How crucial are aircraft parts for ensuring proper maintenance?

 Aircraft engines are complex machines that provide the necessary power for an aircraft to propel through the sky, which is why understanding the basics of aircraft engines and their components is crucial to maintaining and optimizing their performance. 

To say airplanes have many parts would be an understatement. Many airplanes have millions of parts, accounting for everything from landing wheel bearings and wheels to wires and fasteners. Some of these parts, however, are more important than others. Among the most critical aircraft parts are flight-critical parts. What are flight-critical parts exactly, and why are they important? 



The Three Elements of MRO 

When it comes to MRO aviation, there are three elements to consider to ensure the aircraft is in optimal condition: 

  • Maintenance 

Before deploying an aircraft, it is crucial to ensure that no apparent faults, issues, or snags may affect the vehicle or its ability to fly. Getting it regularly serviced will allow the aircraft to stay in top-tier condition so that passenger safety isn't jeopardized. 

  • Repair 

On average, roughly 350,000 moving components are attributed to an aircraft, so it's not uncommon for issues and faults to arise. However, when they do, and no matter how 'minor' they may seem, they must get resolved as quickly as possible. Suppose an instrument panel doesn't respond the way it should. In that case, if there is a dent in the aircraft's body, a crack in the window, or the engine has failed, a swift repair by trained aircraft engineers will ensure the vehicle is airborne again in no time. 

  • Overhaul 

Arguably the most crucial element in aviation MRO, overhauling an airplane is a substantially large job. As most aircraft travel hundreds of thousands of miles in their lifetime, experience significant turbulence, and typically land at 130mph in all weather conditions, 'wear and tear' comes with the territory. 

The entire aircraft is dismantled piece by piece as part of the overhaul process. All of the aircraft parts are then thoroughly inspected before being reassembled. This process allows for a detailed inspection of all surface and internal parts of the aircraft, making it an essential element of its lifecycle. 

Flight Critical Parts Explained 

Flight-critical parts are airplane parts that are deemed to be critically important. They are regulated by aviation organizations, such as the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The FAA and EASA have guidelines regarding the use of flight-critical parts. 

Flight-critical parts can best be described as parts that airplanes need to fly safely. Failure of a critical flight part may result in catastrophic damage to the aircraft, such as engine shutdown. All flight-critical parts are essential to the safe flight of airplanes. 

Many airplanes contain millions of parts. The Boeing 747 is said to contain over 6 million parts. Some parts are optional for an aircraft to fly. Whether these parts are absent, removed — or if they fail — airplanes can still safely fly. On the other hand, flight-critical parts are essential for airplanes to fly safely. 

Common Types of Flight Critical Parts 

Cooling fins may be considered flight-critical parts. As they burn jet fuel, airplane engines will produce heat. Cooling fins allow them to dissipate this heat so that they don't overheat and, thus, sustain catastrophic damage. Cooling fins are fin-like pieces of metal on airplane engines. They allow heat to dissipate during flight. 

Traffic collision avoidance systems (TCASs) are considered flight-critical parts. Also known as traffic alert systems, TCASs live up to their namesake by protecting against midair collisions. They are designed to monitor the space around an airplane for the presence of other planes and aircraft. If detected, the TCAS will warm the pilot so that they can take evasive action. 

There are countless other flight-critical parts. While some have different purposes than others, they are all critically important. Airplanes need flight-critical parts to fly safely. 

When researching airplane parts, you may come across the term "flight critical." It's used to describe parts that airplanes need to fly safely. 

  

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