Aircraft Preservation in a Controlled Environment
Preservation in a Controlled Environment consists of placing the aircraft in a clean and dry enclosure in which relative humidity is kept at 40% with a 5% tolerance, this applies after performing certain maintenance operations in preparation for the preservation period. Preservation Times are calculated when the relative humidity within the enclosure reaches 40%.
The Purpose of placing the aircraft in an appropriate controlled environment where relative humidity is maintained at or below 40% inhibits the development of the main phenomena which cause corrosion and deterioration of bonded structures including loss of physical characteristics of certain materials.
Preservation in a controlled HeliCell Controlled Humidity Enclosure freezes the Calendar TBO for the duration of the preservation time at the next routine inspection, subject to the operations for this type of preservation.
This type of controlled preservation within the Carcoon HeliCell has many advantages:
- Keeps an existing TBO with a view to rapidly meeting operational requirements.
- Provides optimal capability of the preserved aircraft.
- Also provides an optimal preservation solution for aircraft in operation.
- Reduces maintenance costs by reducing the use of spare parts.
- Optimizes the management of the aircraft fleet.
- Keeps a TBO for an aircraft waiting for repair.
- Preservation of the complete aircraft in a CHE means it can be rapidly returned to its flight configuration.
Note: The Preservation of an aircraft in a HeliCell CHE is a maintenance operation and must be recorded on the aircraft follow up Inspection Documentation.
