ASAP Parts Online Blog

Within each flight cycle, an aircraft fuel system must deliver clean fuel to the engine at a proper flow rate to sustain flight— regardless of the operating conditions. A fuel system is composed of boost pumps, tanks, strainers, selector valves, pressure gauges, engine-driven pumps, and more.

Aircraft are under a constant state of stress when logging flight hours. Boeing aircraft, for example, have the ability to fly upwards of 14 hours non-stop and their lifetime can extend anywhere from 20 - 27 years in operation. In this time, an aircraft will experience about 35,000 pressurization cycles and will undergo the associated, and often expected, degradation and parts fatigue. So, how do modern aircraft maintain their reliability and safety over time?

When preparing for a flight, there are many things to worry about and consider like packing luggage, arriving at the airport on time, fitting the carry-ons in the overhead compartment, and so on. The one thing no one really thinks about and often does automatically, that’s boarding. And no matter if it’s the massive Airbus A380 or the luxurious Embraer Lineage 1000E, when we board a plane, we board on the left side. But most of us can’t even begin to explain why.

Earlier in the year, The Boeing Company finished up the flight tests for the newest model of the KC-46 Pegasus wide-body, a plane used to re-fuel other squad member’s during flight. Now they are waiting on word from the FAA to see if their new tankers can fly legally. More certifications are needed on this aircraft than normal because it is classified as a tanker, meaning it may take longer for the tanker to become airworthy.

Boeing Service restores its overseas crusader with an even larger aircraft The beginning of transatlantic flights began in 1919 and progressed over the years with bigger and more efficient aircrafts. One of the more modern accomplishments to date is the implementation of Boeings 747 jumbo aircraft to their transatlantic excursion from Austin, Texas to Heathrow, London. This daily nonstop flight was added to British Airways in March of 2014 which departs from Austin’s- Bergstrom International Airport.

Allegiant Travel Company is looking for twelve A320s. The company is trying to snatch up some used models to keep the cost of their conversion to a fleet containing a single type of aircraft, as low as possible. At the end of 2017, Allegiant Travel Company will have a fleet containing eighty-nine planes. Thirty-seven of which are McDonnell-Douglas MD-80’s. Once 2018 rolls around the McDonnel-Douglas aircrafts will be dropped from the fleet and will be replaced with Airbus planes, and by 2020 Allegiant Travel Company will be manning a fleet of 110 aircrafts.

World renown leasing aircraft company Company has finalized their decsion on inputting the latest GEnx engine into a Boeing 787. The Genx Engine is one of the newest, most innovative engines that promotes eco friendliness along with being very fuel efficient. The Boeing 787 will be built for GE Aviation use as they promote “eco imagination.” Ecomagination is GE Aviation’s standards of being more efficient and more ecofriendly with all their projects and products.

The General Electric CF6-80 engine was introduced in 1982 as a 52,500 – 63,500 lb. thrust engine meant to power mid and large size aircraft like the Boeing 767 and Airbus A330. The engine has aged well despite newer and more fuel-efficient models because of cheap fuel costs and passenger demand for long distance high capacity flights. Ultimately the engines will be phased out, but units are not uncommonly going through their second overhaul at MRO’s for GE CF6-70 engines. That’s an estimated 80,000 hours in flight or 9 years.  Globally, the market for GE CF6-80 engines is only expected to shrink by 8% in 2021, meaning MRO shops will be busy for years to come.