F-16 turbofan engine monitoring system

Sławomir Szrama

doi:10.19206/ce-2019-205

Abstract

The multirole F-16 is the most advanced aircraft in the Polish Air Forces. It has been equipped with the very modern, sophisticated and advanced turbofan engine F100-PW-229. Due to the fact, that there is only one engine, its reliability, durability, efficiency and performance are the crucial factors for the safety reasons. In the article author researched maintenance system of the F100 turbofan engines, to describe Engine Monitoring System features. Engine Monitoring System (EMS) is the key element in the engine prognostic and health monitoring. The EMS provides engine fault indicators to the pilots and technicians and with the engine performance trending affects the F-16 flight safety risk and enhanced engine maintenance management concept. The main goal of this article was to provide information on the F-16 Engine Monitoring System and its impact on the aircraft airworthiness and F-16 fleet readiness resulting from the engine reliability. It is also an introduction to the F-16 Engine Health Management concept.

Highlights

The F-16 engine indicating and monitoring system allows the operator, either a pilot or technician to follow and monitor engine operation and performance.F-16 Engine Monitoring System (EMS) (Fig. 1) provides an electronic flow of engine life usage data to the engine tracking systems
Transfer/download of data from the Engine Diagnostic Unit (EDU) is accomplished using Engine Monitoring Support Equipment (EMSE), which consists of the following: a) Comprehensive Engine Diagnostic System (CEDS) provides complete capability to interface with the EDU/Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC) and to monitor/record engine operation in a lightweight unit
These actions terminate with fault correction instructions or reference to a schematic diagram or another system fault isolation manual for further fault analysis

Summary

Introduction

The F-16 engine indicating and monitoring system allows the operator, either a pilot or technician to follow and monitor engine operation and performance. The EMS collects information during engine operation to support maintenance personnel during engine troubleshooting. These features allow for increased aircraft availability, reduced maintenance man-hours per Engine Flight Hour (EFH), and more accurate tracking [8]. The EMS acquires relevant engine data during flight. It analyzes the data and provides a concise output at the Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) being flightline level to define required maintenance actions and to allow transfer of data to ground support equipment for appropriate levels of analysis and usage [1]. D) Establish EMS fault and engine NO-GO indications that lead to determination of appropriate maintenance actions required at the flightline The main purpose of the EMS is to: a) Determine which control system is installed and select the appropriate set of diagnostic algorithms for accurate Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) isolation. b) Detect in-flight failures, set faults and isolate failures to the appropriate LRUs where possible. c) Record pre- and post-event data when specific operational limits are exceeded. d) Establish EMS fault and engine NO-GO indications that lead to determination of appropriate maintenance actions required at the flightline

F-16 Turbofan Engine Monitoring System

Engine Advisory Data

Findings

PROCEDURE