MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR AIRCRAFT ENGINES: HOW TO KEEP YOUR ENGINE RUNNING SMOOTHLY

 

The health of your aircraft engine is of the utmost importance. It’s the heart and soul of your aircraft, not to mention a very valuable asset, so investing in regular maintenance is highly recommended. Depending on your knowledge and skill level, there are certain routine maintenance checks you can perform yourself, while others are best left to licensed professionals. Here’s how to keep your aircraft engine running smoothly from our reliable aircraft mechanics in New Jersey.  

How to Get the Maximum Life Out of Your Engine

• Run the engine at least one hour a week. Similar to how you shouldn’t leave a car sitting without running the engine for a long period of time, nor should you leave an aircraft engine sitting without running it. This will prevent rust build-up and help extend the life of your engine.

• Keep the engine temperature at a setting that maximizes its life. Damage can occur if an engine is running at too hot or too cold of a temperature – the precise temperature will depend on the type and size of the engine. 

• Minimize large temperature changes when flying. Flying through various climatic zones can result in drastic temperature changes, which can increase wear and tear on your engine. Some of the damage that could occur are cylinder head cracks from shock cooling, so it’s important to really assess the flight route you’re taking before take-off to minimize temperature changes. 

Use Gauges

Gauges allow for more precise temperature control. While all aircraft have oil temperature gauges, you can monitor engine temperature information using two additional gauges:

• Cylinder head temperature (CHT) gauge: This gauge measures the temperature at the cylinder head, which is a crucial indicator of the engine’s health. 
• Exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge: This gauge measures the temperature as the exhaust leaves the cylinder. 

Have Your Engine Inspected Regularly

We recommend investing in regular maintenance checks from licensed and insured aircraft engine technicians. They’ll be able to troubleshoot your engine and identify any little issues before they become big problems. In the end, regular maintenance saves you money because it can prevent costly breakdowns from occurring. Regular inspections are especially important if you’re flying over salt water, because salt can cause your engine to corrode more quickly if you don’t keep it clean. 

Perform Repairs Immediately

If one of your engines needs a repair, don’t stick it in a hangar and save the repairs for a rainy day. Repairs should be performed immediately to reduce the extent of damage to other parts of the engine, and to ensure the problem doesn’t become worse. 

As mentioned, aircrafts are a huge investment and we recommend keeping the engines in the best possible condition. Through a combination of regular maintenance, timely repairs, and temperature monitoring, you can help extend the life of your engine and keep it running smoothly for years to come. 

For more information about proper aircraft engine maintenance,  please contact our team at Monmouth Jet Center today and visit our website at: https://monmouthjetcenter.com

This blog was originally published at https://monmouthjetcenter.com/maintenance-tips-for-aircraft-engines/

HANGAR SAFETY: BEST PRACTICES FOR PREVENTING ACCIDENTS AND DAMAGE

 Do you have an aircraft hangar safety checklist? This checklist is essential for every aircraft hangar because keeping your staff and your equipment safe should be top priority at all times. Aircraft hangar operations can be challenging and as a hangar owner or operator it’s your responsibility to put in place practices that prevent accidents and damage. Here are some ways to enforce safety in your hangar space, compiled by our aircraft maintenance team in NJ. 

Establish An Emergency Evacuation Plan

All of your hangars should have emergency evacuation plans in place. It may seem like common sense if the exits are clearly marked, but in a real emergency people sometimes panic or freeze – which can have disastrous consequences. You need to practice your emergency evacuation plan on a regular basis so it becomes ingrained in everyone’ s minds, that way if a real emergency happens it will be easier for muscle memory to kick in. 

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) 

You should have enough PPE for all staff members plus extra for any passengers who might be on site. PPE includes items like hearing protection, eye  protection, gloves, protective footwear, and high-visibility vests. We also recommend having non-slip footwear available. 

All PPE should be in easy-to-reach locations in each hangar so people are able to quickly grab it in an emergency. Your staff may want to wear certain PPE at all times, like hearing protection, because the inside of an aircraft hangar can get very loud.

Fire Protection

Aircraft hangars often house highly flammable materials and liquids, and when you combine that with various electrical outlets, the risk of a fire becomes very real. That being said, here’s the fire protection you need in your hangar:

• The correct number of fire extinguishers for the size of your hangar
• Fire extinguishers that are the correct size and classification
• A record of all fire extinguisher inspections, displayed in a visible location
• Train all employees on how to use the fire extinguishers, and conduct the training once a year

Fall Protection

People who work in hangars run a real risk of falling because they’re climbing on tall lifts and scaffolding multiple times throughout the day. The wings of some jets are equally as tall as a two-story building, so you can imagine the severity of injuries that could occur if someone was to fall. Comprehensive fall protection includes regular inspections of the lifts and scaffolding to ensure they’re in proper working order – the brakes must be checked, and so must the railings. You should also provide staff with slip-resistant footwear to reduce the likelihood that they’ll slip and fall while up on a lift or a piece of scaffolding. 

A Lounge Area

If an accident occurs, you need a place for everyone else to wait while the emergency services are attending to the people in need. Having a well-kept lounge area is about more than simple comfort, it’s about giving people space to breathe and decompress after something traumatic happens. Your lounge should have comfortable seating, WiFi, and a light selection of food and drinks. 

For more information about developing a thorough aircraft hangar safety checklist, please contact our team at Monmouth Jet Center today and visit our website at: https://monmouthjetcenter.com

This blog was originally published at https://monmouthjetcenter.com/hangar-tips-for-preventing-accidents/