It is commonly recognised among operators of modern commercial aircraft that maintenance is a significant and costly part of their operation. In fact, it is estimated that 28% of all aircraft operating costs can be attributed to maintenance-related activities. A major portion of this activity can be classified as unscheduled, that is, maintenance other than regular servicing and periodic overhauls. Much of the cost of unscheduled maintenance derives from the actual man-hours and materials involved in isolating and replacing faulty components. However, additional consideration must be given to the fact that an aircraft which is detained beyond its scheduled departure time is neither producing revenue for the operating airline during that period, nor promoting goodwill among passengers inconvenienced by delays or cancellations.