Airplane conservation and deserts

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Why do companies or airlines usually carry out the maintenance of your aircraft in deserts around the world?

A few installments ago we reviewed what the aircraft maintenance that airlines have grounded without flying during the worst historical crisis for the airline industry and we were able to learn that it is a complex process, but above all, seeks to keep the aircraft in the best possible condition before flying again.

With the advance of the crisis, many airlines have decided to return or remove hundreds of planes of their fleets and others have found a temporary solution, move your aircraft to places specialized in aircraft conservation, both by qualified personnel, experience and especially because of the geographical area of ​​these spaces, in deserts.

Preservation of aircraft in deserts

Yes, the deserts. Surely several of you have seen the following headlines:

• Qantas moves its Airbus A380 fleet to the Mojave Desert.
• Iberia moves planes to Teruel Airport.

And if you haven't read these headlines, they will understand them right away. Deserts and dry climates in general are the best friends of aeronautical technicians and mechanics., with specialized locations available on multiple continents.

Why?

As you will know, Airplanes are highly complex machines and are made up of hundreds of thousands of parts., cables and an endless number of static and moving parts very susceptible to corrosion actions, humidity, rain and others that could permanently damage them or require large investments to make them airworthy again once the conservation period has ended..

Beyond the large physical space that deserts offer to store hundreds of thousands of aircraft, These places provide the best option due to their mostly dry climate during the year and guarantee that airplanes are exposed to fewer adverse weather conditions that could affect the aircraft..

Being a climate with little humidity, Minimal or no possibility of the presence of rust in parts of the aircraft will be achieved and in the long run avoid corrosion that could cause the aircraft to undergo more extensive processes and pre-flight maintenance costs..

It is not arriving and parking

When a plane arrives in the desert, It's not just flying, to land, park and go. There is a whole process that specialized technicians carry out to ensure the optimal condition of the aircraft during the time on the ground.. A resume topic

• Remove motors and keep them in appropriate spaces.
• Remove liquids (combustible, oil, others) depending on the duration.
• Carry out tests of electrical equipment according to periods indicated by the manufacturer.
• Move the airplane to keep the landing gear in good condition.
• Open the aircraft doors to allow air to circulate.
• According to the manufacturer, perform test flight every 2 years that will allow extending the conservation time by 2 More years.
• Others.

Finally, The financial costs of having a plane parked at an international airport versus the cost of one located in a desert also plays a part in the airlines' final decision and will depend on how long they estimate they will keep their aircraft temporarily retired..

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