ALE-A Carrier Aircraft Availability Model

The Avionics Logistics Effects (ALE) model was developed in 1973 in response to a US Navy requirement to evaluate potential benefits of reliability and maintainability improvements that might be incorporated into the AWG-9 weapon control system on the F-14 aircraft and AWM-23 ground support equipment. The model simulates the entire F-14 aircraft (avionics and non-avionics) in terms of squadron flight operations, maintenance, and support aboard an aircraft carrier. Its major application is to determine the impact of avionics system design and maintenance changes on aircraft availability. Several studies have been performed with the ALE model, and one in particular is discussed in this paper. In this case, Hughes recommended 27 separate reliability and maintainability improvements to the AWG-9/AWM-23 systems. The contribution of these improvements to F-14 availability is discussed, with particular emphasis on achieved crisis-flight rate.