Secure Your Aircraft
Secure Your Aircraft
Secure Your Aircraft
your aircraft
Contents
Introduction........................................3 Tying down.....................................12
Wing spoilers......................................13
Where to park your aircraft..................4
Tiedown knots....................................13
Types of tiedowns................................5
Multi-engine aircraft.........................16
Permanent anchor points.......................5
Parallel cables.................................... 6 Helicopters.......................................17
Pickets...................................................6
Floatplanes and skiplanes.................18
Ropes.................................................... 7
After a storm....................................19
Securing your aircraft......................... 9
Advice for operators......................... 20
Position............................................... 9
Controls.............................................. 9 Conclusion....................................... 22
Doors and other openings.....................11
Aircraft covers.......................................11
Extra security measures.........................11
Every effort is made to ensure the information in this booklet is accurate and up-to-date at the time of
publishing, but numerous changes can occur with time, especially in regard to airspace and legislation.
Readers are reminded to obtain appropriate up-to-date information.
See the CAA website for civil aviation rules, advisory circulars, airworthiness directives, forms, and more
safety publications. Visit aviation.govt.nz.
Secure your aircraft 3
Introduction
It’s common to experience strong wing conditions at aerodromes
around New Zealand, particularly during the spring and early
summer months. Although weather services try to provide plenty
of warning when stormy or hazardous conditions are on the way,
it’s not always possible to predict exactly when they might arrive.
High winds can cause damage to It’s important that you regularly
unsecured, or inadequately secured, practise tiedown procedures for your
aircraft. In extreme circumstances, aircraft, so you’re prepared when stormy
aircraft can be damaged beyond repair. weather arrives.
Because New Zealand’s weather can be However, it’s not only stormy weather
changeable, you should always ensure your than can cause damage. You may need to
aircraft is secured when parked outside. secure your aircraft during any period it is
unsupervised, to avoid the potential threat
This GAP booklet provides advice on how
of inadvertent slipstream or downwash
to correctly secure your aircraft, to ensure
damage from other aircraft.
it remains protected from damage in
unpredictable weather.
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If possible, secure your aircraft in a storm-proof
hangar or other suitable shelter.
Types of tiedowns
The spacing of tiedown points should
allow for ample wingtip clearance between
aircraft. This distance is generally equal
to the major axis (wingspan or fuselage
length) of the largest aircraft, plus three
Photo: CAA
metres. The tiedown anchor eye should
not protrude more than 2.5cm above
Permanent anchor points are usually
indicated by white or yellow paint. the ground.
Sub- Concrete
60cm approx
Reinforced
base
steel rod
1.5cm diameter
Subgrade
Concrete
H
2
/3 H
diameter rod
60cm
Figure 3 – Tiedown anchors for concrete paved areas. Figure 4 – Tiedown anchors for turfed areas.
6
Ground line
Screw-shaped rod
1cm diameter
Photo: CAA
15 cm metal tubes Check the type and condition of your tiedown rope.
welded together Nylon or dacron rope is recommended.
to form cross
Photo: CAA
remain in good condition.
Position Controls
Your aircraft should be parked and tied Controls should be locked or tied to
down into wind, or as nearly into wind as prevent them banging against the stops
possible. If you’re leaving your aircraft for and causing damage to hinges, cables,
longer than a few days, study the weather or pulleys.
forecast for the expected prevailing wind
For tricycle undercarriage aircraft, secure
direction. Alternatively, check on the status
the ailerons, rudder, and elevator in the
of your aircraft regularly.
neutral position.
There are various opinions as to whether
If internal gust-locks aren’t fitted, use
a tailwheel aircraft should be tied down
external control surface locks, or secure
tail into wind. Remember, your aircraft is
the control column firmly. This is commonly
designed to meet the airflow head-on,
done using the seatbelts, but using
and flying control surfaces can be easily
bungee cords is more effective.
damaged if control locks aren’t in place
when the aircraft is parked tail into wind.
This type of aircraft also has a tendency
to weathercock when on the ground, so if
it’s parked tail into wind (and not properly
Photo: CAA
Chock the main wheels. If internal gust-locks are not fitted, use external control
locks, or secure the control column firmly.
Secure your aircraft 11
Tying down
You should only tie ropes to the aircraft mooring points provided.
Never tie a rope to a strut, as the rope may slip to a point where
even slight pressure may bend the strut. Look after tiedown rings
carefully, to prevent rust and corrosion weakening them.
Wing spoilers
Some knotting terms
The problem of wing lift from the wind
can be overcome, to some extent, by using • A bend is used to join two ropes.
spoiler boards placed span-wise along the • A hitch is used to tie to an object.
top of the wing. If the anticipated winds • The bight is the curve or loop of a rope
will exceed the aircraft lift-off speed of when its direction is changed from that
the aircraft wings, the makeshift spoilers of a straight line. Any point within this
should run the entire length of the wings. curvature is said to be in the bight.
• The strength of a knot is the force
Spoiler boards are constructed from timber
required to break a rope containing
lengths of 50x50mm, with several 10mm
the knot.
holes drilled at frequent intervals. A strip
of 25mm foam rubber is then glued to the • The security of a knot is related to the
force required to make the knot slip or
underside, for friction and wing surface
change to an unwanted form.
protection. Lengths of nylon or rubberised
shock cord, threaded through the holes • Whipping is a series of turns of sail
twine or similar. It’s used to lash the
and around the wing’s leading and trailing
end of a rope to prevent fraying.
edges, tied together underneath the wing,
hold the spoiler firmly in place. Before tying, • A splice is a semi-permanent joining
place pieces of foam rubber as a buffer to of ropes or making an eye by
interweaving strands at the bitter
prevent chafing damage.
end. Splicing requires significant
The position of the spoiler should be skill and manufactured splices are
located at about 25 percent of the chord recommended.
length aft of the leading edge. (Figure 6).
Sheetbend
The sheetbend is the most accepted knot for joining Tie this knot with the ends of the ropes coming off
two ropes together, particularly if the ropes are the same side of the knot. Don’t tie with the ends
different sizes. The thicker rope of the two is used to coming off the opposite sides of the bend. This is
form a bight. The thinner rope is passed up through known as the lefthanded sheetbend. Avoid this type
the bight, around the back, and then tucked of knot, as it isn’t as secure.
under itself.
Bowline
The bowline is one of the simplest ways of putting To tie a bowline, form a small loop, pass the free end
a fixed loop in the end of a rope. It’s easy to tie and of the knot up through the loop, around behind the
untie, doesn’t slip or jam, and has a high breaking standing part of the rope, and back down through
strength. A bowline is a good way to secure a rope the loop. Make sure the end of the rope exits the
to a tiedown ring, and to attach the tiedown rope knot on the inside of the loop. If it doesn’t, re-tie the
to the ground anchors. For added security, finish the knot, so it will be secure.
knot with a stop knot, such as a figure of eight, to
prevent the bowline slipping.
Secure your aircraft 15
3
16
Multi-engine aircraft
Most multi-engine aircraft are heavier, generate more lift,
and therefore need stronger tiedowns. Don’t rely on the
aircraft’s weight to protect it from damage by storm winds.
Helicopters
On the ground, helicopters are particularly susceptible to
structural damage from storm-force winds. However, they do
have the advantage of being able to seek shelter more readily,
and smaller helicopters can tuck into places not accessible
to fixed-wing aircraft.
• Position the helicopter further than a Regularly practise tiedown procedures for helicopters
on a fine day, so you can be prepared when stormy
rotor-span distance from other aircraft. weather arrives.
• Apply control frictions with the cyclic
in neutral and the collective fully down • Some tail rotors have a locking pin
(bail on if fitted). and/or a cover and separate tie-down
• Position the main rotor blades to prevent excessive flapping. Tail rotor
according to manufacturer instructions. covers or lines should be bold, clean,
and fit for purpose. Consider matching
• Install tip covers on the main rotor, them with a cyclic cover to ensure they
and fasten their ropes or straps
are not forgotten during a rapid start-
to the applicable mooring points
up. Never wrap straps around the hub
on the helicopter. Tension the lines
where they can be missed or forgotten.
appropriately (again, check your
manual) using anti-slip knots. Too much • Close doors and windows, and ensure
slack allows the blades to flap in high exterior access panels are secure.
winds, and too much bend can similarly Install covers for engine openings and
stress your blades. the pitot tube.
• Apply bubble covers. These can save Most helicopter flight manuals have specific
you time clearing snow, and protect the instructions for parking and mooring.
windscreen from wind-driven grit Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
and debris. for your make and model of helicopter.
18
Floatplanes
and skiplanes
Floatplanes and skiplanes should be secured in the same way as
conventional fixed-wing aircraft – to tiedown anchors or ‘deadmen’
sunk under the water or snow.
After
a storm
If your aircraft has been
standing out in a storm,
carry out a thorough
preflight inspection.
Where practical, all picketing items should Don’t tie tail rotor chock ribbons around about the tail
be the same across the fleet. Only the pilot rotor hub, as this can make it harder to remember to
remove them before flight.
should install or remove the picketing items,
so they know what they’ve done. Ensure
Have a purpose-built witness indicator
they aren’t distracted while installing and
installed in your aircraft, somewhere that
removing these items.
is very clear for the pilot to see, to prevent
them flying with the picketing items still
attached. In your procedure, the witness
indicator should be ‘first on, last off’.
Conclusion
It doesn’t necessarily take storm-force winds to cause
aircraft damage. To be prepared for New Zealand’s
changeable weather conditions, always ensure your
aircraft is securely and correctly tied down.
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Secure your aircraft 23
PO Box 3555
See the CAA website for civil aviation rules,
Wellington 6140
advisory circulars, airworthiness directives,
Tel: +64 4 560 9400 forms, and more safety publications.
Fax: +64 4 569 2024
To order publications such as GAPs and
Email: [email protected] posters, go to aviation.govt.nz/education.
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