The Shortfalls of a Short Fall

There are all sorts of dangers on the aircraft maintenance ramp—low-hanging head-bump dangers, tripping hazards, jet blasts, rotors and propellers spinning—which have been somewhat alleviated by innovations in GSE over the years. But a US-based height access equipment supplier have identified another hazard which needed addressing urgently: falls from single-person platform heights.

Although seemingly trivial, injuries and deaths sustained form something as simple as falling from a ladder form a large percentage of workplace mishaps at the airport or airbase. SafeSmart Aviation, based in Los Angeles and Saskatchewan—and with offices in Cleveland and New York—were approached by a major airline Virgin Pacific who wanted to reduce risks like this.

Virgin Pacific’s aviation GSE for height access—standard ladders and open-topped platforms—were not lasting long, due to standard wear and tear from being constantly maneuvered and drastic variances in climactic conditions. Taking the brief, SafeSmart developed an A-Frame Aviation Platform to provide adjustable height access to many different parts of the aircraft, particularly the fuselage and wheel wells.

Everything On Board

Side-mounted wheels and lightweight yet robust high-grade aluminium means that the unit will not roll while a mechanic is on it, and it will survive thousands of trips around the hangar via hand-maneuvering. But the most notable feature is the addition of the full-surround handrail with lifting gate and foam buffers, which protects the worker from falls as well as the aircraft’s skin from possible damage caused by contact.

The handrails also feature telescopic height adjustment, meaning that this same A-Frame Aviation Platform can be used for several types and heights of aircraft – or on the same aircraft, set lower for the exterior and higher to reach up into internal recesses. So at various incremental heights, the worker benefits from full edge protection at all times.

The product also comes in different sizes from three up to seven steps enabling access to a wide range of commercial aircraft.

Easy technician access to the fuselage underside, with in-built fall protection. Since Virgin Pacific's commissioning, other MROs have adopted the unit. Here's the A-Frame Aviation Platform in use at an Australian business jet charter service's hangar.

The Industry Is Watching

SafeSmart’s Jeff Wearmouth says that this new innovation has had other operators knocking on their door in a short amount of time.

“The word’s out,” says Jeff. “MROs need a balance. They need to access several different areas on any single aircraft, and being able to adjust the handrail gives them the flexibility to use one ladder to safely complete each task, whilst keeping a non-cluttered ramp. This product, from a small twin prop to a large multi engine wide body jet, helps get workers up close to where they need to be safely and efficiently. It’s this flexibility that has had airlines with an array of aircraft such as United and Southwest approach us.”

 

Adjustable rails fully extended, to reach fuselage sides.

Rails fully removed, to fit A-Frame under lower fuselages or to gain access into wheel wells and similar places.

See the A-Frame Aviation Platform, and other aircraft maintenance platforms, here.