All too often when people are at an airport they watch the planes moving about on the ground. They look so big when compared to the person stood next to it loading the luggage. How many people notice things like the lights on the wingtips, or the tail, and every so often they stop working just like on your car. With your car everything is easy to get to from ground level, not so with a plane, they have to use an aircraft ladder.
Notice that the planes come in all different shapes and sizes. This means that the flight line crews have to gain access to a wide variety of heights to complete their jobs. To enable them to do this the manufacturers have designed steps and platforms which can be adjusted, and there are different designs for different purposes.
As an example the maintainers will routinely undertake refuelling operations. To gain access to the fuel point they will use a fueling platform. This platform is positioned under the fuselage of the plane, and then raised to the required height. The built in fuel lines can be connected to the plane's fuel points. The fuel bowser can be linked to the other end of the platform's integral fuel lines.
The whole construction is normally made from aluminium. This is to prevent any sparks should anything be dropped on it. It also makes it much easier for people to move on their own.
You will often notice a small lead trailing on the ground, this is a bonding lead. This will ensure that everything has the same earth level, and prevent any build up of static electricity. For those who have ever received an electric shock when getting out of a car, that was static electricity. You can now understand why this needs to be eliminated from refuelling operations.
The platform as a whole is on wheels, and these are of a very durable rubber construction. Once the platform has been positioned correctly the brakes are applied. Some will even have small stabilizing legs on a screw thread. These are unscrewed which also serves to raise the wheels from the ground. So now the platform is in the correct position, at the correct height, grounded to earth and is providing a stable platform from which the fuel operative can work.
This same platform can be used on many different varieties of plane due to its versatility. This platform can also be used for a variety of other roles too. As the working height of the platform can be adjusted this makes it ideal to change those light bulbs on the wingtips which were mentioned earlier.
There is a great deal of thought that goes into the design of an aircraft ladder. As you would imagine the prime concern is that of safety, followed by versatility and adaptability. Maybe the next time you find yourself waiting at an airport you will have a better insight into the ground operations that are going on around the aeroplanes.
Notice that the planes come in all different shapes and sizes. This means that the flight line crews have to gain access to a wide variety of heights to complete their jobs. To enable them to do this the manufacturers have designed steps and platforms which can be adjusted, and there are different designs for different purposes.
As an example the maintainers will routinely undertake refuelling operations. To gain access to the fuel point they will use a fueling platform. This platform is positioned under the fuselage of the plane, and then raised to the required height. The built in fuel lines can be connected to the plane's fuel points. The fuel bowser can be linked to the other end of the platform's integral fuel lines.
The whole construction is normally made from aluminium. This is to prevent any sparks should anything be dropped on it. It also makes it much easier for people to move on their own.
You will often notice a small lead trailing on the ground, this is a bonding lead. This will ensure that everything has the same earth level, and prevent any build up of static electricity. For those who have ever received an electric shock when getting out of a car, that was static electricity. You can now understand why this needs to be eliminated from refuelling operations.
The platform as a whole is on wheels, and these are of a very durable rubber construction. Once the platform has been positioned correctly the brakes are applied. Some will even have small stabilizing legs on a screw thread. These are unscrewed which also serves to raise the wheels from the ground. So now the platform is in the correct position, at the correct height, grounded to earth and is providing a stable platform from which the fuel operative can work.
This same platform can be used on many different varieties of plane due to its versatility. This platform can also be used for a variety of other roles too. As the working height of the platform can be adjusted this makes it ideal to change those light bulbs on the wingtips which were mentioned earlier.
There is a great deal of thought that goes into the design of an aircraft ladder. As you would imagine the prime concern is that of safety, followed by versatility and adaptability. Maybe the next time you find yourself waiting at an airport you will have a better insight into the ground operations that are going on around the aeroplanes.
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