Ground_Support_September2020 - 39

MAINTENANCE

in just 15 minutes to free up space in a hangar or shipped directly
to a repair site.
The structure can be set up right next to an aircraft, enabling
the on-site repair of components that have been removed from the
aircraft without having to take them to another facility. To be able
to take something from a box, inflate, heat and air-condition it in
all weather conditions and have it operational within minutes, is
of massive benefit to airlines and their skilled engineers working
with composites.
On the subject of heating, advances in technology have also facilitated the introduction of an inflatable oven that can be heated
up to 200 degrees C. In support of composite repairs, this can be
mounted on any part of the fuselage or used as a free-standing unit,
enabling fast treatment of composite material, which is extremely
time and cost-efficient.
Similarly, there has been a significant rise in the requirement for
airframe modifications which facilitate better inflight communications capability. The availability of on-board WiFi for passengers
is being used as a key customer benefit in airline marketing but
retrofitting airline fleets for connectivity requires approval in the
form of Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs). With many MROs
and airlines focusing on the provision of WiFi on their aircraft and
antennas continually being upgraded, it is a process that is seeing
rapid acceleration within the industry.
Carrying out such complex modifications presents practical engineering challenges. WiFi antennas need to be fitted to the crown
of the aircraft, either inside or outside the hangar. When inserting
these into the airframe, engineers need to mitigate against dust con-

tamination, while working within strict humidity and temperature
tolerances. Again, the versatility of inflatable protection modules not
only provides additional safety and security for engineers working
on top of the aircraft, but it also ensures the ideal conditions for
this modification to be executed successfully.
In light of the current worldwide health crisis affecting global
aviation, cost and time-efficiency for aircraft maintenance, repair
and modifications will be absolutely critical elements in helping the
sector to recover over the months and years ahead. Those of us who
are innovators in design and manufacture will play a crucial role in
supporting the industry during the most challenging time we have
ever faced since the Wright Brothers first took to the skies.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Founded by Ian Nagle to serve the Irish haulage industry back in the mid1980s, Cork-based JB Roche diversified into manufacturing framed canvas
products for the marine industry. Its investment in design and patterning
software and automated cutting equipment laid the foundations for JB
Roche's move into the aviation sector, when it developed an inflatable
hangar solution for Aer Lingus. Since inventing and patenting the world's
first precision fit, all-fabric inflatable aircraft hangar in 1999, JB Roche
continues to manufacture advanced inflatable shelters for the global
aviation sector.

EVERYTHING
YOU NEED TO
KEEP MOVING.

Learn more by visiting our website at:

par-kan.com

800-291-5487

AviationPros.com/10017637

SEPTEMBER 2020

AviationPros.com

http://www.par-kan.com http://www.AviationPros.com/10017637 http://www.AviationPros.com

Ground_Support_September2020

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