Why tires are
Important?
- Tire related incidents can potentially be deadly
if proper maintenance is neglected
Common causes for tire related events:
- Under-inflation (over-deflection)
- FOD - Foreign Object Damage
- Runway Conditions
- Aircraft Handling
- Fuse plug release
- Frozen brakes
Proper Inflation Pressure is the
single most important and easy action to prevent tire related events.
- Pressure values are specified in the aircraft
maintenance manual
- Pressure values
are designed to maintain proper tire deflection
- Improper deflection can have many consequences:
- Tire internal damage leading to failure; thrown
treads
- Irregular wear and faster wear rate
- Wheel/tire damage due to slippage on the wheel
- Increased sensitivity to FOD
Inflation pressure points:
- Aircraft tires leak due to high inflation pressures
therefore must be checked daily or before each flight.
- Tire pressure should be maintained between 100%
and 105% of specified pressure. Since
tires leak, 105% should be the target.
The Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM), however, must be respected.
- Tire pressure should be compensated for a change
in ambient temperatures between airports.
- A recent catastrophic aircraft accident was
proven to have occurred due to improper tire pressure maintenance.
Foreign Object Debris (FOD)
- FOD is prevalent in Air Operations Areas (AOA).
- FOD can damage both tires and aircraft (e.g.,
Concorde crash)
- Regular inspections of AOA’s is required to
remove debris.
- FOD is everyone’s responsibility.
- Airport authorities need to have preventative
programs
- All personnel should be educated and involved in
FOD prevention and removal.
- The benefits of FOD control include aircraft
safety and a reduction in costs.
Now we are sure that you understand why tires are important on aircraft.
Our goal as an industry is to reduce the likelihood of tire-related aircraft incidents by focusing on the following key areas:
- Adherence to proper inflation pressure by targeting the highest pressure recommended in the AMM, by performing daily pressure checks, and by compensating for ambient temperature.
- Reduction of FOD in Air Operation Areas by preventing FOD generation, by removing FOD through regular inspections, and by following tire damage removal criteria.
For more information regarding aircraft tire care and service, contact Michelin Aircraft Tire Company through the following web link:
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