1184. The Use of Parametric Cost Estimating Relationships for Aircraft Systems in Establishing Initial Design to Cost Targets

Paper

Abstract

This paper provides a brief overview of Design to Cost (DTC), considers problems inherent in attempting to estimate costs, discusses techniques and types of models that have been developed to estimate aircraft costs, presents a set of cost estimating relationships that estimate the total production cost of commercial and military transport aircraft at the systems level, and indicates how these equations might be used effectively in developing initial DTC targets.
The principal point made in this paper is that, by using a disaggregated set of equations to estimate transport aircraft costs at the systems level, reasonably accurate preliminary cost estimates may be achieved. These estimates may serve direct as initial DTC targets or adjustments may be made to the estimates obtained for some of the systems to estimate the production cost impact of alternative designs or manufacturing technologies.
The relative ease by which estimates may be made with this model, the flexibility it provides by being disaggregated and the accuracy of the estimates it provides make it a unique and useful tool in establishing initial DTC targets.