You must have come across different planes and aircraft that are numbered, such as the Boeing 737. It is common for many people to wonder how the aircraft are numbered. These numbers hold great significance in understanding the specific models of aircraft. Professional aviation welding technicians use these numbers to implement suitable repair solutions.
Keep reading to learn why airplanes require a numbering system and how they are actually numbered.
The Role Of An Engine In Aircraft Numbering
Generally, most airplanes are powered by multiple engines. Airbus A300, for example, has two engines, while the Boeing 787 has four engines. The numbering system is used to identify these specific types of engines.
Contrary to popular belief, airlines and manufacturers do not assign random numbers to the engines. A universal numbering system is available to determine the way in which airplane engines are numbered.
The Importance Of Numbering Aircraft Engines
The most important benefit of numbering airplane engines is that pilots are able to get specific information about them. For instance, if a pilot wants to get an aircraft engine mount, he or she is expected to get it according to the specific model of the aircraft engine.
Also Read: 5 Crucial Things To Remember About Aircraft Engine Mounts
If the engines are not properly numbered, it can cause a lot of confusion among pilots, manufacturers, and aviation welding technicians. Moreover, if one of the engines fails, pilots will not be able to identify the root cause of the issue and tell the traffic controller about the issue they are facing. Hence, having a universal numbering system is useful to eliminate potential confusion and errors.
Another major reason for numbering airplane engines is that pilots don’t turn on all of the engines at the same time. Instead, most engines are started according to a specific sequence that can vary from plane to plane.
Generally, if an aircraft has four engines, pilots are likely to start three engines first and then start engine four. This kind of sequence is identified according to the numbering of the engines.
How Does Aircraft Engine Numbering Work?
Airplane engine numbering starts from the farthest left of the pilot’s view. It simply means that the engine located to the farthest left of the pilot is numbered one. If there are four engines in the airplane, the next closest engine is considered to be engine two. Similarly, the engines on the right side of the pilot are numbered three and four.
One of the most important things to note in aircraft engine numbering is the fact that engines are numbered from the perspective of the pilots when they are seated in the correct forward position.
If you see the numbering by standing and facing the airplane from the opposite direction, the numbers will appear differently to you. Therefore, whenever aviation welding technicians are dealing with aircraft engine numbering, they will see it from the pilot’s point of view.
Numbering Of Single-Engine Aircraft
There is no need for numbering in single-engine crafts since they only need a single engine to get power. However, numbering is essential for multi-engine airplanes to get information about the engines quickly.
Numbering Of Airplane Models
The naming and numbering of airplanes are also performed as per some standards and internal procedures of different airlines. Large-scale airlines and plane manufacturers such as Airbus and Boeing have their own numbering system that is dependent on the aircraft model, engine type, specific model variant, and other such features.
Unlike the numbering of aircraft engines, it is possible to name and number an aircraft randomly due to varying reasons such as marketing purposes. For instance, Boeing first introduced its commercial jetliner as the ‘Boeing 700’. However, the marketing team added ‘7’ at the end later to make it sound better with the name ‘Boeing 707’.
About Acorn Welding
Acorn Welding is a professional aviation company that offers a variety of services, including high-quality aircraft products. Our aviation welding technicians are fully familiar with the different aspects of engines and aircraft numbering systems. Hence, we are able to provide the best aviation products and services.
If you want to benefit from our professional aviation services, you can contact us today.
