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Issue link: http://amt.epubxp.com/i/42521
AIRCRAFT INTERIORS flight will preserve the carpet, help find trouble, and save time in the long run. If your aircraft is one that follows best practices and keeps a spare set of carpets, you'll spend a lot less time cleaning the ones in the aircraft than you will changing them. Care and cleaning Tariq Deir, director of operations for Jet Connections at the London Oxford Airport, offers the following advice, "When steam cleaning the carpet while it is still installed on the airframe, it is difficult to judge how much water is being retained; the risk of rust or corrosion becomes much higher. We recommend either waiting for the aircraft to go into maintenance, where we can perform a full carpet shampoo with steam cleaners and detergent, and give sufficient time for the carpet to fully dry. If the carpet cannot be removed, we shampoo the carpet by hand stain, the crew may panic and use any nearby liquid-based substance to remove the stain. This results in the carpet's absorbing far too much of the liquid. We recommend using a foam-based germicidal cleaner, sprayed directly on the infected area; it lifts the stain from the carpet fibers, where the stain can be slowly wiped away with a plain towel. This results in minimal or no water retention." General wear and tear Aircraft carpet can "Area rugs are intended to absorb the bulk of the wear and the dirt — and they do. Replacing a mat or rug is inexpensive vs. a whole carpet; as a bonus, it requires no downtime." — Tariq Deir, Director of Operations, Jet Connections using an enzyme-based product that organically breaks down soil and stains. This allows our team to control exactly how much liquid is applied to an area, whilst taking a minimal amount of solution on board the airframe." Deir goes on to say, "Corrosion is very difficult to spot and is commonly caused by moisture retention. After a spillage or spot cost $2,000 per square yard, and Deir notes that "the most common cause for carpet replacement is the general wear and tear in high traffic areas, such as the entry steps and areas around the galley. I would recommend either cutting out a number of mats from the same material as the carpet and placing them in such areas, or buying a number of decorative rugs. Area rugs are intended to absorb the bulk of the wear and the dirt — and they do. Replacing a mat or rug is inexpensive vs. a whole carpet; as a bonus, it requires no downtime." He added that you might weight. Age also plays a common factor along with metal fatigue and dissimilar metal contact, all Interior maintenance can require diverse and specialized skills such as upholstery, avionics, and mechanical. of which can only be revealed once the carpet, panels, etc., have been removed." Leather Leather, tough as it is, is consider a similar strategy for couches and chairs, using covers and pads where possible. Deir warns that uninformed or inattentive crew can contribute to the problem: "Other hidden surprises are floorboard deterioration or even floor beam cracks, results of carrying a heavy load or perhaps storing it in an area not best suited for such vulnerable to light, heat, dry air, water, and even some things we don't often notice, like certain perfumes. The key is to make frequent and careful inspections, "treat" only when necessary, and clean as unobtrusively as possible — and at least daily with a clean dry cloth. If leather dries out (particularly likely near windows or air conditioning outlets), it can crack and finally split. It's good to encourage the use of protective coverings in these areas, and also to encourage keeping window shades drawn whenever possible. Off the shelf "treatments" can cause more harm than good. A lot more. Leathers are best www.AMTSociety.org • www.AMTonline.com • Aircraft Maintenance Technology September 2011 9