Purchasing Efficiency Blog

Oleo-pneumatic shock struts, also referred to as oleo struts, are aircraft shock absorbers that assist in landings and ground maneuvers. As a type of oil/gas shock strut, such equipment is a crucial aspect of aircraft landing gear, ensuring that large forces are optimally relayed from the ground and into the airframe. As kinetic energy is transformed into heat by the strut, landing forces are absorbed and dissipated to dampen recoil and reduce bounce, relieving stress from the airframe and ensuring a smoother ride for passengers. In this blog, we will discuss the functionality of oleo struts, allowing you to better understand the role that they play in standard flight operations.

The aircraft lavatory and wastewater system is quite interesting, making it possible to have a functioning restroom for passengers while traveling at extreme altitudes. While there are rumors that waste is simply dumped out of the aircraft during flight, this is simply not true. Rather, the wastewater system relies on a transfer chain and various assemblies to effectively and cleanly function. In this blog, we will discuss how the airplane water and wastewater system functions, allowing you to better understand how lavatory service is provided while in flight.

Aircraft are regularly subject to countless stressors during flight operations, requiring robust construction and advanced systems capable of monitoring health and operational conditions. Vibration is often a major stressor faced by aircraft, stemming from various sources. If left unchecked, vibration has the potential to cause cracking, avionic failure, or even a loss of engine performance. As metal structures continuously become fatigued from vibration, engines may reach a point where they risk failure. As a result, it is critical that all pilots understand the importance of monitoring aircraft vibrations and how such procedures may be carried out.

Designed to record various electronic instructions sent between an aircraft and its parts, flight data recorders (FDR), commonly referred to as ‘black boxes,’ are capable of retaining data received from various areas of an aircraft. Typically coupled with a cockpit voice recorder (CVR), flight data recorders and their combined components are vital tools for investigating any incidents or accidents that have occured to or on a particular aircraft. Painted a vibrant orange color for ease of identification, flight data recorders and their implementation in aircraft are necessary for obtaining valuable insight on how an aviation accident or incident occurred.

A flywheel is a common machine component, capable of storing rotational energy for later use. When the machine reaches a point where the supply power is inefficient for operations, the flywheel will release its stored energy. Within a standard internal combustion engine, for example, the fluctuating torque produced by the crankshaft during a complete cycle will cause the shaft to have a change in its angular velocity. Through the implementation of a flywheel, inertia mass is provided at the end of the shaft so that the torque will become more balanced.

When an aircraft is transporting individuals over long distances, it is important that passengers have access to facilities such as lavatories and aircraft galleys for the means of providing a comfortable experience for all. In order for passengers and crew members to take advantage of the restrooms, coffee and tea makers, sinks, and other facilities and equipment of an aircraft, water must be managed and supplied to each. In this blog, we will discuss the water and waste system of aircraft, allowing you to better understand how potable water is supplied to facilities and how wastewater is removed and stored during a flight operation.

Honeycomb cores first appeared on aircraft in the 1940s when they were used to reduce weight and increase payload & flight distance. They were integrated into aircraft designs as a replacement for the much heavier conventional sheet and stringer or beam support approach. Since their introduction, honeycomb cores have become a basic structural concept throughout the aerospace industry. In the 21st century, nearly every commercial and military aircraft depends on honeycomb cores for their integrity and reliability. There are many substrate materials used in honeycombs, and honeycomb cores can have densities as low as 16 kg/m3 (kilograms per cubic meter).

Controlling the pressure rating is often important in ensuring a system can function properly. The required pressure rating of different systems will vary based on the system type and the industry or application it is used in. For example, the pressure requirements of an aircraft will differ greatly from those of an automobile engine. To maintain pressure, many systems use a pressure gauge, which can be set to and maintain a desired pressure. In this blog, we will discuss the six most common types of pressure gauges.

Keeping a jet engine running as efficiently as possible is critical. An efficient engine is safer, works better, and uses less fuel to run. As such, operators are always looking for ways to maximize the efficiency of their jet engine. One such way is compressor cleaning.

If you’ve been on an airplane and were lucky enough to get a window seat, you have probably looked at the window and asked yourself a few questions about it. For example, you may have wondered how aircraft windows work, what they are made of, and what that small hole at the window’s base is. In this blog, we will answer all three of those questions.