Airbus H130 Profiled Side Access Platform
The Airbus H130 Profiled Side Access Platform is a purpose-built solution. It is designed for safe, efficient, and comprehensive maintenance operations on the Airbus H130 helicopter and similar rotary-wing aircraft profiles, such as the EC130. This system is methodically engineered to provide maintenance personnel with secure, ergonomic access to critical areas of the airframe, ensuring that all scheduled and unscheduled maintenance tasks meet the highest safety and quality standards.
Optimizing Routine Inspections and Repairs
The core function of this access platform is to elevate technicians to the precise working heights required for routine inspections, detailed component replacements, and necessary repairs across the upper and lateral sections of the H130 airframe. This direct, stable access is crucial for preventive maintenance tasks, including visual inspections of rotor system components, hydraulic lines, wiring harnesses, and the engine compartment. By ensuring a contoured fit against the aircraft’s fuselage—a key feature noted by the “Contoured Edge to match EC130″—the platform minimizes the gap between the worker and the aircraft surface. This dramatically reduces the risk of falls and damage to the helicopter’s skin, prioritizing safety.
Constructed as a set of two sturdy, aluminium mobile platforms, the design prioritizes maneuverability and durability within the hangar environment. The inclusion of 200mm swivel/braked castors allows for precise positioning around the helicopter, enabling rapid deployment and secure locking once in place. This mobility is vital when performing corrective maintenance, allowing the platform to be quickly moved to the specific area where a failure or malfunction has been identified.
Secure Access for Critical Areas
The H130 Profiled Side Access Platform is specifically engineered to address access challenges across various critical maintenance zones. For instance, safe access to the fenestron tail rotor and associated drive systems, often difficult to reach with generic stands, is made possible. Technicians gain stable footing to inspect the integrity of the blades, actuators, and gearbox components, which is paramount for flight safety. Similarly, for engine maintenance, the platform provides the necessary height for comprehensive checks and maintenance on the Safran Arriel 2D engine components, including oil level checks, filter replacements, and hot section inspections.
Protecting Aircraft and Personnel
The design also integrates features aimed at protecting both the user and the aircraft. Protective foam on leading edges shields the helicopter’s delicate surfaces from accidental scratches or damage during platform maneuvering and use. Furthermore, the Treadplate Decking ensures superior grip, even in environments where spills may occur, maximizing worker safety during intensive, detailed maintenance procedures.
Modular Compatibility and Maintenance Flow
Innovative features include the incorporation of Removable Platform Sections. This feature enhances compatibility, ensuring that while specifically contoured for the H130 and EC130, sections can be adjusted or removed to accommodate varying geometries of other similar aircraft types. This modularity is foundational for specific maintenance workflows, allowing access to areas that might otherwise be obstructed by a fixed-geometry platform. For example, access to certain fuselage panels or avionics bays might require temporary removal of a platform section without compromising the stability of the entire working area.
Supporting H130 Airworthiness Compliance
The operational context for this platform focuses strictly on maintaining the airworthiness of the Airbus H130. This encompasses the full spectrum of scheduled maintenance checks—A checks, B checks, and more intensive inspections—that are mandated by aviation regulations. The stability and wide working surface offered by the platform facilitate necessary component replacement and rigorous quality control checks, ensuring maintenance records accurately reflect thorough access and inspection of all required maintenance areas. By investing in this tailored access solution, operators streamline maintenance procedures, enhance worker safety, and ultimately contribute to minimizing downtime, keeping the H130 ready for its diverse missions. The structure guarantees a secure, high-quality maintenance environment, ensuring the helicopter’s continuous compliance with stringent operational and safety standards. For other specialized access needs, consider our Airbus H130 Flight Line Stand.
