Summertime means many things, but in business aviation, the summer solstice signals a jump in operations. Savvy flight departments are already preparing aircraft and crews for increasing workloads and temperatures.
“Summer preparations are different for every aircraft type, and the OEMs have guidelines for seasonal inspections and maintenance,” said Tim Wade, a member of the NBAA Safety Committee. “When we come out of winter flying, we transition to those procedures.”
Of course, you don’t have to wait until June 20 to deal with hotter temperatures. And that can be challenging for technicians trying to perform environmental control system (ECS) checks on aircraft sitting in the springtime sun.
A director of maintenance (DOM) for a southeastern U.S.-based Part 135 operator offered a reminder that “ops checks on a windshield deicing system can give you false readings in the sun. The windshield can be really hot, and the sensors won’t allow the deicing system to turn on. Even though the system works fine, you can hook your meter up and get a zero reading. Technicians need to know that so they don’t chase a false indication.”
Speaking of windshields, another thing to check before summer flying is the correct application of any water-repelling materials.
“One of our crews encountered a heavy rain last summer and reported restricted visibility because the water was ‘sticking’ to the glass,” said Craig Erickson, safety program manager for Solairus Aviation. “We determined that an FBO had applied the wrong type of glass cleaning chemical that degraded the water repellant. We are now instructing our folks to ensure FBOs are using the appropriate cleaning chemicals.”
Of course, thunderstorms are a big part of summertime operations, and while every crew knows to fly well around them, it’s a good idea to have an avoidance strategy ready to protect your aircraft on the ground.
“Always have a contingency plan in place for any severe weather like hail, high winds, etc. that may be forecast,” said Flexjet Maintenance and Ground Safety Manager Cary Sager. “Do you hangar the airplane, or do you fly it to another location? Don’t wait until your crew faces the decision to have an approved plan in place.”
“Maintenance is maintenance, but it’s how we go about performing that maintenance in heat extremes that makes the difference.”
Tim Wade, NBAA Safety Committee Member
And should you decide to move to an alternate airport, it’s a good idea to call ahead and check on the conditions. Extreme heat can weaken ramp and taxiway surfaces. A DOM for a business aviation operator recently shared that during last summer’s heat wave, one of their aircraft actually sunk into the hot asphalt while it was being towed.
“Maintenance is maintenance, but it’s how we go about performing that maintenance in heat extremes that makes the difference,” said Wade. “We need to prepare our technicians with the right clothing, gloves and sunglasses to protect their bodies and minds when out on the ramp.”
While sweat can be an annoyance to a technician, it can be devastating to electronics. So, while performing avionics troubleshooting on the ramp, make sure the tech is taking steps to shield the line replaceable units (LRU) and connectors from any contact with perspiration or moisture of any kind.
“People often don’t realize the dangers of working in the direct sun,” Sager said. “Aircraft surfaces can get really hot. You need to be protected. A big part of what we do for summertime safety is around protecting the mechanics themselves.”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.