Heavy Duty Caster Application
Helping Aircraft Fly Through Maintenance
Working on an aircraft tail assembly is a tall order. With many standing over 30 feet tall, it’s a hard
area to inspect or repair. Many maintenance facilities erect scaffolding or use aerial lifts to reach the
tail assembly of commercial jet liners. With the time and effort involved in erecting scaffolding or the
expense and hassle of using aerial lifts, it’s hard to keep up with today’s cost conscious airlines with
these tools.
Tri-Arc’s Custom Solutions – a Pittsburgh, PA based company that manufactures rolling ladders and
access equipment has designed an aircraft maintenance platform to completely enclose the tail
assembly. Seeing a need to make it easier and safer to maintain the approximately 18,000 passenger
and cargo jets in service today, Tri-Arc developed a massive, three level structure that provides a safe,
stable work area. Realizing the need to move this structure easily, Tri-Arc contacted the engineers at
Conveyer & Caster-Equipment for Industry.
After reviewing the weight of the unit, similar to a three floor building, Conveyer & Caster – Equipment
for Industry recommended and provided 12” diameter steel wheels in an extra heavy duty rig
assembly. A poly-type braking system and swivel lock were also designed to keep the wheels from
rolling when the platform is in use and manned by aircraft mechanics.
Heavy duty floor jacks are also installed on the platform to help lock the platform in place. Conveyer &
Caster – Equipment for Industry provided the leveling jacks as well as the rubber bumpers attached to
the side of the platform that could come in contact with the aircraft’s fuselage. The bumpers are cut to
length and drilled to easily install on the platform. As an option, Tri-Arc has designed a platform
capable of lifting and removing an entire tail assembly from the aircraft. Conveyer & Caster –
Equipment for Industry engineers worked closely with Tri-Arc to design and provide a floor mounted jib
crane and hoist to access and remove a tail assembly. The motorized jib crane rotates the tail
assembly away from the aircraft and the hoist allows for accurate up and down movement when
lowering the assembly to the floor below.
Trying to inspect, maintain and repair an aircraft all within a 7 day turnaround is a tall order, but with
this unique structure from Tri-Arc Custom Solutions and the casters, bumpers and crane from
Conveyer & Caster-Equipment for Industry, it’s smooth sailing.
When customers look for unique solutions to move their unique products, they look to Conveyer &
Caster- Equipment for Industry..
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