Transporting Aero-Engines: What Does The Process Entail?
Posted on: 30 June 2020
Aircraft engines may need to get transported from one location to another at some point. These engines are incredibly valuable and must get handled with the utmost care. When someone puts in an order for an aero engine, it is because they are in the process of building aircraft or have a faulty engine that needs to get replaced with one that is in excellent condition. If a pilot attempts to operate a plane with a defective motor, things will not turn out so well, and the aircraft will likely crash at any given moment. With that in mind, the aero-engine transportation process is so important, and it needs to get done correctly.
The Use of Aero Engine Transport Stands
Before the transportation process begins for the specific engine, it is necessary to obtain a transport stand. The transport stand is a must-have for quite a few reasons. These are some of the most common reasons to see an engine attached to a transport stand while it is in transit:
- The transport stand keeps the engine in place
- It prevents the engine from getting scratched or damaged while in transit
- It provides just enough space for the engine based on its size because some engines are slightly larger than others
The transport stand acts much like a cradle for the engine to provide a protective barrier for it. If it were not for the transport stand, the engine would likely end up damaged while it is on its way to its destination, where it will get installed inside of an aircraft. Aside from costing more money, any damage to the engine could lead to engine failure. At the same time, if the pilot operates the plane, it can create an unsafe situation for everyone who is on the aircraft at that moment.
What Happens After Engines Get Put on the Transport Stands?
After meticulously attaching the engine to the transport stand, those responsible for the transportation process will perform a thorough check to ensure that it is fully secure. If it is secured to the stand the proper way, it should not move at all, even if there are a few bumps in the road while it is in transit. Once the professionals check the engine to make sure it is attached and secure, they may then cover it with a protective tarp. The purpose of covering it with a protective tarp is to have a way to keep the engine in the best possible condition. The tarp prevents dust from quickly accumulating on the engine. Although the engine is not going to move around because it is attached to the aero-engine transport stand, the professionals still want to have that additional layer of protection to maintain the integrity of the engine.
How Do Engines Get Transported?
Aircraft engines may get transported via airplanes or large vehicles. If the engine is on a large vehicle, such as a spacious truck, it is usually the only piece of cargo on that vehicle for a reason. Putting other items into the truck with the engine is not a good idea because those other items could end up falling on top of the engine while in transit, potentially causing thousands of dollars in damage. In some instances, these engines get put on large planes where they get flown out to their new location.
When an aircraft needs a good engine, it may get shipped from a location that is thousands of miles away. When this happens, the professionals must take the right steps to ship the engine out correctly to prevent any type of damage. The professionals will often attach engines to aero-engine transport stands, make sure they are secure, cover them in protective tarps, and then ship them out via plane or large truck.
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