Optimized Access for H160 Maintenance
This specialized access platform is methodically engineered for the Airbus H160 medium twin-engine helicopter, providing maintenance teams with foundational, safe, and efficient access during heavy maintenance procedures. Designed to accommodate the H160’s new generation features and complex geometry, this H160 Side Access Stand ensures comprehensive coverage while maximizing workflow efficiency within hangar environments.
The core function of this H160 Side Access Stand is to facilitate deep maintenance inspections and repairs on the H160 fuselage and its critical systems. Innovative features include its small, articulated step-up sections, expertly designed to cantilever over the side doors of the helicopter. This crucial capability ensures that personnel can perform work adjacent to the doors without obstructing their opening, allowing for simultaneous interior and exterior access and preventing delays associated with repositioning the stand.
Secure Decking and Ergonomic Access
Constructed with durable treadplate decking, the platform provides a secure, non-slip workspace. This is vital when working on a smooth, high fuselage where many critical components are faired in. Access to the main deck is provided via a secure 45° stairway, ensuring safe and ergonomic ascent and descent for technicians carrying tools and parts.
The H160’s maintenance requirements include detailed inspection of components such as the Blue Edge main rotor blades, engine cowlings, and the sophisticated retractable landing gear system. This H160 Side Access Stand is specifically sized and shaped to allow technicians to address these areas effectively. By providing elevated, stable access along the side of the fuselage, the platform supports crucial checks such as engine health monitoring, flight control actuator inspections, and composite airframe evaluations.
Landing Gear and APU Support
One of the significant challenges in maintaining the H160 is its sophisticated landing gear, which retracts into cramped bays. The H160 Side Access Stand positions workers optimally to inspect the tires and struts and conduct critical landing gear retraction tests, ensuring these vital systems function flawlessly. Furthermore, the platform aids in routine but foundational tasks like manual top-ups for fuel and oil systems, as well as APU checks, which are typically performed high on the aircraft’s body.
Enhanced Maneuverability and Protection
Despite its substantial size, necessary to provide all required access for heavy maintenance, this platform retains a high degree of maneuverability. Equipped with heavy-duty castors and fine-tuning adjustable jacks, it can be easily relocated around small hangars. Once positioned, the adjustable jacks ensure that the H160 Side Access Stand is securely locked in place and precisely leveled against the aircraft’s contours, eliminating movement and creating a stable environment for complex procedures.
The inclusion of a sturdy foam fender safeguards the sensitive composite airframe surfaces from any accidental contact during positioning or maintenance operations.
Complementary H160 Access Solutions
For specialized access requirements on the H160, this H160 Side Access Stand is frequently paired with supplementary equipment. For instance, customized adjustable height platforms are often integrated to manage access to the top deck areas, specifically targeting the engine and rotor gearbox locations. Similarly, a mobile tail boom stand, often featuring a specific cut-out shape, is utilized to safely access the canted Fenestron—a high and inherently awkward area of the new-generation helicopter that requires focused inspection and service. Consider pairing this stand with the Airbus H160 Multi-Purpose Adjustable Maintenance Platform for comprehensive coverage.
This comprehensive access solution is engineered not just for reach, but for procedural efficiency and safety. It allows maintenance teams to execute intensive inspections and scheduled maintenance tasks—ranging from structural composite checks to detailed rotor system tracking—with unmatched stability and complete compliance. The design ensures a seamless workflow across the aircraft’s midsection, optimizing technician time and minimizing risk associated with working at height on smooth, contoured airframes.
