Ensuring your aircraft is fit to fly is essential to the safety and comfort of yourself and your passengers, so here are a few things to bear in mind when it comes to keeping your helicopter safe and in the air.
What tasks are carried out during helicopter maintenance?
There are a lot of different components to helicopter maintenance, so we will break them down here:
- Visual tests – Check the blades for damage, cracks, twisting, and everything else, and replace them if required. The gearboxes also need testing on the main rotor and the tail rotor for wear and tear, while the screws and connections all need to be securely in place and not loose, including the canopy. The swashplate also needs to be thoroughly looked at for any damage
- Lubrication – Grease can be used on one-way bearings, while silicone oil may need to be applied to the main and tail shafts, swashplate bearings, the tail belt, and the motor belt
- Cleaning – Any debris needs to be cleared from the gear teeth with a specialised tool, while a soft cloth should be used to clean the fuselage to stop scratches from dust
- Systems – All systems, weight, and balance should be checked before any flight to ensure nothing is awry
How often should a helicopter be maintained?
Your helicopter needs to be checked regularly to ensure it is in good working order and complies with rules and regulations. Here are some more details as to the frequency of when maintenance and checks should be carried out:
- Routine – Before any flight and on a daily basis, there are a number of checks that should be conducted. Visual inspections, fluid level assessments, and tyre pressure checks are among the primary safeguards you can carry out
- Scheduled – The amount of time and the time of the year dictate when these take place. Oil changes should take place after 25 hours of flight or every six months, for example
- Unscheduled – You never know when something completely unforeseen might happen. From a warning light coming on to an unusual in-flight vibration, you should think of getting unscheduled maintenance to take place if something unusual is happening. It is the same as going to your GP if there is something wrong with your health.
What factors dictate the frequency of helicopter maintenance?
There are a couple of factors that may make your decision as to when to maintain your helicopter. These include:
Helicopter type
A more complex helicopter that has more features is likely to require more regular maintenance because extra items are likely to suffer from wear and tear or potential malfunction. These need to be looked at to ensure the safety of flying. Older models are also more likely to need extra checks so that things like rust and corrosion don’t set in.
Intention and usage of the helicopter
Maintenance is dependent on the type of usage a helicopter undertakes. For example, passenger transport is different from industrial usage, military operations, and emergency services. More heavy-duty operations put extra strain on the features of your helicopter, so this might lead to more maintenance being required.
The role of the environment in helicopter maintenance
Extremely hot temperatures or very humid conditions can take a toll on your helicopter’s safety features. Corrosion and rust can be accelerated in such conditions, exposing your machinery to quicker wear and tear that requires even more maintenance. Likewise, durability is put to the test in very cold environments, so your helicopter’s features need to be looked after so they don’t freeze over.
Keep your documentation up to date
It is absolutely vital that your records are as up to date as possible. The dates of when maintenance took place, the signature of the mechanic, and the nature of the work that took place are just a few of the vital pieces of information that need to be updated. That way, future maintenance checks can take into account what has been done and when so that all parts of the helicopter are completely safe, stable, and durable. It is not just safety you need to think about; regulatory compliance insists upon the accurate records of your helicopter maintenance being meticulous. Failure to do this could result in you being grounded indefinitely, so keeping documentation as accurate as possible could not be more important.
The cost of helicopter maintenance
The cost of helicopter maintenance is completely driven by the nature of what you use your helicopter for. Factors include:
- Flight hours – The more regular usage a helicopter gets, the more maintenance is required, which will cost more
- Parts and spares – Replacement parts, unexpected downtime, and the availability of certain parts are likely to drive costs up
- Labour – The number of people and the frequency of maintenance checks have a direct impact on the cost of helicopter maintenance
- Aircraft type and age – The make, model, and years of operation of your helicopter are important. More complex aircraft require more specialised maintenance from mechanics with greater training, while older helicopters are likely to need more servicing, which will increase costs
- Any major faults – Any unscheduled or major repairs and faults that are noted need replacing, which will cost money
Where to go for the best advice on helicopter maintenance
The team at Multiflight is one of the first stops you should go to for advice on maintaining your helicopter. Our helicopter engineering specialists have accreditation from the CAA, EASA, and FAA, and our helicopter servicing facility has the state-of-the-art features you would expect. We offer great insight and advice into what repairs and replacements your helicopter may require, and our team carries out through inspections for investors who want to buy a helicopter, ensuring everything looks like it runs smoothly and is free from wear and tear before you part with your money.
Our private jet charter services are also available for those who want to use our high-quality aircraft for whatever purpose. Speak with our team today to learn more.
