Aircraft Maintenance Mistakes To Avoid
Aircraft maintenance is an important process which cannot be excluded. It adds value and lifespan to your aircraft. It is usually a small process, but depending on the size of the aircraft, specifications, and the type of maintenance you do, the process can be lengthy as well. The routine aircraft maintenance and services help you keep them in good condition and safe for flying. Private aircraft owners carry out routine maintenance of their planes extensively during the ownership cycle. This helps them to maintain their brand name and consistent look for their aircraft.
However, there are certain aircraft maintenance mistakes to avoid when servicing your aircraft or private helicopter. Given below are the most common aircraft maintenance mistakes to be kept in mind and to be avoided:
1. Maintenance based on cost alone
When you personalise your airplane, budget is the most important factor to consider. However, when you restrict your budget, it will definitely affect the quality of maintenance work, which ultimately puts down your value and reputation. So firstly, you should have a clear-cut plan on the type of aircraft maintenance operation to be done. It helps you create physical proof about the maintenance, which will be effective for future reference.
You should assign an experienced maintenance technician who will carry out their job to full perfection. It is very essential as work done improperly will only have a negative impact and causes damage to you, no matter if you spend a huge cost on aircraft maintenance.
Secondly, considering small factors and the detailing, you can make the aircraft maintenance well-executed that fit your budget.
- Treat corrosion -painting and polishing of your aircraft will help you eliminate the damage caused by corrosion.
- Maintenance of the interior and exterior of the aircraft. It will make a huge difference in the look and add to the value of the aircraft.
- Repair the faults in the aircraft as soon as they appear. A quick repair nads maintenance will resist further damage and check the progression. This is really important, as potential buyers will always carry out an inspection of your aircraft when you put them on sale. To avoid the defects, simply repair and increase the value of your aircraft in the market.
2. Failing to conduct a basic inspection
Conducting regular, routine inspections for your aircraft is another important step taken into consideration, especially for an ageing aircraft. It is done to ensure that the aircraft is in good condition and is not affected by any potential damages. Aged aircraft will be subjected to prolonged exposure to open air and weather. It will most likely be affected by outside open weather. Hence, the exterior might fade, crack or be affected by the sun. Likewise, the interior loses its quality and shape. Therefore, it is always good to complete interior maintenance and respray the exterior to keep it looking good.
Basic inspection includes:
- Keeping logbook records
- Corrosion inspection
- Keep an eye on wear and tear
- Test for sparks, hoses, and fittings.
- Corrosion treatment
Commonly done interior aircraft maintenance: Corrosion inspection is the most common interior aircraft maintenance. Corrosion inspection, if not done, adversely affects your aircraft and makes your aircraft susceptible to damage if left untreated. As corrosion occurs overnight, a regular check is essential, and adequate corrosion treatments for stress corrosion, pitting corrosion, intragranular corrosion, and crevice corrosion can be done effectively.
Commonly done exterior aircraft maintenance: Painting and spot repairs are common interior maintenance options, which can be done partially or fully. A partial repair includes selecting the required items which need to be refurbished and then repairing them. At the same time, a full repair comprises repairing the damaged parts and preserving the older styles and looks or modernising by changing colours and styles.
3. Not having considered the condition of the aircraft
Having a comprehensive knowledge of the aircraft, its history, current status, logbooks, and maintenance details is very important. Most of the operators fail to keep such records with them. This, in turn, leads to complications in the future. To have a better insight into the refurbishment to be done, this record is quite essential. Also, they throw light on what is due and what is overdue.
Keeping an eye on the condition of the aircraft, where it is stored, and its present condition is critical for refurbishment plans. As aircraft may become prone to corrosion build-up when placed outdoors for a longer period, refurbishment and touch-up plans for the aircraft should be made effective. Skin replacement to cover the exposed bare skin surface and painting would be ideal options.
4. Oil change not taking into account
The oil of the aircraft should be changed every 25 hours of flight to ensure smooth running and safety of the plane. The more you wait to change the oil, the riskier it would damage the engine.
Why Airlorm Aviation?
Airlorm Aviation is your perfect aviation mediator in South Africa. We do proper research on the aircraft, its history, condition, and maintenance records before we sell an aircraft to you. Reducing downtime for aircraft purchases is something we can help you with. We maintain a friendly relationship with the MRO operators and aircraft owners, which helps us deliver the ideal aircraft that suits you! For more information, visit our website.