ASAP Part Services Blog

Fasteners are components that allow for the permanent or temporary assembly of parts, and they come in many different types, shapes, and sizes to accommodate varying needs. For aircraft construction and maintenance in particular, a number of fasteners are used, all of which are built to meet the quality standards and performance requirements necessary to excel under harsh conditions that are typical during flight. In this blog, we will discuss some of the common types of aerospace fasteners that are used on an aircraft, as well as the most common materials they are made out of.

As the aviation industry continues to grow across the globe with an increase of commercial flights, cargo services, and more, the demand for spare aircraft parts is also on the rise. Many aircraft are designed to be in continuous use, downtime often being minimized as much as feasible to maintain revenue and tight scheduling. Nevertheless, aircraft are machines like all others, thus necessitating the eventual repair and replacement of parts as a result of aging, wear, and other factors. For safety and adherence to various regulations, aircraft are subject to routine checks and maintenance procedures that are carried out at set intervals. To meet airworthiness standards while ensuring that scheduling is upheld, it is paramount that spare parts can quickly and efficiently be procured so that they are on hand when needed.

One of the oldest and most trusted components of aircraft is magneto technology. While you may be unfamiliar with magnetos, for decades they have been an integral part of the aviation industry. An aircraft magneto is a self-contained generator that uses permanent magnets and coils to produce high voltage to start-up the aircraft spark plugs. The magnets spin within close proximity to a coil of wire, which generates a strong magnetic force that is contained by a primary coil. The moment contact points open, the magnetic flow produces a high voltage in the secondary coil, the spark plug is ignited, and the engine starts to run. While this may seem like a straightforward process, there are instances where this operation does not run as smoothly, causing the magneto to fail. For this reason, we will be covering the common faults with magnetos and troubleshooting methods in the case that a magneto fails.

Oxygen is crucial to helping us stay alive. As one of the major contributors to life on Earth, oxygen must be continuously supplied to a pilot, crewmembers, and any passengers onboard an aircraft to avoid hypoxia. Often observed as a decrease or” thinning out” of oxygen as altitude rises, hypoxia can be curbed with the aid of specialized instruments. Deadly if left unsupervised, it is crucial that any of whom are flying in an aircraft always be supplied with adequate amounts of oxygen at all times. To better understand how oxygen levels can impact individuals within an aircraft, we will go over fundamental equipment used to supply various aircraft and their passengers with oxygen.

Corrosion refers to the degradation of metals due to a chemical reaction. The most important reactions to understand that cause corrosion are oxidation and reduction, and the critical substrates in these reactions are anodes and cathodes. When it comes to metals, oxidation is when oxygen from the atmosphere or water donates electrons to the metal it encounters. The site at which this donation occurs is called an anode. After oxidation occurs, the electrons flow to another location on the surface of the metal called a cathode. At the cathode, these electrons are finally donated to oxygen molecules in water droplets. This reaction is called reduction.

While many are familiar with the steering wheels of a typical automobile, some may not realize that many aircraft have similar controls. While a steering system similar to an automobile may not be efficient for standard flight, they are very useful when traversing around the tarmac of a runway. Controls such as the yoke holder and yoke connector are used for flight, while a separate control serves pilots for ground operations. As a control that is featured on numerous passenger planes for an ease of traversing surfaces, it can be useful to understand how they are used and why they are important.

Air filters are an important element of many vehicles, ensuring that contaminants and unwanted substances are blocked from flowing alongside fluids. With their implementation, such components prevent foreign matter from affecting the health of individuals and vehicle systems alike. Air filters can serve many roles, common examples being the filtration of cabin and engine air. While different air filters may serve similar roles in filtering fluids, their varied placements, designs, and roles set such components apart from one another. As engine and cabin air filters are crucial for the overall well-being of a vehicle and the individuals within, having a basic understanding of each and how they are used is highly recommended.

Washers and shims are relatively similar components, and both are regularly used for automotive manufacturing, machinery, industrial equipment, and other applications. As both component types come in the form of thin material pieces that may be used to fill gaps or increase support, it is important to understand the difference between each. In this blog, we will discuss washers and shims, allowing you to understand their similarities and differences.

The attitude indicator is one of the six basic flight instruments in every cockpit. It serves to provide the pilot with the orientation of the aircraft relative to the Earth’s horizon and gives an immediate indication of even the most minute orientation changes. The attitude indicator features a miniature aircraft and horizon bar that mimic the relationship of the real aircraft and horizon. While traditional gyroscopes still exist in many aircraft, new types are becoming more and more popular. In this blog, we will discuss the most common types of attitude indicators.

Aircraft cable is among the most useful types of steel cables available. The thin, flexible, and exceedingly strong material consists of thin steel wires (between 8 and 28) that have been stranded together to provide a combination of strength and flexibility. Although aircraft cables rarely have a diameter greater than ¼ inch, they are strong enough to hold an aircraft securely in place.