the
current SM does not meet that standard.
- The Aircraft maintenance manual will be updated to show both pre and post Service
Modification standard. This helps to avoid confusion and potential airworthiness problems.
Urgent operational modifications
- Used to make a Service Modification into a permanent change with the Design Authority.
- Design Authority will take ownership of the modification and provide a spares contract.
- The Design Authority can choose to re-design the Modification to meet design standards if the
current SM does not meet that standard.
- The Aircraft maintenance manual will be updated to show both pre and post Service
Modification standard. This helps to avoid confusion and potential airworthiness problems.
Urgent operational modifications
- Used when equipment is required urgently to fill a void in operational capability.
- Equipment used will already be developed and available from industry or another approved military supplier.
- A short life modification, funding and support isn’t expected to exceed 12 months.
- If the modification is a success and proven to be value, long term contracts will be adopted.
Why use SM instead of DM?
The decision to proceed with a SM in preference to a DM will be a result of time and cost factors rather than technical reasons. Prior to using the SM route though, the PT is to fully consider the through life costs of supporting the modification.
Who is in charge of modification embodiment programmes?
ACOS (CSAV) and the PT
Engineers are responsible for accounting, assembling and stowing of role equipment
What is a modification proposal?
It is where the requirement for a MOD has been identified and then ‘proposed’ for assessment by the DA (if applicable), front line command, PT and operational and engineering staffs.
If the proposal is pursued, the PT manages the development of the mod using the appropriate procedures, (there are three procedures, normal, urgent and operational emergency).
You can use the joint modification service for info on submitting a MOD proposal form and the track before a potential embodiment
Where do modification proposals usually originate?
Continued development to meet the specification
Faults in service
New operational roles or the need to improve the effectiveness of existing roles The need to improve reliability, maintainability or cost-effectiveness Obsolescence of items or equipment
Do modification proposals follow the same procedures in normal, urgent and op emergency?
Yes, the normal procedures are followed as far as possible but in an extremely compressed time-scale. However in exceptional circumstances, a DM for example may use SM procedures.
What is a modification standards table?
They were formally used to identify mod states at aircraft build, mods that should be embodied in op environments, mods with riders etc. but are no longer extant.
The AIL in the front of the relevant publication should now be used instead.
Who raises the requirement for a Design Modification and how are they then normally processed?
The PT will identify the requirement for a DM an request the DA input
The requirement will be specified on a Modification Proposal Form
The DA will produce a draft DM leaflet and forward it to the PT for technical editing
PT will then edit and review edited version (seeking advice from Sqn/FLC if necessary) If acceptable, the PT returns the DM leaflet to the DA who then embody the mod
The Topic 2 is amended