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.
A routine operation such as refuelling is a good example. A platform utilized in this operation will have fuel hoses built into the design. The ground crew will site this platform beneath the plane's belly. The platform's height will then be altered. The platform's inbuilt fuel hose will be connected to the refuel point. The fuel tanker's hose will be connected to the other end, quite often to one side of the lower step.
The construction of the platform is largely from aluminium. This serves two main functions, should anything be dropped there will be no sparks. Also it will be light enough to enable it to be easily moved.
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.
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.
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.
A routine operation such as refuelling is a good example. A platform utilized in this operation will have fuel hoses built into the design. The ground crew will site this platform beneath the plane's belly. The platform's height will then be altered. The platform's inbuilt fuel hose will be connected to the refuel point. The fuel tanker's hose will be connected to the other end, quite often to one side of the lower step.
The construction of the platform is largely from aluminium. This serves two main functions, should anything be dropped there will be no sparks. Also it will be light enough to enable it to be easily moved.
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.
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.
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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