Analysis of Maintenance Efficiency of Next-Generation Avionics Architectures: Comparison of A320, A330 and B737 Classic Generation Aircraft with A350 and B787 IMA/AFDX Systems

The technological evolution of aircraft has increased the mission profiles of avionic systems and their data communication requirements. The Federated architecture and the ARINC 429 protocol, accepted as standards in classic-generation civil passenger aircraft and based on the logic of a separate independent computer for each function, have caused hardware and logical bottlenecks in the face of increasing system complexity. In this study, the avionic infrastructures of classic-generation A320, A330 and B737 aircraft and the Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) architecture and Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX) network systems used in next-generation A350 and B787 platforms were comparatively analyzed from the perspective of maintenance efficiency. Using qualitative research and document analysis methods, the concrete effects of the transition from a traditional Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) based infrastructure to Common Core Processing Modules (CPIOM) on aircraft hardware weight, troubleshooting times, spare-parts logistics and maintenance personnel workload were examined. The results show that the IMA architecture minimizes hardware redundancy, providing a saving of between 40% and 60% in avionic system weight, and optimizes spare-parts inventory through standardized card structures. Furthermore, the deterministic data transmission of the AFDX network based on the ARINC 664 standard, its Bandwidth Allocation Gap (BAG) restrictions and its integration with Central Maintenance Systems (CMS) prevent fault propagation at the hardware level. Consequently, it was determined that next-generation avionic networks supported by Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) algorithms and the digital-twin philosophy reduce direct maintenance costs (DMC), prevent unnecessary part replacements (No-Fault Found) and maximize aircraft dispatch reliability.