Mechanics bread and butter

[expat]

I know these birds use high pressure tires, but I'd never have thought it might be used to operate the jack....(if that's what I'm seeing).....

You certainly are. The tyre pressure (for my company) is 200psi +- 5psi all around. That sort of pressure is more than enough to power the jack to raise the aircraft, and after all the aircraft industry has to do its bit for recycling and the environment . The nose wheels we pump up manually. They are also 200psi, but you do not have air mass to power the jack for very long. The nose is very easy to do by hand, however the mains are not. I have done it a few times and it is not something that I want to do again in a hurry. I did once jack up a BAe146 by hand. At the end there where three of us in the corner having a collective heart attack

Matt

[Omag 2.0]

Thanks for posting Matt, Thanks to you we get to see alot of thinks that we normally wouldn't. Mark

That is exactly what my aim is. I am in the lucky position of being able to show you some things that you would not be able to see from the perimeter fence. I hope I get it across OK.

Matt

It sure gets across... Now at least I know what to do when my next flight has a brake-problem...

Call you!

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Hi Matt...

Yup and if the wing falls off or the engine quits...bring it back...

I know most of the hangars I have been in have air compressors, (sometimes two or three) some times the tire bay will have it's own maintenance vehicle with an air compressor and I have seen them pull air pigs (look like a portable Bar BQ propane tank) behind the mules.

The "LOX" guys also have portable units and vehicles to go directly to the aircraft.

I have my own stationary air compressor here and a portable air pig I can throw in the back of the Land Rover if I need to.  They sure come in handy sometimes especially to remove birds/insect nests.  

Matt have you ever bought or used the small air compressor for cars, I think there are three types:
1- small can of air
2-electric air compressor you plug into a 12V vehicle outlet or cigarette
  lighter
3-the air compressor you have to remove a spark plug to use

and of course the one you mentioned I am sure we have all used for bicycles the old hand pump  

I do have a quick question for you though...hope you don't mind.

Why do they not use the heated style of ice remover for aircraft windscreens on cars/vehicles?
The back electric windshield deicer on a motor vehicle always works much better than the blown hot air from the front defroster.  It seems stupid, no one drives backwards at 120K yet that rear window defroster works 100 percent better.

On the Douglas DC3 we used windshield glycol with the wipers and the tank was behind the copilots bulkhead across from the galley.  It was just one step better than nothing.  
I don't know how many times we did NDB approaches (no VORs then) and had to touchdown looking out the side windows. (won't say anymore in case big brother is watching)  ;D

Well Matt don't forget your rubber gloves...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug
P.S. can you bring me up to speed on some "Hangar Humour" or start another post with it Matt

[expat]

Hi Matt...

Yup and if the wing falls off or the engine quits...bring it back...

I know most of the hangars I have been in have air compressors, (sometimes two or three) some times the tire bay will have it's own maintenance vehicle with an air compressor and I have seen them pull air pigs (look like a portable Bar BQ propane tank) behind the mules.

The "LOX" guys also have portable units and vehicles to go directly to the aircraft.

I have my own stationary air compressor here and a portable air pig I can throw in the back of the Land Rover if I need to.  They sure come in handy sometimes especially to remove birds/insect nests.  

Matt have you ever bought or used the small air compressor for cars, I think there are three types:
1- small can of air
2-electric air compressor you plug into a 12V vehicle outlet or cigarette
  lighter
3-the air compressor you have to remove a spark plug to use

and of course the one you mentioned I am sure we have all used for bicycles the old hand pump  

I do have a quick question for you though...hope you don't mind.

Why do they not use the heated style of ice remover for aircraft windscreens on cars/vehicles?
The back electric windshield deicer on a motor vehicle always works much better than the blown hot air from the front defroster.  It seems stupid, no one drives backwards at 120K yet that rear window defroster works 100 percent better.

On the Douglas DC3 we used windshield glycol with the wipers and the tank was behind the copilots bulkhead across from the galley.  It was just one step better than nothing.  
I don't know how many times we did NDB approaches (no VORs then) and had to touchdown looking out the side windows. (won't say anymore in case big brother is watching)  ;D

Well Matt don't forget your rubber gloves...

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug
P.S. can you bring me up to speed on some "Hangar Humour" or start another post with it Matt

The only air supply we generally have on the ramp is the tyre itself which we use in the hanger too when changing mains. It is a standard practice. If we need power tools etc then we have shop air in the hanger. As for the types you mentioned, I do have a can of air in the car for flat short term repair, get you to the next garage no more. Those types that run of the battery or from a spark plug, my experience is that you are better of buying a 6 pack of beer. It lasts longer
As for the window de-icing, here in Europe, I know Ford have a front screen option on cars similar to the rear but very fine. I have driven a hire car (Mondeo) with it. I have to say that at night in the town with sodium street lights I could see the wire and did not like it. However being a BMW driver I have aux heating that I can program so that my car is nicely defrosted before I go to work or come home on night shift 8-)  

As for hanger humour, I work for a German company here in Germany, so, lets say that the humour is somewhat different. Though I do try my hardest to "educate" I have had to learn myself

Matt

[Craig.]

Hi mate, great shots.
Just curious what type of brakes do these aircraft use? Are they simmilar to car brakes or are they carbon ceramic?

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Thanks for the reply Matt...

I never knew Ford had put that style of de-icer on the front windshield.

It would probably look much like the radio antennas they used to put in front windshields of cars.  You could see that during the day or night and I am not sure of any makes or models that still use that style of radio antenna.

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[expat]

Hi mate, great shots.
Just curious what type of brakes do these aircraft use? Are they simmilar to car brakes or are they carbon ceramic?

Hi Craig

I can only speak from my present companies aircraft, but our 737 fleet are steel brakes and the Air Bus are carbon. I have also spannered on ATR, CRJ and BAe146. All have steel. Both have their plus points. The steel are (relatively) cheap, but don't last that (relatively) long. The carbon brakes last so long that I don't remember the last time I changed one. The down side, they are #

[Craig.]

thank you for the information:)

[a1]

What a large brake,

[expat]

What a large brake,

That' s a small one, it is only a 737

Matt

[thebrelon]

carbon brakes also have the advantage to be "lighter" than steel brakes.
the 747-400 is also equipped with carbon brakes.

for jacking the plane on the ramp we usually use the nitrogen bottles we have in the vans to inflate the tires, when the tire pressure is too low to be used.

the last time I replaced a carbon brake: almost 8 years ago. but I work for a line maintenance station... it's more of a base mainteance job.

and to replace a wheel in a hurry, 15 min with 2 "good" guys when everything goes well....

nice pics, waiting for the next ones...