The intricate process of a Boeing 747 D-check explained
The intricate process of a Boeing 747 D-check explained
Overview of a Boeing 747 undergoing a comprehensive inspection known as the D-Check.
Contunico © ZDF Studios GmbH, Mainz
Transcript
Boeing 747 with identifier Victor Charly is requested for D-Check. The big bird has 89,000 flying hours on its wings. 11,000 starts have been managed, lightning strikes and variations in temperature of more than 40 C degrees have been survived, and enormous compressive stress has been overcome. After 25 million performed kilometres, the jumbo stands in the hangar as if disembowelled. Coloured metallic wires stick up from the hollowed torso of the Boeing 747.
What seems like an immense chaos, which nobody can overlook, is a specifically planned undertaking. The preparations for this health surveillance have already been in progress for 6 weeks. Boeing 747 has its so called D-check for the third time, which is the maximal maintenance, where the smallest screw is scrutinized. Each step is exactly specified. Everything is done in accordance to the manual grip by grip. The sensitive outer skin of the aeroplane consists of aluminium plates, rivets and bolts. Everything is now being scanned by ultrasonic millimeter by millimeter, in order to detect even the tiniest damage. It is not enough to have good eyes for this job. After all, life of passengers and crew is at stake.
A medical device waits in the wings. They're x-rayed up to the lowest structure layers in order to exclaim damages. Heavyweight-technicians have no chance to place the x-ray plates into the tank. Only a narrow hole leads to the dark space that is filled with kerosene. Safety is the utmost priority. It is x-rayed only at night, by a team of 8 people. By the time the mobile x-ray pistols are brought into operation, the plane is closed off in the hangar. The pictures are controlled and evaluated the same evening. The maintenance of the engine and the turbines represents the climax of the D-check. All of the 4000 blades of the engine are examined carefully by a boroscope. A mobile optic is inserted through the designated holes into the engine, thus the technicians dispose of pictures in rich detail of the inner workings. Only if this procedure delivers conspicuous results, will the technicians take apart the complete engine. In view of the 50,000 components, it is done exactly according to the book, in order that nobody loses track. 250 people work on the maintenance of the Boeing 747. At the so called run-up, the turbines get into top gear at the noise protection hall for the first time. 50,000 hp are roaring and rearing up. Boeing 747 Victor Charly is ready again to take to the skies.
What seems like an immense chaos, which nobody can overlook, is a specifically planned undertaking. The preparations for this health surveillance have already been in progress for 6 weeks. Boeing 747 has its so called D-check for the third time, which is the maximal maintenance, where the smallest screw is scrutinized. Each step is exactly specified. Everything is done in accordance to the manual grip by grip. The sensitive outer skin of the aeroplane consists of aluminium plates, rivets and bolts. Everything is now being scanned by ultrasonic millimeter by millimeter, in order to detect even the tiniest damage. It is not enough to have good eyes for this job. After all, life of passengers and crew is at stake.
A medical device waits in the wings. They're x-rayed up to the lowest structure layers in order to exclaim damages. Heavyweight-technicians have no chance to place the x-ray plates into the tank. Only a narrow hole leads to the dark space that is filled with kerosene. Safety is the utmost priority. It is x-rayed only at night, by a team of 8 people. By the time the mobile x-ray pistols are brought into operation, the plane is closed off in the hangar. The pictures are controlled and evaluated the same evening. The maintenance of the engine and the turbines represents the climax of the D-check. All of the 4000 blades of the engine are examined carefully by a boroscope. A mobile optic is inserted through the designated holes into the engine, thus the technicians dispose of pictures in rich detail of the inner workings. Only if this procedure delivers conspicuous results, will the technicians take apart the complete engine. In view of the 50,000 components, it is done exactly according to the book, in order that nobody loses track. 250 people work on the maintenance of the Boeing 747. At the so called run-up, the turbines get into top gear at the noise protection hall for the first time. 50,000 hp are roaring and rearing up. Boeing 747 Victor Charly is ready again to take to the skies.