One Click Purchasing Blog

Between each flight, dozens of inspections and actions are performed to ensure the safety of an aircraft and its passengers. Although most operations are standardized and accomplished on every plane, one of the most critical ones only occurs when below-freezing temperatures are expected. This operation is the deicing process, that of which helps protect aircraft from the damaging effects associated with ice buildup. In this blog, we will discuss the importance of a deicing protocol and how it is accomplished by most airlines.

Gaskets are a common form of packing material used to provide a seal or buffer at an interference point between two parts. Often, they are used as a way to prevent leakage from or into joined objects while under compression. As such, they may be used during shipment or amid the regular working conditions of a mechanism to secure it from leaks and damages. In general, most gaskets are made of metal or elastomer and can be formed via a few different manufacturing processes. One common way of forming gaskets is by cutting and stamping them with a die. If you are curious about this particular form of gaskets, you may read on as we discuss them in detail.

Nuts are a common hardware element that may be found on many types of assemblies, being used in conjunction with threaded fasteners to secure two or more parts together. Nuts are most often utilized alongside bolts, the external threading of such fasteners engaging with the internal threading of the nut to be secured. While twisting a nut onto the tail of a bolt can allow for a reliable assembly to be established, the pair is not always infallible when faced with vibrations and other forces that cause fasteners to loosen. In such environments, it can be very useful to take advantage of specialized types of nuts with self-locking capabilities to avoid loosening.

While threaded fasteners are often used to secure parts together in an assembly, they are not always foolproof. In some instances, threaded fasteners may come loose as a result of vibration, shock, or other forces that cause such hardware to eventually come apart. While there are a number of solutions one may implement to prevent loosening, one of the simplest options is to implement what is known as a push-on retainer. These components are a form of retaining ring that may be slid over a threaded fastener’s shaft to maintain its positioning. In this blog, we will discuss the push-on retainer in brief detail so that you may become more familiar with its design and use.

Unlike navigating a land vehicle, navigating an aircraft poses unique challenges as there are few reference points that can be used to indicate one’s location in the sky. Instead, pilots mainly rely on navigation devices like those used to indicate direction like compasses or magnetometers. All certified aircraft are required to be equipped with at least one magnetic direction indicator, those of which function by means of the Earth’s magnetic core. For your better understanding, this blog will explore the functions of a few popular aircraft direction indicating instruments.

Bonding is defined as the electrical connecting of two or more conducting objects that are not already securely connected, while grounding consists of forming an electrical connection between the conducting object and the primary structure for return of current. For context, the primary structure encompasses the main frame, fuselage, or wing structure of the aircraft. Some of the main reasons bonding and grounding connections are made in aircraft electrical systems are to protect aircraft and personnel against hazards from lightning discharge, provide current return paths, prevent the development of radio-frequency potentials, protect personnel from shock hazard, stabilize radio transmission and reception, and prevent the build-up of static charge.

When discussing rigging in the context of aviation, one is referring to the adjustment of moveable flight controls situated across the fuselage and structures of an aircraft. These include wings, stabilizers, rudders, and other various devices. To conduct rigging, one will set the cable tension for surfaces, adjust the limits of flight controls, set travel stops, and much more. To ensure safe flight conditions, pilots must guarantee that rigging is performed correctly, and this can be done by following the specific requirements set out by the aircraft manufacturer or component manufacturer. In this blog, we will discuss the basic methods of conducting aircraft rigging checks so that you can better understand how it is typically conducted. 

Aircraft transponders are communication devices used by pilots and air traffic control (ATC) personnel to keep in contact during flight. While the skies may not seem that busy compared to roads, air traffic must be closely monitored and controlled to avoid collisions. Communication also functions to warn pilots of dangerous flying conditions and emergencies. As such, pilots rely on guidance from ground control’s observations and measurements to follow the ideal path to their destination. For this reason, transponders are employed to make sure this vital aspect of flight is possible.

In electronics, rectifiers are electrical devices which are made up of one or more diodes that convert alternating current (AC) into direct current (DC). In fact, even cell phone chargers utilize rectifiers to convert the AC from the outlets in our homes to DC. With countless electronics, rectifiers are available in different types.

Blind flange valves, or blind valves, are devices that restrict flow in pipes in order to carry out adjustments and maintenance on machinery, systems, and other various apparatuses. More than that, they provide a visual indication of their position, providing visibility to operators. They are also called 8 blind flanges as they have a rotating 8 shape, where one loop is a hollow disk and the other is a solid loop.