NSN Axis Blog

In any space or sector, communication is one of the most important key elements to ensuring a smooth and efficient operation. From improving logistics in a military operation to bettering the private relationships people have in their daily lives, it is certainly a truth that communication is key to having the best possible outcome in your goals. The same then can be said in an aviation setting. Communication between the pilot and the ground crew is absolutely important, and some may argue that it is even more crucial here than in other areas. This is why many different types of communication methods and avenues have been created in aviation, so as to ensure the safety of both flight crew, surrounding people, and its passengers. 

Just as with automobiles, Aircraft rely on their wheels and brakes for safely slowing down during operation. Aircraft are intensely heavy vehicles, averaging around 175,000 pounds due to the structural weight and fuel. Because of this, wheels and brakes are important to mitigate the impact forces of landing, safely slow down or stop the aircraft, as well as allow for taxiing and ground operations. In this blog, we will discuss the types of aircraft brake systems, as well as how they are operated.

With the advent of advanced computerized technologies and software capability, it has become much easier and more feasible to train pilots outside of the aircraft. With the use of flight training devices (FTD) and flight simulators, pilots can become familiar with different flight techniques, awareness, and abilities to improve their piloting skills. With an advanced full motion flight simulator, some pilots may even be able to achieve type rating without ever having flown an aircraft. In this blog, we will discuss the differences between flight training devices and flight simulators, as well as some of the best flight simulator components to procure for your next project.

Since the advent of aircraft, the materials that make them up have undergone constant change. Early aircraft frames were built from wooden planks, and those designs were rendered obsolete when aluminum proved to be much more viable. Now, aircraft manufacturers are slowly integrating plastic and fiberglass trim and fairings due to the high strength to weight ratio of composites. Even the manufacturer Boeing has designed their 787 Dreamliner with 50% of the total materials being composites. Although this trend has been around since the 1950’s, the amount used within a single aircraft is ever growing with new technology and capabilities. With attention slowly turning away from aluminum, could composite parts prove to be the future of aircraft manufacturing?

Workplaces are often dynamic, fluid environments. When items like equipment and their corresponding wiring are moved or changed in any way, confusion is inevitable. To minimize this confusion, proper labeling, documentation, and management of wires is key. A properly-labeled cable system is a huge help in solving any technical issues. This blog will serve to explain the many benefits of organizing your cables, and how you can go about doing that.

Faulty wiring or wiring that is exposed may not be an uncommon thing to see in warehouses and other workforce environments, but the danger that faulty wiring poses is a serious one. Faulty or old wiring has the risk of igniting a fire and prompting electrical outbursts. These risks are why it is so crucial for wiring to have a skin to cover it. Leaving it exposed could lead to situations where an unconcealed wire could come into contact with combustible materials. In order to mitigate these risks, you can take steps to prevent any such hazards. Looking out for these risks is the first step for that. Below you can see some signs to look out for.

Electrical transformers are often a commonplace sight in many residential or commercial areas. They work to either increase or reduce a current for an electrical circuit, or convert alternating currents to direct currents for use. Nevertheless, these electrical machines are often known to create an electric hum, which can often be somewhat of a disturbance to others. Despite there being no actual moving parts in the transformer, there are still noises caused by the transformer’s functions.

Like all mechanical components, bearings need to be protected from environmental interference and regularly inspected to ensure that they work properly. However, poor work practices can also harm bearing performance. To preserve their geometrical tolerances, ball bearings, especially miniature and instrument series, need to be treated gently. Many bearing failures end up being due to improper handling techniques, rather than manufacturing defects.

Most people, unless they’ve been a part of an aircraft’s cabin crew, are unaware of the hours spent in safety training that flight attendants have undergone in order to be properly prepared for an emergency. The most that the average citizen sees of these flight attendants is during boarding time and during the air safety instructionals that are given prior to flying. But behind the scenes, these flight attendants not only train for providing safety instructions, but on how to prevent injuries, predict potential threats, and handle emergency situations. 

Aircraft flying at lower altitudes need to be aware of nearby obstructions and buildings, for the obvious reason of ensuring that they don’t accidentally collide with them. During the night, warning lights and signals are used on both temporary and permanent structures that could be a hazard for aircraft passing nearby. Also called obstruction lights, these systems come in several different colors, shapes, and intensities to prevent a collision from happening.

Putting an inexperienced trainee pilot in the air can be a dangerous prospect. Even with an experienced instructor at the controls, it is far better that a trainee get experience with the aircraft before they ever take to the skies. Flight simulators, capable of replicating the experience of flying an aircraft, are therefore an excellent way to introduce trainees without putting them in the air. In this blog, we will review a brief history of the flight simulator.

Like all machinery, aircraft need spare parts for when their components fail and break down. A major part of stocking spare parts revolves around dealing with unexpected breakdowns. The mean time between unscheduled removals (MTBUR) is the average interval between breakdowns, but in smaller fleets of aircraft that have a smaller sample size, the actual interval can vary wildly. Therefore, airlines typically follow schedules that plan for the “sooner” half of “sooner or later.” Even then, the variance in breakdown intervals can mean that owning a large stock of spare parts is too expensive to be feasible.

“Drone” is a common term that is used to refer to an unmanned aircraft. In military terminology it is referred to as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or an unmanned aircraft system (UAS). It is a machine that can be maneuvered with a remote control or fly autonomously through pre-programmed flight paths embedded in their systems. Drones are designed with onboard sensors and GPS navigation which allow it to fly seamlessly.  

The Amazon Prime service has changed the way consumers around the world shop. With the capacity to offer product delivery at wicked fast turnarounds, it’s not surprising that Amazon has invested in an aircraft freighter fleet of its own. In just three years, Amazon Prime Air, now coined Amazon Air, has expanded to a fleet of 40 leased aircraft in operation— with plans to grow their fleet to a total of 50 in the next two years.

Aircraft Camera System Parts have helped tremendously in assuring safety and quality during in-flight operations, and, as of recently, have been an effective way to expand the aviation industry to a larger demographic. However, under current Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, there is a distinct lack of regulation regarding window camera, such as Go-Pro attachments, on approved aircrafts. This lack of specific wordage regarding camera attachments leads to confusion on whether or not these are acceptable modifications to aircrafts under Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR).