ASAP Sourcing Solutions Blog

If you have ever sat on the window seat of a passenger flight, you may have noticed that there is a tiny hole in each window leading to the outside. As aircraft must remain at specific pressures for the safety of individuals, it may seem counterproductive to leave openings in the window structure. Despite the concerns that one may have, these tiny holes actually provide for safety, and they do not actually connect to the outside atmosphere.

With the debut of the automatic transmission system, vehicles were changed forever. With new components, shifting gears and general operation became much more simple as many functions began to be automatically controlled by the transmission system. One of the new additions to the automatic transmission, the torque converter, is a very important system component that replaced the clutch. Torque converters are a type of fluid coupling, and they are what allows for an automobile engine to continue running while the wheels are stationary, among other important functions. In this blog, we will discuss what the torque converter is, as well as how they function.

A bearing insulator is an insulator type part manufactured with the outer diameter insulated or the inner diameter insulated and is designed to mitigate the circulating rotor currents that can harm or cause damage to any bearings surrounding the device. A good practice to prevent current damage so as to not overburden the bearing insulator is either to use hybrid ceramic bearings or to insulate the non-drive end shaft bearing journal with a ceramic (aluminum oxide AL2O3).

When designing and maintaining an aircraft, there may be upwards of millions of small and large parts that come together to provide for every function of the aircraft from safety to entertainment. Aerospace bearing parts are very beneficial for the various operations of aircraft as bearings are designed to reduce friction between components and materials through the use of rotating and sliding. With the various bearing components that can be found within an aircraft, it is important to be aware of what systems they may be located in, as well as guidelines to properly install and maintain them as needed. In this blog, we will provide an overview of common bearings and procedures used to install and maintain them.

With a power equivalent to that of a 28 Formula-1 racing car, the aircraft engine parts is a major powerhouse responsible for carrying an aircraft into flight. Engines designed for aircraft use- be they for commercial, jet, private or others- have made it possible for people to travel across thousands of miles in just under a day. Within these technological miracles is a complex system of parts that require only the most knowledgeable and certified engineers and mechanics to tend to them. As complex as these mechanical giants can be, they remain a marvel to the average citizen. Below you can find some interesting facts about engines that you may not have known about.

Washers, an important part for weight distribution in many machines, are thin, disc-shaped plates with a hole in the center. Though they are commonly metal, washers come in a variety of materials and are used as spacers, springs, pre-loading screws, and vibration reducers. Washers come in three types: plain, spring, and lock. This blog will explore each type and provide insight to their characteristics and applications.

Like with other industries, there are some interesting secrets and tidbits of information in the aviation industry that only those working within the industry know about. In the same way that only Disneyland employees know how the magic happens, so too do flight attendants, pilots, and others who claim that territory have their own set of secrets that they keep. Read on below to get a glimpse into those secrets. 

As an aircraft with a basic engine rises in altitude, the amount of power that the engine can produce by itself decreases. Aircraft engine control power is created through the mixture or air and fuel, and the higher the altitude, the lower amount of oxygen is present in the air. While making an engine bigger to pull in a greater mass of air may seem like a good solution, it will cause the aircraft to be much bulkier and heavier, and it does not efficiently tackle the core of the problem which is oxygen density. The solution to this problem came with the introduction of the turbocharger.

Aircraft are, without question, very complicated pieces of machinery. The process of producing one can seem overwhelming and practically impossible. However, when you break it down to its basic steps, the production of an airplane is easy to understand. The three steps of aircraft production are design, construction, and assembly.

If you own a car and live in climates that go below freezing, then you’re more than likely aware of the burdens of de-icing your car. For those residing elsewhere, it's not something that you have to think about...unless of course you own and operate an aircraft. If you are based in a place with temperatures like that of sunny California, owning an aircraft means you have to get familiar with the process of de-icing your aircraft and understand its important role in aircraft maintenance.