Aircraft Tie-Down Procedures

When should an aircraft be tied down?

After each flight

What is the parking direction of an aircraft base on?

Prevailing or forecast winds

When possible, when should an aircraft be facing?

Into the wind

How should you lock the nose-wheel or tail-wheel after parking?

In the fore-and-aft position

Where should you tie ropes on a light aircraft?

Designated tie-down points

In order to avoid structural stress on a light aircraft, what should you avoid?

Excessive slack or over tightening

To secure a heavy aircraft, what condition decides which rope to use?

Based on expected weather

When should you use surface battens on a heavy aircraft?

During high winds

What are the 4 normal tie-down procedures?

1. Head into prevailing wind

2. Install all control locks, covers, and guards

3. Chock all wheels fore and aft

4. Attach tie-down to loops, anchors, or stakes

What are 2 the tie-down procedures for a seaplane?

• Moored to buoys

• Tied to docks

What are the 2 tie-down procedures for seaplanes when a storm is imminent and flying out is not possible?

• Flood compartments to lower aircraft profile

• Tie down securely to underwater anchors

What are the 2 tie-down procedures for a seaplane on land?

• Fill floats with water to weight aircraft

• Use standard tie-down procedures

What are the 2 tie-down procedures for ski planes?

• Tie down similarly to land planes

• Use a dead-man anchor

• Freeze skis for additional security

What are the 4 steps for a dead-man anchor?

• Bury object with rope in snow

• Pack snow

• add water

• freeze

What are the tie-down procedures for a helicopter?

Secure in hangar if possible, otherwise tie down securely

When helicopters are tied down, how much wind can they withstand when tied down?

Up to 65 MPH

If tornadoes/hurricanes are forecast, what should you do with the helicopter?

Evacuate

List the 6 steps of the typical mooring procedure of a helicopter.

1. Face helicopter into expected wind direction

2. Position one rotor span from other aircraft

3. Use wheel chock

4. Secure ground-handling wheels inside storage

5. Align blades; install tie-down assemblies

6. Fasten ropes/cables to forward and aft cross tubes and ground anchors

What are weight-shift-control light aircraft vulnerable to?

Winds

Under light winds, how should you secure a weight-shift-control light aircraft?

Secure wings like conventional aircraft

When in high winds, how should you secure a weight-shift-control light aircraft?

• Disconnect mast from wing

• Lay wing close to ground and secure

When securing light aircraft with a manila rope, how much slack should there be?

1 inch of slack

If removal from water is impossible for a sea plane, what should you do?

Anchor in a sheltered area away from wind and waves

In the mooring procedure of a helicopter, why should you align the blades?

To reduce stress on the rotor system

When installing tie-down assemblies during the mooring procedure for the helicopter, what should you allow the ropes during wet weather?

Slack