LCA of the maintenance of a piston-prop engine

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to introduce an approach to evaluate environmental impact of a piston-prop engine from the view point of life cycle assessment (LCA). Design/methodology/approach In the aviation industry, safety is an important issue. For reliable and safe flights, the maintenance of aerial vehicles and engines is mandatory. Additionally, regular and correct maintenance plays a key role in keeping efficiency at a high level. With this in mind, a LCA of a regular 50 hourly maintenance process of Cessna type training aircraft is conducted. During the assessment, the starting of the engine before maintenance, replacement of the oil filter, test procedure of the spark plugs, a compressor test, engine cleaning and engine starting following maintenance are taken into account. Findings At the end of the study, normalization and characterization values for the maintenance, electricity consumption during maintenance and used fuel are obtained. Practical implications Regarding the number of this type aircraft worldwide, the current study offers a valuable contribution to the literature. The authors also intend to introduce an approach which may be useful for the assessment of large body aircraft still in service. Originality/value The present paper is a pioneer for future applications of LCA methodology to piston-prop engines and training aircraft.