US Airways - August 2013 - (Page 12)

embark Making It Happen Behind the Scenes of Your Flight James Smith, lead stock clerk, in Charlotte By Tara Titcombe Keeping Those Wheels Spinning You may only have to change your vehicle’s tires every two or three years. But aircraft tires are changed about every ten weeks. # 12 AUGUST 2013 usairwaysmag.com PHOTO BY BRIAN GOMSAK Tires are as essential to an aircraft’s operation as wings and engines. And they’re checked, changed, and tuned just as much as every other critical aircraft component. Pilots visually inspect tires as part of their walkaround before every ﬂight. Additional inspections are frequent. “Aircraft mechanics conduct tire inspections every day,” explains Russ Welsh, a US Airways line maintenance shift manager in Phoenix. When a plane ﬂies into one of US Airways’ maintenance stations, mechanics conduct a daily check inspection, which includes a close look at the tires. “Tires are changed when they are found to be at the manufacturer’s wear limits or if they have excessively low air pressure,” Welsh says. Ideally, tires are changed at night so an aircraft will not be long out of service. But mechanics are always prepared to change a tire during the day and can usually do so very quickly. “We use three or more mechanics, and we usually can change a tire during the day on a normal turn without causing a delay,” TIRE GAUGE Welsh says. Some of the largest tires Mechanics use a tire-change kit are found on US Airways’ and torque wrench to remove and Airbus A321 aircraft. Here are some stats: replace the wheel. They also have 2 nose tires (much smaller portable tire-change carts, which can than the main tires and carry nitrogen bottles (the tires are used for turning) 4 main tires inﬂated with nitrogen), two tires, and 10 weeks — average lifea jack. The mechanics jack up the span of a landing gear tire axle so the tire is an inch or two off 227–239 psi — air pressure the ground. They use a breaker bar to for a main tire remove the old wheel and then slide a 325 foot-pounds of torque used to install the nut on new one on, tighten it up with the main tire torque wrench, and voila! The fresh 440 pounds — weight of tire is ready for the next ﬂight. a main tire http://www.usairwaysmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of US Airways - August 2013

US Airways - August 2013
Table of Contents
CEO Letter
From the Editor
Did You Know?
Making It Happen
Hot Spots: Architectural Attractions
Wine & Dine: Italy's Gourmet Capital
Adventure: Diving for Dinner
Golf: The Wyndham Championship
Adventure: Drive Time at Bondurant
Great Escapes: Riu Resorts
Gear Up: Tools to Stay Cool
Travel Feature: Seattle's Outdoor Delights
US Airways: Staffing the Skies
Health Matters: Rapid Recovery
Special Section: Historically Black Colleges & Universities
Must Read: The Book of Immortality
Great Dates: Euphoria Festival
Puzzles
Readers Resource Index
Your US Airways Guide
Video Entertainment
Audio Entertainment
U.S. and Caribbean Service Map
International Service Map
Airport Terminal Maps
US Airways Fleet/Customs & Immigration
Passenger Info/Contact US Airways
US Airways MarketPlace®
Giving: Pulling Together
Window or Aisle?

US Airways - August 2013