A replacement schedule model for airborne service helicopters

The focus of this study is airborne service helicopter replacement scheduling, a problem which has not yet been adequately addressed in past studies. We use a time–space network technique to develop a network model that integrates purchase, retirement and performance upgrade schedules as well as fleet deployments for airborne service helicopters. The performance of the model is demonstrated by numerical testing in reference to the operations of a Taiwan organization.

► A replacement and deployment model for airborne service helicopters.
► We integrates helicopter purchase, retirement, and performance upgrade schedules as well as deployments.
► A time–space network flow technique is applied to formulate the model.