Safe aircraft engine’s transportation: why does the stand matter?
Though engine stands are mostly associated with maintenance – why else would you have it off the aircraft – it’s not the only occasion to use them. From time to time you might need to perform an aircraft engine’s transportation separately from the aircraft and here engine stands play an equally important role. Why?
Transporting an engine is a delicate task where safety comes first. We’ve already covered the topic of how expensive engine maintenance gets, so any unexpected damages are highly unwelcome. However, the longer the distance, the more things can go wrong, especially, if the engine is not placed stable enough. Think about transporting family porcelain, only really expensive one.
“Stands consist of two parts – a cradle and a base, together making a stable engine handling system”, – says Tadas Piekus, Head of Business Development at EngineStands.com. “Each aircraft engine model has its customized stand, where everything is designed to fit the specifics of the engine. A cradle has to hold the engine and provide amortization from oscillations that happen during transportation. A base gives additional support and stability plus helps to move the engine safely in shorter distances”.
“There is a difference between engine stands manufacturers, as only certified ones can guarantee that all the safety requirements are met. They are approved by engines manufacturers, meaning that their systems are designed according to the highest quality standards and accordingly to specifications of the corresponding engine.”, – explains T. Piekus.
Of course, when performing an aircraft engine’s transportation from one part of the continent to the other, having a proper stand is not enough. Having a trusted logistics partner is another part of the story. Rail transportation is too unreliable as it’s hard to ensure the stability of the engine, so land and air cargo are two most commonly used means of logistics. Air cargo is prefered when there are time limitations or longer distances and land transportation can be used for shorter distances. However, not every logistics company knows how to handle engines properly, so what matters is their competencies and existing procedures to ensure safety.
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