Maintenance Suggestion Updates
Detailed Description
There are a few mechanics with regards to maintenance that were proposed in the time since issue #529 (closed) was proposed. These will be delineated in this update and the other old update will be closed. These include:
-Random breakdowns that increase in frequency as an aircraft increases in age (henceforth referred to as base breakdown frequency)
-A maintenance slider budget that can influence the breakdown frequency. For example, there will be a base cost that every aircraft has to pay (the amount will vary depending on how many seats are in the aircraft type i.e. its earning potential). However, the lowest frequency will never be 0%, and depending on aircraft age the lowest frequency possible will be a higher and higher value. The maintenance slider will be a different range for each different aircraft type depending on earning capability.
Example using fake numbers:
A Boeing 737-800 has a base maintenance cost of $1 million monthly per aircraft. Maintenance slider can be adjusted anywhere from $10k to $1 million. Base cost (with no effect on breakdowns) would be $500k. Going lower will cause a negative effect on the breakdown frequency, going higher will have the opposite effect.
A Boeing 747-400 meanwhile would have a base maintenance cost of $5 million, maintenance slider from $500k to $5 million, base cost $2.75 million.
Note that more than likely, these values will scale depending on aircraft age. For example, the range of cost for the slider for a brand new 737-800 could be $10k to $250k for example. This will add advantage to newer aircraft and disadvantage to older aircraft.
-Chance of finding a random broken part during a maintenance check that prolongs the check. Maintenance slider budget could also affect this frequency. Less budget, more chance that this occurs. Chance also proportional to the aircraft's age.
-Having building maintenance facilities as a requirement to perform maintenance. You will have to take aircraft out of service in order to perform maintenance at a designated facility. This will promote hub and spoke operations and keeping spare fleet as reserve.
Context
This will allow more game balance going forward. These action items will address a major game balancing issue that affects the speed of growth of airlines. This is a long-term project and these are goals for the future. However, these items should be first to consider when looking for the next major upgrade.