BECAUSE OF limited hangarage, most aviaremonts (overhaul centres) firstly strip down an aircraft outdoors before bringing it into a hangar. This involves:

removing wings, engines and tailplane; check for damage/wear. A detailed inspection is undertaken and the work needed is listed and discussed with the operator:

all major components are removed for inspection, test and repair/replacement, cleaning and re-installation;

the cabin is stripped - walls, floors and windows are checked and repaired, as are seats, rails and panels;

all cockpit controls and instruments are removed, tested and repaired;

all doors, emergency exits, hatches are removed, tested and repaired;

- the fuel tanks are checked;

undercarriage, wheels, brakes and tyres are checked and repaired;

- corrosion repaired and inhibited;

- all skin panels are removed and detailed x-ray tests of all load bearing items such as spars, wing ribs, floors are carried out;

component replacement or restoration;

re-assembly;

test flights.

A Yakovlev Yak-42 overhaul takes about 80 days; 90 days are needed for an Il-76.

Source: Flight International

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