Mapping the Needs of Design for Maintenance in Electric Aviation

In the aviation industry, the issue of emission and pollution coupled with a concern over the availability and price of oil has led to a growing interest in the design and certification of electrically powered aircraft. Attention is nowadays paid to the technical feasibility of various aircraft design concepts and operational modes. However, there is still a gap in the knowledge of future maintenance operations associated with electric aircraft. The Dutch Electric Aviation Centre (DEAC) is currently researching the electric aircrafts using Cessna 337F Skymaster as a testbed at the Teuge International Airport (TIA). A brief overview of the electric propulsion system is made, and the possible maintenance challenges arising from the transition to electric aviation are identified. The design considerations from system engineering and analysis and the life cycle cost attribute that influence the maintainability evaluation and findings from the literature review, expert opinions, and study carried out at the DEAC are used to create a comprehensive mind-map of essential factors influencing maintenance performance of electric aviation.