Purpose-Aircraft operators incur significant costs when an aircraft is taken out of service for maintenance. This paper presents a method for reducing time duration of aircraft maintenance checks using critical chain project management (CCPM) principle. Design/methodology/approach-A case study of a typical heavy maintenance check performed on an Airbus 320 aircraft is undertaken for the analysis. The critical chain method is applied to develop a plan with a reduced duration and a survey and field observations to validate the findings have also been carried out as a part of this study. Findings-The paper compares the traditional project management method with CCPM in view of reducing the aircraft down time duration for maintenance. This study repositions buffers and other techniques to shorten the chain path and a reduction in the total duration of the project by 5 days is achieved. Research limitations/implications-It is argued that application of CCPM principle can reduce the duration of an aircraft maintenance check, but this study is done in a single project situation focusing on project planning and execution. Therefore, additional study may be required to examine other issues. Originality/value-Cost of the maintenance is second highest expenditure factor for an airline operator. Therefore, it is necessary to drive the maintenance cost down. The paper demonstrates that the duration of a maintenance check can be reduced by 8.9% using the method suggested in this study.

This paper explores the use of sharkskin in improving the aerodynamic performance of aerofoils. A biomimetic analysis of the sharkskin denticles was conducted and the denticles were incorporated on the surface of a 2-Dimensional (2D) NACA0012 aerofoil. The aerodynamic performance including the drag reduction rate, lift enhancement rate, and Lift to Drag (L/D) enhancement rate for sharkskin denticles were calculated at different locations along the chord line of the aerofoil and at different Angles of Attack (AOAs) through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). Two different denticle orientations were tested. Conditional results indicate that the denticle reduces drag by 4.3% and attains an L/D enhancement ratio of 3.6%.

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Chinese universities have opened their doors for foreign students in recent years. Finding internationally accepted academic degrees programs and relevantly qualified academics however remains a challenge for the Chinese universities. The universities too are facing difficulties in engaging international students in studies and university activities. Many students remain regularly absent from academic activities because they feel isolated due to one institution-two systems concept of education administration at the universities. International education management and effectiveness of teaching and learning practices of the universities under the system are examined in this study.