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Its fascinating to watch planes moving about while waiting at an airport for your own flight to be called. Compared to the people working on them they appear to be huge. Those flashing plane lights which you see in the night sky are those which you can see fitted to the tips of the wings and the top of the tail. They can sometimes go wrong, but unlike your car when it comes to fixing things it can be a long way up, and so they will 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 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.
As it is so versatile, its uses are not confined to just fueling operations. Think back to those lights on the wingtips. Using the raise facility on this platform the operative can get the required height and change the blown bulbs.
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 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.
As it is so versatile, its uses are not confined to just fueling operations. Think back to those lights on the wingtips. Using the raise facility on this platform the operative can get the required height and change the blown bulbs.
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.