Aviation Maintenance Stands and Platforms

Aviation stands are versatile structures that allow employees access to various parts of an aircraft while conducting inspections and services and repairs, especially in hard-to-reach locations. These stands allow personnel to remain safely off the ground without straining themselves or wasting time going back and forth between different parts of the plane. Some aviation stands have built-in ladders for easy access to the top of an aircraft, while others have a pneumatic lift system for easy transportation. They also feature adjustable arms, handrails, and lighting systems, making it easier for users to see the surroundings while they work. These are painted to match the aircraft’s exterior color for safety and aesthetic purposes. Often, stands are equipped with wheels for easy transportation around any given aircraft hangar.

Aviation Stands – Construction:

Aircraft stands are typically fabricated from high-strength aluminum, with rust-resistant and noncorroding coatings. These aviation support stands vary in weight capacity depending on the application and portability. They also vary in dimension depending on their intended purpose.

Accident Potential: Low

Storage Requirements: None

Frequency of Use: Medium/High

Need for Aircraft Maintenance Platforms:

For any professional mechanic, having the appropriate equipment is critical. Because aircraft are so unique in construction and the height at which mechanics must operate, a problem with servicing them has always been their unusual design and working height. Therefore, a maintenance stand built for safety and fits an aircraft is important and helps improve aviation operations in three ways:

1. Safety: Aircraft maintenance engineers use the most up-to-date tools possible since a thorough MRO procedure on the ground is essential for safety in the air. The safe method of working on planes is to use an aircraft stand, and while operating several feet above the ground and at steep angles, they usually have a sturdy base with protective rails.
2. Enhanced Maintenance Efficiency: The time spent on upkeep tasks impacts productivity and availability of aircraft. As a result, custom-built stands allow fast access to hard-to-reach aircraft locations and improved efficiency. Maintenance stands allow technicians to set up their equipment and quickly repair work.
3. Improved Reliability of Aircraft: The main purpose of a periodic inspection is to keep the aircraft reliable. Maintenance platforms facilitate rapidly and thoroughly inspecting all components, ensuring that they are operational, and maintaining structural integrity.

Aircraft Maintenance Stands – Types:

Depending on the construction and functionality, aircraft maintenance stands are commonly classified into four types:

1. Daily maintenance stands: These are typically stand-alone platforms that are portable and easily moved. These can either be simple in design, with a non-adjustable staircase and single platform or complex, with height adjusters that can be configured in various ways and for numerous purposes. Because of their standalone nature, fall precautions are necessary for these stands.

These stands are often a popular choice for small projects since they’re simple to operate and move around. The adjustable versions are adaptable to a wide range of planes, making them useful for indoor and outdoor operations. Avionic technicians use indoor and outdoor services, and some can be integrated into more sophisticated maintenance stands as modular parts.

2. Wrap-around Maintenance stands: These platforms are ideal for comprehensive inspections and repairs. They allow technicians to access electrical and pneumatic power from within the stand, which is much easier than trying to connect to sources elsewhere and deal with extension cords and hoses that hang over the railing and on the walkway. Having a clean working environment makes it easier to work and lowers risks.

A maintenance platform with a large wrap-around design takes longer to set up and is not as versatile as the smaller daily or adjustable stand. Wrap-around stands are occasionally made especially for one type of aircraft, necessitating a more complicated assembly before usage.

3. Adjustable Maintenance Stands: Adjustable maintenance platforms are compact and adaptable, making them perfect for quick preventative maintenance tasks. While assembling an entire wrap-around platform is sometimes required, using a few adjustable maintenance platforms instead is time-efficient for specific tasks. They are easy to set up and don’t require assembly or disassembly. They also take less storage space than other wrap-around models that don’t completely disassemble.

Adjustable maintenance platforms for transporting one technician include winch lifts, boom lifts, and scissor lifts. The height and weight support standards and the maintenance demands may influence which type is best for you.

4. Custom-built maintenance stands: Customized stands can be designed based on the requirements and maintenance demands.

Aircraft Maintenance Stands – Selection Criteria:

The selection of ground support equipment is determined by the maintenance hangar and facilities available. The following factors should be considered while selecting a suitable maintenance stand:

1. Work Area Size: Before purchasing any ground support equipment, measure the size of the work area and ensure the availability of adequate storage space. Another thing to think about is available storage space.
2. Installation Restrictions: Check for any restrictions on installation in your facility and ensure that structure may not interrupt your existing maintenance plan.
3. Load Capacity: Determine how much weight your platforms will need to carry, including the number of people working in specific areas and the tools and power supply required.
4. Stand Material: Because aluminum is cost-effective and lightweight, it’s frequently the platform material. Other alternatives are available for various capacity levels and budgets.
5. Compatibility: Work platforms are modular units that may be utilized as mobile stands or linked to larger wrap-around platforms for greater functionality and space-saving.
6. People per Platform: Examine how the MRO team operates. Ensure the equipment can support the number of people in one region without risk of injury and fulfill OSHA requirements.
7. Railing: The height of GSE’s railing is a crucial choice that must be made to assure safety and usefulness. It must be high enough to safeguard you while remaining unobtrusive, yet low enough that your personnel may work effectively.

Operational Guidelines & Preventative Maintenance of Aviation Maintenance Stands:

A preventive maintenance plan should include regular inspections to determine if there are any loose nuts or bolts, worn components, corrosion on platforms, signs of physical damage, working parts that need lubrication, damaged electrical cords and hoses and ensures that the platform is safe for operation. OEMs recommend following components on a maintenance stand should follow PM schedules. The inspection schedule frequency is shown below:

A: Perform Visual and Daily Maintenance Inspections & Functions Test

B: Perform scheduled Maintenance Inspection every three months based on regular

C: Perform scheduled Maintenance Inspection every year

Maintenance aircraft stands/platforms are a type of aviation equipment designed to help workers complete aircraft inspections and to work at heights that would otherwise be impractical or even impossible. Therefore investing in preventive maintenance of your GSE can prevent you from schedule breakdowns, ensures high aircraft up-time, and extend the life of the equipment. Ground personnel must thoroughly study the operation and service manuals supplied by the equipment manufacturers and maintain a maintenance log, which must be completed at each servicing interval, detailing all work on the system.

e2b calibration offers industry-leading consultancy and certified PM services for your aircraft maintenance stands. At e2b Calibration, we maintain and troubleshoot your stands so that you can concentrate on maintaining your aircraft. Our labs are ISO/IEC accredited and operated by a team of qualified experts providing training and consultancy services on GSE Maintenance and inspection. Our verifiable services are unmatched in the industry. Contact e2b calibration for all your equipment calibration needs.