Parking Procedure

Aircraft parking procedure is classified as Short term and Long term parking.

 

Short Term Parking

The following are the aspects that must be strictly observed when parking an aircraft inside the hangar for a short term.

• Keep all the safety lanes clear to enable the equipment to move around the parked aircraft.
• Park the aircraft in such a way that the first leaving one is closer to the exit. This enables that aircraft to be taken out easily.
• Provide sufficient spacing between all the aircraft for easy servicing, maintenance operations and clearance for fire lanes.
• Double row lateral parking shall be accomplished wherever possible. This means that the first and second rows of aircraft be placed tail to tail.
• After parking, keep the nose wheel straight and apply the parking brakes.
• Chock the wheels and release the parking brakes.
• Ground the aircraft to discharge static charges.
• Keep an oil drip tray under the engine to collect dripping engine oil. And ensure the tray is emptied frequently.

 

Long Term Parking

The following are the aspects that must be strictly observed when parking an aircraft inside the hangar for a long term.

• Park the aircraft so that it will not disturb the movement of other aircraft.
• Follow the same steps as listed in the short term parking.
• Lock pin the control surfaces so that they are properly secured without any movement.
• Reduce the amount of fuel in the tank
• Cover the engine inlet, if required.

Aircraft mooring (Tie down) is followed when parking the aircraft outside the hangar for a long term. This is recommended to keep the aircraft serviceable and ready to fly when required. The following aspects are observed when mooring the aircraft.

• Park the aircraft in a clear area without any obstacles.
• Park the aircraft in such a way that the nose faces into headwind.
• Align the nose wheel straight.
• Do not rotate the propeller with master switch on or when the battery is connected.
• Apply parking brakes.
• Chock the wheels front and aft.
• Cover pitot and static ports, engine cowling openings and other inlets.
• Release the parking brake.
• Secure flight controls using gust locks in neutral position and retract flaps.
• Drive stakes into the ground approximately 3 feet outside each wing tip and either side of the tail wheel.
• Install one tie-down ring in each wing tip rib.
• Tie the aircraft with ropes, connecting each tie-down rings on the aircraft to ground stakes.
• Ensure all doors are closed and locked.