A Guide to Best Practices for Landing Gear Maintenance

Maintaining aircraft landing gear prevents expensive repairs and reduces the risk of failures that could result in serious incidents. As landing gear plays a vital role during all stages of flight, it must function properly even under demanding conditions. In this blog, we will discuss best practices for landing gear maintenance, which can help aircraft operators improve overall performance and extend the life of essential components.

One of the fundamental best practices in landing gear maintenance is ensuring proper lubrication of components. Lubricating parts like bearings, joints, and struts helps to avoid seizing or excessive friction, which can lead to mechanical failure. Moreover, it is important to use the correct type of lubricants recommended by the aircraft manufacturer and to follow the appropriate intervals for reapplication.

Hydraulic systems are a vital part of landing gear functionality, providing the necessary power to extend and retract all associated assemblies. As such, regular checks of hydraulic fluid levels, pressure settings, and the condition of hoses and seals are required to maintain the system's efficiency. Additionally, operators should routinely replace hydraulic fluid, as it can become contaminated over time.

Tire maintenance is another critical aspect of landing gear care. The tires are the only part of the gear that makes contact with the ground, and they experience significant stress during takeoff and landing. Therefore, operators should routinely check for uneven wear patterns, cuts, or punctures, which could lead to failure blowouts or reduced grip on runway surfaces.

In addition to regular mechanical maintenance, it is essential to keep the landing gear clean and free from debris to ensure optimal performance. Accumulated dirt, dust, or other contaminants can reduce braking efficiency and cause wear on wheels. After every flight, technicians should inspect landing gear for any buildup of foreign substances and wash it as needed.

Finally, all landing gear components should be replaced according to an aircraft’s maintenance schedule. Every part has a limited life, and adhering to manufacturer guidelines on replacement intervals is essential for maintaining performance. Waiting too long to replace worn-out parts can increase the risk of failure, while premature servicing may result in unnecessary costs and downtime.

In conclusion, proper landing gear maintenance is crucial for ensuring aircraft safety and efficiency. If you are seeking landing gear components that are sourced from manufacturers who place quality at the forefront of their operations, look no further than We Are Parts Purchasing. Featuring over 2 billion new, used, obsolete, and hard-to-find items that are ready for purchase, locating what you require on our website is effortless. Should any product on this page catch your eye, you are always encouraged to take advantage of a Request for Quote (RFQ) form to receive customized pricing options. With our team consistently available for customer needs, do not hesitate to call or email at any time to discuss solutions and the services we offer.