The Walk Around part 3!!
Lets walk about engines today. It goes without saying the engines are absolutely crucial to flight so it's important that they are in good condition before flight.
While all the internal checks are done by the engineers there a still a few things we as pilots will look for before each departure.
A good inspection of the fan blades to check for any cracks or dents is done. Given the centrifugal forces at play when the engine is running at full power it's important that we identify any week points that could fail. The second image shows what a fan blade failure can look like.
We will also check for any signs of bird ingestion and debrit that will need to be removed before flight.
On smaller aircraft we'll also spin the fan blades so that they spin freely with no obstructions.
Much like a car bonnet, jet engines have what are know as a cowling. The cowling is clasped on the underside of the engine. We will ensure they are securely locked during the walk around. If they were to open in flight the aerodynamic forces could rip the doors off causing significant damage and leaving parts of the engine exposed to the elements.
The final check we do is in the cockpit. We will check the engine instruments and ensure that there is
adequate levels of engine oil for dispatch. On my old aircraft, the Avro RJ85, the oil quantity could be found on the centre dash just above the 4 vertical lines of engine instruments.
I hope you enjoyed this weeks edition. Check back next week for part 4 ✈️ Have a great weekend everyone!!