One Click Purchasing Blog

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.

Blind flange valve, 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.

Whether an aircraft is a single-engine trainer or a large commercial airliner, all utilize a variety of systems to direct and manage the flow of fluids throughout internal assemblies. Fluid systems serve many important roles in aircraft, often being used to transport fuel for combustion, oil for lubrication and cooling, hydraulic fluids for power transfer, and much more. All of these unique systems consist of fluid lines, hoses, fittings, and connectors, all of which work together to ensure proper fluid transportation. In this blog, we will provide a brief overview of aircraft fluid lines and fittings, allowing you to better understand their functionality and common types.

As aircraft utilize more electrical systems as technology continues to develop, their reliance on electricity from power sources is becoming ever more important. Aircraft batteries are implemented in aircraft of all types, providing for ground power, emergency power, fault clearing, and more. Depending on the aircraft and its needs, various types of aircraft battery may be installed. In general, the two most common aircraft battery types are the lead acid battery and NiCd battery.

The aircraft turbine engine is a common power plant type for a number of jet aircraft, providing for their ability to generate thrust and propulsion through exhaust. As with any aircraft engine or component, the turbine engine needs to be regularly inspected and maintained as to ensure that it performs optimally and safely. The procedures often vary depending on the design and construction of the engine, and it is highly recommended to follow instructions as set out by the specific manufacturer that produced the engine in question. Nevertheless, there are some basic procedures that carry over across most turbine engine types, and we will discuss these as to provide general information to help you become more familiar with such maintenance.

Bearings are machine elements implemented to guide motion and minimize friction between moving parts. They typically provide either free linear movement for a moving part, or free rotation around a stationary axis and are classified by their operation, their movement, and the directions of the forces applied to the parts. Bearings are critical parts of any type of machinery. However, like any machine component, they can break. This blog will discuss seven of the most common ways aircraft bearings fail, and how they can be prevented.

When driving a vehicle during night hours with minimal visibility, lighting systems can be very useful to see what is in front of you, be aware of surrounding structures and vehicles, and generally increase visibility and safety. On an aircraft, the need for lighting is no different, and there are various electric fixtures across an aircraft that provide for sight and safety. In this blog, we will discuss some of the main electric vehicular lights and how they provide for safe flight.