Storing your aircraft in unfrindely climates have risks
An unprecedented amount of planes having been stored for 3 or more months some wiht minimal serviceing, have led to issues coming to the fore as planes are being taken out of storae and put bsck into service.
It could be a risky business at the beginning as new and earlier unforseeen problems are cropping up. The most is the air check valve which due to corrosion might stick in the open position resulting in compressor stalls, double engine failure and inability to restert either engine.
Airlines might have been better circulating all their planes into service regularly, sample a different plane each day, than parking most and only actively utilizing the same select few, like Norwegian. Or at least flying the unused for passenger service planes regularly on small test, like Ryanair. Pennies (relatively) saved can quickly become dollars needed, or worse.
There is a reason planes are stored long term in desert like conditions and not just on any airport that is cheap and have space. The valve corrosion problem for 7373's that a directive have been issued about can have a corrosion problem after as little as 1 week.
Fact is that a lot more airplanes have been stored unutilized in unfavourable climates for much longer than ever before. Question is how many more of these problems will crop up in the coming months as planes are put back into service. And more important will they all be caught in time.
It could be a risky business at the beginning as new and earlier unforseeen problems are cropping up. The most is the air check valve which due to corrosion might stick in the open position resulting in compressor stalls, double engine failure and inability to restert either engine.
Airlines might have been better circulating all their planes into service regularly, sample a different plane each day, than parking most and only actively utilizing the same select few, like Norwegian. Or at least flying the unused for passenger service planes regularly on small test, like Ryanair. Pennies (relatively) saved can quickly become dollars needed, or worse.
There is a reason planes are stored long term in desert like conditions and not just on any airport that is cheap and have space. The valve corrosion problem for 7373's that a directive have been issued about can have a corrosion problem after as little as 1 week.
Fact is that a lot more airplanes have been stored unutilized in unfavourable climates for much longer than ever before. Question is how many more of these problems will crop up in the coming months as planes are put back into service. And more important will they all be caught in time.
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