When managing an aircraft or a fleet of such vehicles, one may find that purchasing and sourcing parts can be one of the more difficult aspects of overall operations. That being said, procurement does not have to be a challenge, and having an understanding of how to be properly organized can make the process much simpler. This is not to say that planning, processing, chasing, and tracing are not all individually important, but that they all must be carried out in an organized fashion to ensure little to no hiccups or stalls along the way.
Valves are devices that serve the purpose of regulating the flow of a fluid, which may either be in the liquid or gas phase. With numerous design and size variations, it is helpful to understand which valve type works best for a given application. In the aviation industry, in particular, ball valves have become an integral component in vessel construction due to their long service lives and precise control capacity. In this blog, we will discuss the several nuances associated with ball valves and their use in the aerospace industry, highlighting their function and design variants.
Without a robust network of ground team members and equipment, aircraft would not be able to perform any operations. With air travel as busy as ever, planes may fly routes over ten times per day. In fact, it is not uncommon for a commercial aircraft to support 24-hour operations, covering thousands of miles and transporting hundreds of occupants in that given period.
Fixed-wing aircraft facilitate controlled flight by manipulating several moving components called control surfaces. These surfaces, which include the rudder, flaps, elevators, and ailerons, help to guide the plane as it travels through the air with smoothness and safety. While each of these elements plays a critical role in aerodynamics, this blog will focus on the design, operating principle, and various types of ailerons.
Aircraft hydraulic systems allow operators a way of remotely controlling an array of components by transmitting force through a pressurized fluid. Hydraulics can quickly and accurately generate high forces through lightweight pipes of varying sizes, shapes, and lengths. Furthermore, they serve as the primary sources of power in aircraft systems like flight controls, flaps, wheel brakes, and more.
Aircraft windows are an important element of the fuselage that provide crew members and passengers a view of the outside atmosphere and allow for safety and comfort to be upheld with ease. With the intensive atmospheric conditions present in the altitude range aircraft typically travel at, airplane windows have to be designed with ample integrity and strength. In this blog, we will discuss how airplane windows are designed and the various materials that make them up.
For a jet engine to properly function with high performance and reliability, it requires a continuous flow of oil. Oil plays various roles for an engine assembly, serving to cool hot parts, lubricate moving assemblies, and remove the buildup of debris. For the oil system to function with ease, all parts need to function together so that oil can be stored, cooled, directed, and distributed as necessary. With the grand importance of the jet engine oil system, it can be very beneficial to have a general understanding of its design and functionality for proper care and use.
When an aircraft is parked at a terminal or is otherwise grounded with all engines and power units shut off, power is unable to be generated for various internal systems and electronics. Whether the aircraft is being prepared for its next flight or is simply being inspected for system functionality, there will need to be a source of power provided without utilizing the engines for safety and fuel savings. With an aircraft ground power unit (GPU), electrical power can be provided from an external source to various aircraft parts and systems with ease. As GPUs serve as a common form of ground support equipment that is extremely useful for aviation applications, it can be beneficial to have a better understanding of them.
In the realm of aviation, a stall refers to an aerodynamic condition in which lift is lost as a result of the disruption of smooth airflow over wings. As stalling is a very hazardous condition that can lead to an accident, it is important that pilots have ample training on how to recover themselves when it occurs. While understanding the basics of stall recovery is essential, it is also highly useful to be aware of the most common mistakes that pilots make during such procedures.
Altitude is the vertical distance above a specific reference point. While you may be familiar with the term, you may not know that there are five types of altitude. There are many factors that determine altitude including the vertical distance above mean sea level and above the ground surface, as well as pressure and density. In this blog, we will be providing an overview of five different types of altitude, thus giving you a better understanding of their distinguishing features and importance.
