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.
Even the most casual of glances will show that the planes are of varying sizes. As a consequence the maintainers have to get access to a lot of different heights in the course of their working day. To help with these requirements the designers and makers have made the various steps and platforms adjustable. They have also created different designs which are more suited for several tasks.
Take a refuelling platform for example. These will come with their own hoses attached as part of the design. The platform will be positioned underneath the belly of the plane, and then adjusted to the correct height. The integral fuel lines can now be connected to the plane's refuelling point. The fuel tanker can be connected to the other end of the fuel lines, normally positioned at the bottom of the steps.
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.
Don't worry if you notice a strap dragging along the ground, this is the bonding lead. This is designed to prevent any static electricity building up by providing a path to earth. In much the same way that earth straps used to be fitted to some cars which had a habit of giving their owners a small electric shock each time they got out of them.
This platform is mounted on a set of hard wearing rubber wheels, which makes it very manoeuvrable. When the platform has been located in the desired position the brakes can be put on. Some versions also have stabilizing legs which can be screwed down into position, this also causes the wheels to be raised up off the ground. This platform is where its meant to be, and also at the right height, the earth strap is preventing any static electricity and the operative has a stable area from which to 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.
As with any aircraft ladder a great deal of thought has gone into designing it. The most important concern is always the safety of anyone using it, closely followed by making it versatile and adaptable. Next time you find yourself at an airport you will now have more of an understanding about what is happening down on the flight line as they wheel these bits and pieces round.
Even the most casual of glances will show that the planes are of varying sizes. As a consequence the maintainers have to get access to a lot of different heights in the course of their working day. To help with these requirements the designers and makers have made the various steps and platforms adjustable. They have also created different designs which are more suited for several tasks.
Take a refuelling platform for example. These will come with their own hoses attached as part of the design. The platform will be positioned underneath the belly of the plane, and then adjusted to the correct height. The integral fuel lines can now be connected to the plane's refuelling point. The fuel tanker can be connected to the other end of the fuel lines, normally positioned at the bottom of the steps.
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.
Don't worry if you notice a strap dragging along the ground, this is the bonding lead. This is designed to prevent any static electricity building up by providing a path to earth. In much the same way that earth straps used to be fitted to some cars which had a habit of giving their owners a small electric shock each time they got out of them.
This platform is mounted on a set of hard wearing rubber wheels, which makes it very manoeuvrable. When the platform has been located in the desired position the brakes can be put on. Some versions also have stabilizing legs which can be screwed down into position, this also causes the wheels to be raised up off the ground. This platform is where its meant to be, and also at the right height, the earth strap is preventing any static electricity and the operative has a stable area from which to 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.
As with any aircraft ladder a great deal of thought has gone into designing it. The most important concern is always the safety of anyone using it, closely followed by making it versatile and adaptable. Next time you find yourself at an airport you will now have more of an understanding about what is happening down on the flight line as they wheel these bits and pieces round.
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