The aircraft maintenance professional's source for technological advancements, maintenance alerts, news, articles, events, and careers
Issue link: http://amt.epubxp.com/i/42521
AIRCRAFT INTERIORS nonexistent. Then there are specialties: woodworking; finishing; fabrication; upholstery; cabinetmakers; installers — then there are the finish fabricators and finish installers. These all require specialized skills, but there is no formal training available." Even unimportant- looking details fulfill important duties, and must receive proper treatment: "It's important to know what you're dealing with," Bailey says. "Sound barriers need to be re-installed exactly right, or you're just adding weight without any benefit. Get the right parts, the right order, and the right fit." So, where does he find qualified workers? "We find them in small shops, or sometimes from the big completion centers." He adds, "A beautiful thing is an A&P; that can do interiors and avionics. These guys can write their own ticket." Aircraft interior materials, components, and procedures are not commonly known. "You can hire a local cabinetmaker," Bailey says, "but the certification and weight restrictions — glues, weights, expansion of parts, especially paperwork — all are so important. Especially with woodwork, you'll find that gaps change at altitude. Temperatures as well as pressures can change dimensions. Not all veneers will work in "It's not like getting an MRO spec on a particular aircraft, where you get a book with specific instructions," he says. "Even avionics, which differ more radically, at least have good documentation. But interiors — every single interior is unique to that owner. Five or six airplanes, with sequential serial numbers, will not have the same 'fit,' one to the other, even with the same interior components. You may find an aircraft that is set up with, say, a wiring harness that is intended to be used in the future — if you do not know why it's there, what do you do with it?" Dier sums, "Assuring the crew takes pride in the fantastic machine they are flying while providing a little TLC, will ensure longevity of an interior." AMT Tim Kern is an aviation writer, Interior shops require craftsmen with specialized skills such as seat upholstery. all circumstances. Everything matters — even the moisture content of the woods. You need to have all sorts of special skills, and sometimes special tooling. aircraft builder, and private pilot. He is based in Anderson, IN, and can be reached at info@timkern. com. The following companies provided information and photos for this article. Jet Connections, www. jetconnections.co.uk; Comlux USA, www.comluxaviation.com; BizJet International, www.bizjet.com; and MJ Aircraft Interiors, www. mjaircraftinteriors.com.