Out of every standard gear used for mechanical systems, the spur gear remains the most simple and widely used. Typically, they consist of a circular gear body with straight teeth across the entirety of the circumference. They also feature parallel and coplanar shafts. Alone, spur gears can provide for rotational motion, though if paired with a gear rack, can also create linear motion. Spur gears can be produced from a variety of materials, ranging from metals to polycarbonate plastics. Due to their simplicity, spur gears are easy to design and produce, thus making them very cheap and economical for a wide range of applications.

Radio is the main form of communication between pilots and air traffic control. In the case of communication failure or if an aircraft is not equipped with a radio, Aviation Light Signals are used to relay aircraft navigational instructions. Much like a third-base coach using his/her hands to signal instructions to a batter, traffic controllers communicate to pilots through the use of signal lamps. Signal lamps generate three colors: red, white, and green and have two states: steady and flashing. These colors and states have specific meanings that vary depending on whether an aircraft is in flight or on the ground.

You may have handled a car jack at some point in your life, but have you ever handled an aircraft jack? The average person hasn’t, but there are those who are acquainted with them. Those who are familiar with aircraft jacks can testify that there is a lot more at stake. Not only is the equipment heavier, but so is the load. And if things don’t go as smoothly, the financial repercussions are significantly higher than if you mess up something using a car jack. In order to make sure everything goes according to plan, be sure to follow the following simple rules:

During the colder months, ice forming on aircraft can pose a problem. Ice that coats aircraft parts can cause multiple hindrances and even affect the lift of the plane. Through deicing and anti-icing, aircraft can have ice removed from the body and components, as well as have protection from reformation. The deicing compounds that are used for aircraft are a mix of glycol and water. Glycol is a very important chemical as it has the ability to lower freezing points.

Just like our own personal cars, aircraft need constant maintenance to ensure that every part works correctly and is repaired or replaced as necessary. While we may think of it as a nuisance that can cause delays, we understand that taking care of our machinery is important and keeps everything functioning smoothly and safely for everyone. But how do aircraft maintenance checks work and what are the tools used to complete them?