AIRCRAFT HANDLING

Part 2

Ground Handling

Ground HandlingAircraft arrivals and departures

are usually attended by two tradesmen,known as the

Handling Team

The handling team will marshal an arriving aircraft into a parking area

which has been cleared of FOD

What is FOD?

Ground HandlingFOD is

Foreign Object Damage

objects which have the potential to damage aircraft either by

being sucked into an engine, blown by jet efflux into another aircraft,

or damaging aircraft tyres.

Ground HandlingThe Handling Team

will insert chocks and connect necessarypower and ground servicing equipment.

Position fire extinguishers during engine shut-downs.

Position aircraft steps and assist the aircrew with unstrapping.

Finally the handling team fit safety devices(safety pins, covers, blanks and plugs

that may be needed).

MarshallingThe aim of the marshaller

is to assist the pilot in the safe manoeuvring

of the aircraft on the ground.

The marshaller communicates with the pilot by making visual signals with his arms and hands,

but the pilot is not required to comply with marshalling instructions he considers to be unsafe.

MarshallingThe extent of the marshalling assistance

will depend upon:

The pilot’s familiarity with the airfield,

the number of obstructions,

the size of the aircraft,

the field of view from the cockpit.

Marshalling

At an unfamiliar airfield

taxiing instruction can be passed

to the pilot by radio;

For a long taxi route,

marshallers may be stationed

along the route at intervals,

or “follow me” vehicles

may be used.

Marshalling

Night Marshalling

Taxiing at night requires more

detailed marshalling directions.

Navigation lights must always be on,

and taxi lights used.

Care should be taken not to

dazzle the marshaller. Nav Lights

Taxi Lights

Marshalling

Night Marshalling

Marshallers carry wands or torches

for identification and must be visible

at all times by the pilot.

If the pilot looses sight of the marshaller

they must stop and wait for them to catch up.

Towing and ParkingAircraft are never taxied in to or out of hangers

– they are towed or manhandled instead.

Handling parties must be qualified and consist of:

An experienced supervisor.

One person in the cockpit to operate the brakes.

One at each wing tipto ensure obstacle clearance.

Either a driver for the towing vehicle, or sufficient people

to manhandle the aircraft.

Towing and ParkingWhen parking an aircraft the handling party

act in accordance with orders for that aircraft:

a. Park the aircraft facing into wind so that no part of one aircraft overlaps any part of another.

b. Double chock the wheels - fore and aft.

c. Release the brakes.

d. Check the electrical services, ignition switches and fuel cocks are turned off.

e. Apply control locks.

f. Fit pitot and static vents covers.

g. Lock canopies and doors, fit canopy, wheel and engine covers and set drip trays.

Danger ZonesDanger zones are those areas in which there is a high risk of injury to personnelwhen aircraft components or systems

are operated on the ground.

Danger zones include:

Engine intakes - sucking

Engine exhausts – blowing & hot

Propellers – always considered as “live”

Helicopter rotors – prone to “blade sail” where they rotate and bring the blades

closer to ground height.

Danger ZonesWheel and Brake Fires

Aircraft wheel brakes are made of two components:

a pad of heat-resistant, hard-wearing fibreand a disc attached to the wheel.

Friction between pad and disc slows the aircraft,it also heats up the disc –

which can, in prolonged taxiing, abnormal loading or heavy landing,

cause a fire.

The Marshalling team are in charge of this until the Fire Service arrives.

Danger ZonesWheel and Brake Fires

The safest course of first aid action against an aircraft wheel or brake fire is:

To stand forward or rearward of the wheels,

depending on the prevailing wind,but never in line with the axle.

To operate the fire extinguisher at the limit of its range,

and to spray the extinguishant downwards, 0.3m away from the wheels

Check UnderstandingWhat are the tradesmen who attend

aircraft arrivals and departures known as?

The Safety Team

The FOD Team

The Handling Team

The Marshalling Team

Check UnderstandingWhat is the person who assists the pilot

in the safe manoeuvring of the aircraft called?

The Handler

The Marshaller

The Director

The Supervisor

Check UnderstandingHow does the marshaller

communicates with the pilot?

By Radio

By Semaphore

By Hand and Arm signals

Through Air Traffic Control

Check UnderstandingWhat precautions should be taken

when using taxi-lights?

That the taxi-light bulbs are not burned out.

That the marshaller should not be dazzled.

That the aircraft batteries are not overloaded.

That people in adjacent buildings are not dazzled.

Check UnderstandingAreas around propellers, engine intakes,

exhausts, rotors etc. are considered as what?

Danger Zones

Activation Areas

Blade Zones

Rotation Areas

Check UnderstandingWhat is the effect called when

a helicopter on the ground, has its engine running,

and a gust of wind causes its blades to be closer to the ground than normal?

Blade dropping

Blade falling

Blade sailing

Blade slipping

Check UnderstandingWhen fighting an aircraft wheel fire,

where should you aim the extinguisher jet?

0.3 m away from the wheels

0.3 m above the wheels

Directly onto the wheels

0.3 m behind the wheels

Check UnderstandingAt an unfamiliar airfield

how can taxiing instruction be passed to the pilot?

By Radio

By ‘follow me’ vehicles

Via Semaphore

Via a TV link-up

AIRCRAFT HANDLING

End of Presentation