ASAP AM Spares Blog

A gas turbine power plant, also referred to as a gas turbine engine, is a type of internal combustion engine that utilizes compressed fuel and air mixtures to produce mechanical or electrical power. Ranging in use from the power plants of aircraft to industrial gas turbines used for mechanical drive, gas turbines can come in a variety of shapes and forms to accommodate varying applications. While gas turbine engines may differ based on their application, all will contain primary elements such as the gas compressor, a combustor, and a downstream turbine.

A broad range of tools are used in the process of rivet installation. This includes hand tools such as rivet cutters, bucking bars, hand riveters, countersinks, and dimpling tools, and power tools such as pneumatic rivet guns, rivet squeezers, and microshavers. In this blog, we will discuss each type of tool and its basics functions.

The aircraft gas turbine engine has highly advanced our capabilities of flight, allowing for aircraft to conduct powerful compression and combustion to achieve high altitude flight at great speeds. As the compression of air is crucial for efficient flight operations, the compressor section of the engine assembly is specifically designed to handle high amounts of intake air and increase its pressure. With the compressor, air can be pressurized to benefit fuel ignition, cabin pressurization, de-icing, cabin heating and cooling, and many other processes that benefit flight operations. Due to the various roles undertaken by the compressor, it is paramount that such assemblies are understood and well-maintained to sustain their efficient operations.

An aircraft flight control surface is an aerodynamic device that allows the pilot to control and adjust the flight attitude of an aircraft. The most commonly known flight control surfaces are the ailerons, elevator, and rudder, but these are not the only ones. However, there are also many lesser known flight surfaces known as secondary or auxiliary flight surfaces. These include the flaps, slats, spoilers & speed brakes, and tabs. This blog will cover each secondary flight surface and its function.

Due to the volatile nature of electricity and the sensitivity of electronics that rely on it, it is important that there are a number of protective devices in aircraft and fail-safes present within a circuit for protection. From short circuits to ground faults, surges of electricity can easily travel through wiring and cabling unhindered due to the low resistance of such components. As such, circuit protection devices may be used to ensure that appliances and electronics are well protected, as well as those who are near them or operate them. In this blog, we will provide an overview of fuses, circuit breakers, thermal protectors, and arc fault circuit breakers, all of which are commonly used as circuit protection devices.

A critical aspect of regular turbofan or turboprop engine maintenance is the hot engine inspection. A hot section inspection (HSI) refers to the examination of the condition of many key engine parts, such as the turbine blades, combustion chamber, stators, vane rings, compressor turbine disk, and shroud segments. In this blog, we will further discuss what HSIs are, and why they are so important.

Aircraft fasteners serve as one of the most important components of aircraft construction, allowing for parts to be fixed together through mechanical means. In general, various types of aviation hardware provide their unique roles that benefit assemblies, and commonly used components include nuts, screws, bolts, and more. One type of aviation hardware type that is often overlooked for its importance is the washer, that of which may be paired with threaded fasteners and other components to provide various benefits.

The importance of regular aircraft maintenance is not up for debate. Just as important as MRO are the tools that make it possible. While there are certainly a wide variety of highly-specialized tools used in aircraft maintenance, simple tools can often get the job done. General purpose tools include hammers, mallets, screwdrivers, pliers, wrenches, and drivers. In this blog, we will discuss these tools and provide some explanation of what they are and how they work.

When constructing an aircraft, a plethora of components come together to form the various assemblies and structures that aid the vehicle in attaining flight. To achieve such complex structures that are able to withstand the various forces and stresses exerted on them during flight, highly robust components such as aircraft fasteners are used. Bolts in particular are fasteners that are used generously across aircraft assemblies, and there are various special purpose types that are implemented to fulfill specific needs and loads.

As aircraft continue to increase in weight and reach higher airspeeds, the need for better stopping power is also on the rise. Nowadays, many modern planes are unable to fully rely on aircraft brakes to sufficiently slow down within a feasible and safe distance. To aid in this endeavor, aircraft thrust reversers are implemented to help stop the aircraft during the touchdown process. In general, the two main types of aircraft thrust reversers that are used are mechanical blockage and aerodynamic blockage types.