Industry and Technology Helicopter Preservation Packaging Control the Environment around Stored Helicopters without a Climate-Controlled Warehouse Submitted by Protective Package Corporation
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s helicopter service companies and airlines around the globe are grounding flights in response to COVID-19 social distancing and other market pressures, they are scrambling for cost effective ways to preserve out of service aircraft. Often, companies are simply parking aircraft on unused runways at airports. Long-term exposure to the elements when not in use can present problems for aircraft. Moisture can collect causing rust and corrosion in gas tanks, fuel lines, engines, etc. Sunlight can deteriorate tires and damage paint. Pests can make nests in small access points or do damage by chewing through wires and components. To keep grounded aircraft in good condition, companies turn to a regular, labor-intensive maintenance schedule. Technicians and pilots check and monitor fluids and fly or reposition helicopters in storage. This reduces the chance that moisture will build up and keeps engines free from corrosion while varying sun exposure and deterring pests. Another storage option is to park aircraft in a climatecontrolled warehouse; however, warehouse space is costly and limited.
Protective Packaging Corporation offers an alternative: long-term preservation kits that completely enclose helicopters and planes in layers of vacuum-sealed, moisture barrier packaging and heavy duty shrink film with desiccants and humidity indicators. Properly enclosed aircraft can be stored indoors or out. Protective Packaging developed this preservation process for storing a variety of equipment and machinery through years of working with the U.S. military and private companies. Within the last 5 years, the company has customized the process to meet the needs of helicopter and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies all over the world to preserve helicopters during transport and storage. This long-term preservation method is a modern twist on mothballing or cocooning. The process includes unique, flexible moisture barrier films designed to keep even minimal amounts of moisture and humidity from reaching the entire aircraft, its engine, and electrical parts while ensuring no corrosion for a minimum of five years. Vacuum sealing removes most of the moisture and air and aids in completely controlling the environment around each helicopter. This long-term preservation solution is much more cost effective
Step by step process for wrapping a helicopter
Rotor Review #155 Winter '22
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