Though built rugged, aircraft landing gear incurs frequent impacts under normal operating conditions, resulting in a lot more stress damage and corrosion than one might expect. Additionally, towing can cause front landing gear to get bent as it impacts with other objects, pressure washing can result in corrosion in bushings and joints and some solvents like paint stripper can cause hydrogen embrittlement. However, steps can be taken to keep landing gear in good repair.

First, always lubricate the landing gear according to the aircraft manual, making sure to use only recommended lubricants in order to avoid possible damage to bushings. Also, replace any landing gear parts for which you don't have a maintenance history. Review shop procedures to make sure landing gear isn't exposed to paint strippers. Also establish a complete reporting procedure for the landing gear to provide a good record of the shop's maintenance of the landing gear. If using aircraft landing gear, consider the following.

1. Get expert advice for replacing the brakes and inspecting the landing gear of a small aircraft.

2. Find work as a landing gear mechanic or engineer...or hire one.

3. Read about others who have made a business of using aircraft landing gear.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Keep the landing gear working and in good repair

Two of the most common tasks in working with an aircraft landing gear system are installation of brakes and routine periodic inspection of the landing gear. As with any vehicle, it is essential that the brakes are installed properly by an experienced mechanic. With landing gear for aircraft, periodic inspections are essential to prevent disrepair and failure when trying to land.

I recommend: Grove provides land gear brake installation guidelines. EHow provides a short video that provides expert advice on how to inspect airplane landing gear (non-retracting) of a small aircraft.

Seek a job using plane landing gear or post a job for a landing gear mechanic

If you want to either seek employment with one of the many landing gear manufacturers or post available landing gear related jobs, there are aviation job search engines available to help you reach your goal of either getting work or hiring someone.

I recommend: AviationJobSearch has a job search engine that enables you go find jobs around the world working on airplanes. The site enables you to filter specifically to jobs working with landing gear. JSfirm has another aviation job search engine. Enter "landing gear" into the search criteria box and view all the landing gear related jobs nationwide.

Acquire replacement parts needed when using aircraft landing gear

If your company will be working on aircraft landing gear systems, you will need to contact aircraft landing gear suppliers to acquire replacement parts on short notice.

I recommend: WBParts has a website that allows you to look up aircraft landing gear parts by part number and order them online. Sky Geek is your one-stop shop for buying aircraft parts of all types, including landing gear parts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  For optimal corrosion resistance, have the aircraft landing gear anodized. Most anodizing shops can only anodize two-piece gear due to the size limitations of the anodizing tank, but anodizing offers the best corrosion protection, superior to polishing and to Alodine chemical filming. Application of epoxy primer also provides good corrosion protection.

Aircraft landing gear is a key component to any safe flight. So having properly operating plane landing gear is critical to the success of any single plane company up to those with the largest fleet. You can find many landing gear manufacturers to help you outfit your plane with the proper gear, but also properly maintaining your equipment is vital to its continued success.

You can take advantage of the many airplane landing gear suppliers and repair organizations for whatever stage your aircraft landing gear is in. To find the right aircraft landing gear system supplier or service provider for you:

1. Determine the state of your current aircraft landing gear system.

2. Determine if you are in need of a new system, or if a repair and/or overhaul will fix what needs to be taken care of.

3. Determine how your budget will affect your repair and/or replacement decisions.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Purchase airplane landing gear products for your aircraft

Buy complete airplane landing gear products or components to make them from a variety of vendors. Find the right airplane landing gear manufacturer for you.

I recommend: Look at the complete custom landing gear available through Grove Aircraft. They come ready to bolt on, and they are designed for your individual airplane. Check out the landing gear products available through the Goodrich Landing Gear Division. Their facilities are located in Cleveland, OH, Tullahoma, TN, Seattle, WA, Fort Worth, TX, Oakville, Canada and Krosno, Poland. They also have specialist repair and support sites in Miami, FL and Burlington, Canada. United Metal Fabricators is another of the aircraft landing gear suppliers that offers aircraft landing gear custom forgings. Airspares International is a manufacturer of ISO 9000 certified aircraft landing gear fasteners.

Look for aircraft landing gear system maintenance and overhaul service specialists

Find the right aircraft landing gear system maintenance, repair and overhaul service providers for your aircraft.

I recommend: Go through Trace Aviation for inspection / overhaul and exchange landing gear services for King Air Series products. Consider King Aerospace, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Repair Station K2CR345J, for your aircraft maintenance needs. Check out the maintenance, repair and overhaul landing gear services from AAR. American Airlines Maintenance Services, FAA Repair Station #AALR025A, offers landing gear overhauls, machining, hydraulic and electrical component repair, plating and blending.

Buy airplane landing gear parts and products

Have the necessary airplane landing gear parts and products on hand to complete and/or repair your aircraft.

I recommend: Purchase aircraft landing gear parts through Government Liquidation, a subsidiary of Liquidity Services, which is the exclusive contractor of the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Service (DRMS). They work for the sale of surplus and scrap assets of the United States Department of Defense (DOD). Check out over 100 pages of aircraft landing gear part listings from WBParts. Find plane landing gear parts through Aero Gear. Aircraft Spruce and Specialty is an additional source for aircraft landing gear systems parts and supplies.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure that your airplane landing gear repair specialist is FAA certified to be making your repairs if your aircraft falls under their safety jurisdiction.

Aircraft landing gear systems endure more stressors than the average flier realizes. Repetitive impact from landing, brake and acceleration force, runway obstacles, and even pressurized cleanings wear on the rugged aircraft landing gear. Just like a person enduring that much aggravation would certainly need a lot of care and attention, airplanes need people to tend to them.

As an expert in plane landing gear, a trained aircraft technician not only secures the whole of an aircraft, but also prolongs the lifespan of an aircraft's landing gear. Getting a related degree and professional certifications will help prepare you for a career working with airplanes. The major responsibilities of this career would include:

1. Inspections of airplane parts including the aircraft landing gear to find potential problems.

2. Scheduled maintenance on the machinery and the aircraft landing gear to prevent issues from occurring.

3. Repairs to any problems found during the inspections and maintenance performed on the aircraft in order to increase the life of the plane and prevent catastrophes.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a degree so you can work on landing gear for aircraft

It is imperative for anyone working on aircraft to obtain education specific to the industry. An oversight can can lead to a catastrophe that affects large numbers of people. Vocational schools, universities and community colleges offer degrees that get you started with an aviation career.

I recommend: The Department of Education and Training summarizes what a person can expect to encounter on the job and the traits most helpful for an aviation engineer, mechanic or technician. Columbus State Community College lists the courses needed to get a degree in Aviation Maintenance. Similar courses would be offered at other colleges offering the same degree.

Obtain all possible certifications pertaining to the aircraft landing gear system that you can

Taking every available opportunity will further your possibilities in the industry. Licenses and certifications help you gain specialization in a specific area and improve your employment prospects. Some might consider these just pieces of paper but these pieces of paper can mean the difference between a mediocre job and a great job.

I recommend: The Federal Aviation Administration lists various certifications available to those in the aircraft industry. Certification from the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association is recognized throughout the industry as PAMA strives to keep at the top of what is going on in the industry. At their website, view a video overview of their certification.

Airplane landing gear careers outside the airline industry

It might be surprising to discover that there are opportunities to work with and around landing gear outside of the commercial airline industry. Landing gear manufacturers create products for a variety of applications. A career in aeronautics is one such option. Helicopters and model or hobby planes also use landing gear. Though the vehicles vary, similar knowledge is needed and thus, some of the same training is required as with airplane landing gear.

I recommend: Some careers with NASA involve working with landing gear. Each career choice is explained along with the training necessary to work in that field. Look at the Air Transport Training College for professional certification in aerospace.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Aircraft assemblers and inspectors and workers for aircraft landing gear manufacturers are other occupations to consider for those interested in the aviation industry.