Aircraft Maintenance Essentials
Aircrafts should be maintained and inspected regularly so that it will always be in good flying condition. There are many different ways by which aircrafts can be maintained so that all its parts are fully operational, and that is the reason why these complicated vehicles need professionals to service them thoroughly.
Every aircraft need different types of maintenance which are given below.
The fuselage, the wings, and the undercarriage form the airframe, which is the basic mechanical structure of the aircraft. When we speak of airframe maintenance the main focus are these areas are not the engine or propulsions system. These are the types of maintenance works performed on the airframe: inspection and replacement of winglets, prevention and control of corrosion, painting, and replacement of landing gears. ‘Letter checks’ is a kind of detailed inspections made in the airframe after it has traveled a specific number of miles in the air. Here are the components of the letter check: cosmetic A and B checks, intensive C check of all components, and a D check where they take the aircraft apart and reassemble it again. The frequently done checks are the cosmetic A and B checks while the C intensive check and the D dismantling and reassembling, involves a lot of time and are only done every few years.
Engine and APU (Auxiliary power unit) maintenance are also extremely important in aircraft maintenance. This needs to be done by a mechanic that specialized in the aircraft’s specific engine type. Engine maintenance involves a lot of tasks including the following: comprehensive engine testing, removal and reinstallation, and troubleshooting. There is also a need to check and regularly maintain the aircraft’s APU. APU is the one that provides the aircraft’s power for functions not related to propulsion. The mechanic that will do the maintenance work should be well versed in fixing the specific make and model of your APU.
The checking and repairing of other essential parts of the aircraft should be done regularly too. A full sized components check involves the following activities: removing and cleaning components, applying anti-corrosion compounds, lubricating parts, and replacing damaged parts. Tests on the pneumatic and hydraulic systems of the aircraft are also done to ensure that they are running smoothly.
Avionics or aircraft electronics are very important factors in an aircraft’s overall performance. The focus of avionics testing and maintenance are all the navigation and communication equipment of the aircraft which includes GPS, radar, radio communications, and computer systems. Rewiring and replacing of components will be done by a technician if necessary. Someone who has a strong technical knowledge of electric engineering is the right mechanic to do this job. We see here that aircraft maintenance is a process which is extensive and multifaceted. Aircraft owners should understand the stages of maintenance so that you can stay aware of the condition of the aircraft and its performance capability.