The maintenance of an aircraft can be very expensive, but some of the expenditures can be cut down if proper procedures are followed.
To deeply understand the cost of maintenance that comes along with owning an aircraft, the owner should be aware of various factors like how they use their aircraft, and where they have based their aircraft maintenance. The owner should also be aware of the potential problems that may arise during maintenance.
In this blog we will look at different maintenance issues and we will also shed light on some precautionary measures.
Damaged Engine Fan Blades
Exposure to harsh weather conditions, sand and humidity can cause a lot of damage to your aircrafts fan blades. This is an integral part of an engine and in order to avoid any unfortunate events, regular inspection must be carried out.
Fan blades should be lubricated once a year, this way you can ensure that the fan blades last longer. Often fan blades are replaced unnecessarily early due to being improperly maintained.
Contaminated Heat Exchangers
The main purpose of a heat exchanger is to maintain an optimum temperature and prevent the overheating of hydraulics, gear boxes, power units and more. If your heat exchanger malfunctions, it can put the cabin crew and the passengers at a high risk.
This is another unnecessary expenditure. It doesn’t matter if your aircraft is situated in Europe or any other hotter part of the planet, although the air conditioning heat exchangers in Europe will require less inspection compared to ones in the Middle East.
This issue can be avoided by having your aircraft inspected at least once a year.
Fuel Tank Contamination
It is essential to ensure that the fuel tank of your aircraft does not become contaminated. Contamination can affect all of your engines. This is a common problem in aircrafts based in hot and humid regions.
It is recommended that you drain your fuel more frequently and that regular fuel sampling is done.
Water Drainage
If the water system is not drained properly or if drainage procedures have not been followed, it can lead to cracks in your pipes, heaters and taps.
This can lead to extensive maintenance cost and extended groundtime, which will prove to be not financially viable for the company.
Thus water drainage should be carried out by following the proper procedures in order to avoid any inconveniences.
Aircraft Parking
Aircraft parking has to be done properly. Aircrafts have to withstand different environmental conditions.
There are three main classifications of parking.
- Normal parking is for a shorter duration. It is in a ready-to-fly condition and might require some sort of servicing task.
- Short Term Parking is typically for a span of few days.
- Long term is generally for weeks or even months.
Aircraft maintenance manuals can provide you with all of the details of parking your aircraft. These detailed aircraft parking procedures aim to preserve the safety, stability and airworthiness of your aircraft.
About Acorn
Acorn Welding is a Transport Canada Civil Aviation approved Maintenance Organization #100-91. We are also one of the very few EASA approved welding facilities.
We are also a Transport Canada Civil Aviation approved manufacturer. Acorn Welding holds ratings for welding, components, NDT, and structures as well as the distribution of aviation parts. For your convenience our approval certificates are provided online.
