A Fixed Base Operator, or FBO, is a particularly luxurious perk of private jet travel. FBOs are essentially private terminals located in a stand-alone building away from the main terminal of an airport, where an array of services and amenities are available to private jet passengers, crew, and the aircraft themselves. Read more >>

If you spend enough time in or around the world of aviation, you will eventually hear the term TSO used. In an industry with so many highly-specialized parts and practices, the many acronyms and abbreviations can become hard to remember. This blog will cover the TSO in general, as well as the specific TSO-C173. Read more >>

When shopping for parts and components for your aerospace operations, you may eventually come across those that are considered “TSO parts”. As there are a multitude of specialized parts, procedures, standards, grades, and more involved in such a developed and standardized industry, being aware of each acronym’s meaning may be difficult. In this blog, we will discuss what TSO parts are, and how parts become considered as such. Read more >>

Airplane lighting frameworks provide illumination to both outside and inside of an aircraft. Lights on the outside give light during such activities as arriving around evening time, examination of icing conditions, and security from midair impact. Interior lighting provides illumination to instruments, cockpits, lodges, and different areas involved by crewmembers and travelers. Certain unique lighting, for example, markers and cautioning lights, provide the aircraft status of gear. For more information on the aircraft lighting system, read here. Read more >>

The Integrated Drive Generator system, or IDG, is a key power system found on aircraft that controls all of the engine hydraulic systems. An IDG consists of a Constant Speed Drive (CSD) and AC generator mounted side by side in a single housing assembly. The CSD uses controlled differential action to maintain the constant output speed necessary to power the generator. Because the IDG has such an important role in powering key components of the aircraft, its reliability is paramount. This blog will explain Integrated Drive Generator systems, how they work, and how to service them properly. Read more >>

When designing, manufacturing, and procuring commercial aviation parts, it is helpful to have a referencing standard and cataloguing system to help establish order and ease of learning. The ATA 100 is a numbering system that has established itself as such a commercial aircraft documentation standard, allowing for pilots, maintenance technicians, and engineers to quickly and easily understand various aircraft systems and components. Read more >>

When flying or designing an aircraft, it is always crucial that it is designated as an “airworthy” part. Airworthiness refers to an aircraft’s ability to be considered safe for flight. These standards and certificates are regulated and upheld by various international agencies, including but not limited to the International Civil Aviation Organization, European Aviation Safety Agency, NATO, and European Defense Agency. These requirements for airworthiness are not just for the aircraft, but even for each and every component as well. When sourcing parts, one may recognize some of the common standards, such as TSO and PMA, but what do these designations mean for the parts they encompass? Read more >>

A main bonding jumper is a conductor that acts as the link between the equipment grounding conductor and the grounded service conductor. The purpose of the main bonding jumper is to fasten the EGC (equipment grounding conductors) to the neutral conductor of the electrical service. In other words, it carries the ground-fault current from the service enclosure as well as from the equipment grounding system that is returning to the source. You can read more about the main-bonding jumper and its uses below.  Read more >>

O-rings are in use throughout many aircraft and operate as an important sealer whenever they are applied. However, while acting as a sealant, o-rings are susceptible to extrusion and failure. To prevent this, many o-rings in are coupled with an anti-extrusion ring. Anti-extrusion rings are designed and manufactured to act as supplemental support and guarantee the seal performance of an o-ring. Sometimes called back-up rings, an anti-extrusion ring is an inflexible ring that holds an elastomeric seal in its correct shape and place. Anti-extrusion are necessary in a variety of situations. Some of their applications include: Read more >>

Airspeed Indicators (ASI) are flight instruments used to measure the airspeed of an aircraft. They function either electronically or via a pitot-static system and are crucial to the safe operation of an aircraft. Because of this, pilots must be able to ensure their ASI is accurate and functioning properly. Electronic ASIs provide the peace of mind that readings will be accurate, but typically only newer, more sophisticated aircraft will feature an electronic ASI. For all other aircraft, a pitot-static system will be in use. In this case, to ensure reliability, the ASI must be calibrated and maintained regularly. Read more >>