Methods and apparatus for monitoring gas turbine engine operation

A model-based trending process (10) for a gas turbine engine (14) that generates (78), in real-time, engine trend parameters from engine sensor data and ambient flight condition data to assess engine condition is described. The engine includes a plurality of sensors that are responsive to engine operations. The trending process is implemented using a commercially available processor coupled to the engine to monitor the engine operations, and having the desired processing speed and capacity. Engine health parameters are estimated (70) and adjusted (72) in a model for component diagnostics and fault detection and isolation. The trend parameters generated are retained.