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.
Its a simple matter to notice that all of the various planes are different sizes and shapes. This means that those people working on them will have to be at varying levels to carry out their work. To assist them with this the designers has created platforms and steps which are adjustable, not only that there are also different designs for different tasks.
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.
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.
This is just one form of aircraft ladder, and you have learnt how much thought has gone into the design of it. The overriding concern has been for safety, but also adaptability and versatility have been taken into account. So hopefully the next time you find yourself waiting at an airport you will be able to watch the ground operations with a little more understanding.
Its a simple matter to notice that all of the various planes are different sizes and shapes. This means that those people working on them will have to be at varying levels to carry out their work. To assist them with this the designers has created platforms and steps which are adjustable, not only that there are also different designs for different tasks.
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.
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.
This is just one form of aircraft ladder, and you have learnt how much thought has gone into the design of it. The overriding concern has been for safety, but also adaptability and versatility have been taken into account. So hopefully the next time you find yourself waiting at an airport you will be able to watch the ground operations with a little more understanding.
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