Using Aircraft Landing Gear

A working man's guide to airplane landing gear

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.

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

• 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.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---