Expert: D. Norkus - 7/12/2007

Question
Realizing that cycles and flying hours impact an aircraft service life, what is the present service life forecast for present Boeing and Airbus widebody aircraft production. Are these aircraft designed for 60,000 flying hours and 75,000 cycles? Have there been any recent studies as to the service life of aircraft in production?

Answer
The Boeing Company advertises a generalized service life of "twenty years" or 50,000 flights/pressurization cycles. Of course, the actual flight hours depends on the routes flown. Trans World Airlines had a 747, N53110, which was retired with 105,759 flight hours and 19,163 pressurization cycles!

Actual service life projections from the Boeing company by model can be found here- http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_07/corrosn_sb_table01.html

The widebody 747 minimum design service objective is 20,000 flights/cycles, 60,000 hours and 20 years. The 767 is 50,000 flights/cycles, 50,000 hours and 20 years. The 777 is 40,000 flights/cycles, 60,000 hours and 20 years. I can't comment about Airbus products as I have not seen that kind of info provided by them on the internet.


There have been studies done on service life. The FAA formed a committee to propose revisions to applicable Federal Aviation Regulations and associated guidance material for aging airliners called the the Aging Transport Systems Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC). Their objectives are to:    
1. Evaluate fleet condition
2. Review fleet service history
3. Improve maintenance criteria
4. Review and update standard practices for wiring
5. Review inspection and repair training programs

Here is ATSRAC website for further info - http://www.mitrecaasd.org/atsrac/

I suggest contacting the folks at Service Engineering  or Boeing Technology Services within the Boeing Commercial Airplanes Group regarding their service life studies. They can probably provide you with some documents. (I have found them to be very helpful when I contacted them- even with trivial info requests.) There are numerous pages with many departmental contacts at their site. Try starting here- http://www.boeing.com/contactus.html

Hope this helps.
Dottie