Exploration and implementation of commonality valuation method in commercial aircraft family design

Abstract

Commercial aircraft family design can reduce development costs, shorten development cycles, and expand the market coverage of aircraft. Commercial aircraft family development has become one of the most important features of modern aircraft design. This paper explores the effects of commonality on different aircraft models in a commercial aircraft family. The existing product commonality indexes are summarized and their limitations in the application to aircraft design are discussed. Then a new component commonality index is proposed based on the component decomposition structure. A model for calculating the aircraft program value is established, which considers development costs, manufacturing costs, sale price, operation costs and residual costs. The effects of aircraft commonality on time and economic costs of both development and manufacturing, and on sale price, are analyzed and quantified. The commonality evaluation strategy is obtained, which features comprehensive consideration of the aircraft program value and time costs. The break-even analysis of aircraft is proceeded on the basis of costs and price data. By using a real option method, the strategy considers the uncertainty of the aircraft program and the flexibility of the manufacturer. This strategy proves to be rational and applicable to aircraft design based on the calculation of three examples and the analysis of parameter sensitivity.