Global Issues in Civil Protection: Maintenance of the Civil Protection Aircraft
Résumé
The maintenance of civil protection aircraft was entirely outsourced and was the subject of a contract in 3 lots (engines 20%, canadairs and trackers 75%, liaison aircraft 5%). The annual maintenance cost was approximately 30 M€ and nearly 50% of the total cost of the aircraft. Maintenance costs were linked to structural factors (low flight hours and fleet sizing established for exceptional fire years). Malfunctions were quickly identified in 2006. The conditions for awarding maintenance contracts were not optimal. The drastic operational constraints, even in the low season, the fleet dispersion, and the maintenance schedule's rigid management generated significant costs.
It was recommended that the market be divided into two lots (starting in 2008), that the contractual duration of the contracts be extended beyond 4 years, that the availability during nonfire periods be reduced to 30% and 85% during the fire season, and that the operational usefulness of the detachments in Cannes, Corsica, and Carcassonne be reviewed. It was also recommended that modulation of the fleet be studied to optimise maintenance during years of average fire activity.
A progress plan has been set up based on the systematic analysis of flight indicators and a different mode of organisation (ex., Italy and Canada) to achieve maintenance gains through a more appropriate definition of availability constraints and to encourage more rational use of aircraft.