Flight Training - March/April 2024 - 5

LETTERS
SECURING AN AIRPLANE
ON THE RAMP
TECHNIQUE
BYLINE: KOLLIN STAGNITO
ILLUSTRATION BY CHARLES FLOYD
SECURING AN AIRPLANE ON THE RAMP
KEEP YOUR AIRPLANE PROTECTED WHEN IT'S OUTSIDE
WHETHER YOUR AIRPLANE IS PARKED ON THE RAMP YEAR-ROUND, OR YOU ARE ON A
trip away from the comforts of your hangar, properly securing your airplane when it's
parked outside is essential. Mother Nature (and other pilots who may blast your
airplane with prop or jet wash) can be incredibly hard on airplanes-animals may try
to nest in the openings of the airplane, wind gusts can damage control surfaces, and
wind-driven dust can scratch plexiglass. Properly caring for an airplane parked outside
will make sure it's ship-shape for your next fl ight.
collin.callahan@aopa.org
Complete post-fl ight
checklist items.
Make sure the magnetos and ignition
are off , all electronic systems are shut
down, and any additional instructions
in the pilot's operating handbook
are followed.
Install control locks.
Strong winds (as well as blast from
other aircraft) can damage elevators,
ailerons, and rudders of unattended
airplanes. If you can, parking with the
nose of the airplane into the wind
limits forces on the control surfaces.
Control locks, also known as gust
locks, prevent the control surfaces
from being blown around. Even if the
airplane will be parked outside for
only a short period of time, it's best to
install them.
Tie down the aircraft.
If you want to fi nd your airplane in the
same spot that you left it, tie it down.
There are three tie-down points on
most airplanes-one on each wing and
one on the tail. Using chain or ropes,
secure the airplane to tiedown points
on the ramp.
Install covers.
Birds can quickly build nests in engine
inlets and insects can wreak havoc on
pitot static systems. Install the pitot
tube cover and insert engine inlet/cowl
plugs; make sure the strap connecting
the plugs runs in front of one propeller
blade. If you forget to remove the
plugs, the prop will pull them out when
it spins. If you have canopy covers,
install those as well.
Lock the aircraft.
Although many airports are fully
fenced and have limited access, it's
best to remove valuables like headsets
and tablets from the airplane and lock
the doors.
VIDEO
TRAINING TIP: HOW TO
TIE DOWN AN AIRPLANE
aopa.org/ft/video-tie-down
34
FLIGHT TRAINING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024
FLIGHT TRAINING JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024
35
" Technique: Securing an Airplane on
the Ramp, " by Collin Callahan in the
January/February issue caught my
attention. Well, actually, it was the
slack tiedown ropes. Are you really
implying that airplanes should be tied
down with slack ropes? It seems to me
that the increased stress on the rope
caused by a rocking airplane would
be obvious.
Furthermore, the ropes themselves
look a bit thin and unwinding at their ends. Also, the knots secure the rope to
itself a bit away from the tiedown ring. This is a common procedure (aopa.org/ft/video-tie-down)
but in my opinion it puts kinks or stress on the load-bearing portion of
the rope and is appropriate only if the tiedown ring is too high to reach.
Finally, I can't resist suggesting the rope should be looped through the ring twice
(if possible) before being pulled tight and secured with several half hitches around
the rope immediately adjacent to the ring. This procedure puts no additional stress
on the rope. Any remaining rope may be secured to the standing rope by a simple
overhand knot putting no strain on the standing rope.
My primary credential for writing this note is being a cranky 89-year-old CFI who
has successfully tied down airplanes for many years including a couple dozen times at
EAA AirVenture OSH.
Jaime Alexander
Council Bluffs, Iowa
We welcome your comments. Please email flighttraining@aopa.org. Comments will be edited
for style and space.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association annual member meeting
will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 10, 2024, at AOPA headquarters,
421 Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, located on the Frederick
Municipal Airport (FDK), for the purpose of electing trustees and amending
bylaws. AOPA's CEO will also give a report/update on the state of general
aviation. While not required, if you plan to attend we would appreciate
your RSVP to johnpaul.bongkiyi@aopa.org. If you are not able to attend,
but would like to appoint your voting proxy, please (1) log in your account
on the AOPA website and (2) visit aopa.org/proxyupdate or use the QR
code at right. You may also do so by calling 1-800-872-2672.
-Justine A. Harrison, Secretary
FLIGHT TRAINING MARCH/APRIL 2024
5

http://www.aopa.org/ft/video-tie-down http://www.aopa.org/ft/video-tie-down http://www.aopa.org/ft/video-tie-down http://www.aopa.org/proxyupdate http://www.aircraftspruce.com

Flight Training - March/April 2024

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