While aircraft refueling and defueling is a standard process carried out for aircraft of all types, such procedures are not without their hazards. With the various methods of fueling aircraft, the presence of fuel and vapors always presents a fire hazard in the case of ignition, and pressure refueling also can lead to a risk of explosion. Due to the various risks associated with such procedures, personnel should always be aware of possible dangers and how to best avoid them through safety procedures and proper equipment handling.

The fuel system is paramount to the operation of an aircraft, allowing it to efficiently mix and combust fuel-and-air mixtures for propulsion generation. With the constant ignition of fuel and the resulting extreme temperatures and pressures that the system faces, regular inspection and maintenance should be conducted to maintain integrity and optimal operations. From standard visual examinations to testing systems, there are various procedures that are carried out to ensure the continued health of the aircraft fuel system.

Directional valves are widely used in fluid control applications. The simplest directional valve, both functionally and conceptually, is the check valve. Valves of this type are designed to allow flow in one direction while blocking it in the other direction. Some types of check valves, such as the pilot-operated check valves, are more complex, but the most commonly used valve in fluid power systems is the inline check valve. This blog will discuss what inline check valves are and when they should be used.

For fixed-wing aircraft, flight control surfaces allow for pilots to manipulate attitude for more optimal adjustments to direction and heading. Located on the tail-end of the fuselage, the rudder is a primary flight control surface that is often overlooked for its importance. As a section of the vertical stabilizer, the rudder allows for the adjustment of yaw during flight operations.

Ailerons and elevators are a type of flight control surface, allowing for pilots to better govern the aircraft and the aerodynamic forces they are subjected to. From increasing the ability of lift to adjusting the direction of the aircraft, ailerons and elevators are crucial for a number of aircraft operations, thus increasing efficiency and safety across the board. In this blog, we will discuss what each control surface is, as well as how they benefit a number of aircraft with their capabilities.