Lesson 6: Landing gear maintenance

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 1

Lesson 7 – Landing Gear

Lesson goals

• You can name all the different parts of the landing gear. ​
• You can explain why the landing gear is tilted.
• Rehearse the prepositions of place and time
• Learn about the preposition of movement

We drove _______ the tunnel to reach the city center.

1. over
2. through
3. across
4. around

They climbed _______ the mountain to enjoy the view.

1. along
2. up
3. over
4. down

He jumped _______ the river to reach the other side.

1. across
2. along
3. through
4. over

She ran _______ the stairs to catch the train.

1. down
2. along
3. up
4. over

I walked _______ the park to get to the library.

1. across
2. through
3. around
4. over

We usually have dinner _____ 8 o'clock in the evening.

1. at
2. in
3. on

He enjoys playing soccer _____ the weekends.

1. on
2. in
3. at

They arrived _____ the airport early for their flight.

1. on
2. in
3. at

She went to the dentist _____ Tuesday afternoon.

1. on
2. at
3. in

I usually have breakfast _____ 7 o'clock in the morning.

1. at
2. in
3. on

Prepositions

• In Dutch, we would call these words voorzetsels/KASTWOORDEN
• Op, aan, naast, bij, over, in etc. ​​
• Pretty difficult as most of these words are on a need-to-know basis. 

Preposition of time

Exercise 1 - Piston - wheels – side-stay – brake assembly – main strut - angled strut – torque arms – light – hydraulic lines 

Answer Key

1. Side-stay​
   
2. Main strut​
   
3. Hydraulic lines​
   
4. Piston​
   
5. Wheels​
   
6. Brake assembly​
   
7. Torque arms​
   
8. Light​
   
9. Angled strut

Exercise 2 - Landing gear

1. Click on the link
2.  Or go to www.youtube.com and look up:
   
3. Why is the LANDING GEAR TILTED? Explained by CAPTAIN JOE
   
4. Watch the film ‘Why is the landing gear tilted’?
5.  Complete exercise 2

Exercise 2 - Answer key (1)

1. What is the most commonly used landing gear?

Single axle landing gear with one tire fitted on each side, mounted on a large strut.

 

2. What is the function of the nitrogen inside the strut?

It acts as a spring force.

 

3. What is the function of the truck positioning actuator?

This actuator is attached aft of the main gear strut and pushes their rear wheels downwards forcing the forward wheels to move upwards as the chock is actually mounted on the main strut. The rear wheels touch down first, the actuator holds up against the pushing force, otherwise the rear tires could bounce up, slamming the forward wheels into the ground.

Answer key (2)

4. What does the actuator trigger when it is fully compressed?

It triggers the air/ground sensing unit to switch from air or flight to ground, before the nose wheel has even touched down. This automatically extends the speed brakes or ground spoilers on Airbus models and engages the autobrake system activating the thrust reverser deployment and depressurizing the aircraft.

 

5. Does every plane land in a way that the rear wheels touch the ground first?

No 

6. Why are the wheels of the landing gears tilted?

So they can fit easily in the wheel bay space.

Answer key (3)

7. Why is there no wheel bay space in the wings?

The wings are filled with fuel. If the landing gear also has to fit in there, there will be less place for the fuel tanks. 

8. What is the advantage of the wheels of the B777-300, lifting of pair by pair?

It adds a bit of height over rotation over the gear and reduces the tail strike risk.

9. Why does the landing gear of the C5 Galaxy rotate? 

To fit into the belly of the plane (and the wheel bay space).

Reading strategies to help

If you have already read what the questions are, you can directly look for the needed information – Predictability

By analysing the lay-out you can get a better picture of the text’s structure / see patterns / signal words – Structure visibility

When you don’t know the meaning of a word, try to find the same word in the text and compare them between the contexts – Redundancy

Exercise 3 - reading

• Go to exercise 3
• Read the questions and answer them correctly
• You will have 15 minutes to do so
  

Exercise 3 - Answer key

1. Which components of the landing gear are operated with hydraulic power? ​

The main gear is hydraulically retracted, and the main gear doors are hydraulically opened and closed. ​

2. Where are the four lubrication fittings located on the tension strut assembly? ​

The tension strut is equipped with four lubrication fittings; two for the axle fitting and two for the shock strut connection. ​

3. Which parts does the ‘upper drag brace’ connect?​

The upper drag brace connects to the aircraft structure near the aircraft centerline in the forward part of the wheel well. The lower end of the upper drag brace connects to the lower drag brace. 

Answer key

4. What is the function of the main landing gear down lock actuator? ​

The down lock mechanism holds the drag brace on center with an actuator spring. The down lock mechanism can be held immobile by a ground safety lock pin to prevent inadvertent retraction of the landing gear. 

Exercise 4- Answer key

1. Mounted (par 1) ​

2. In conjunction with (par 1) ​

3. To provide (par 1) ​

4. Machined (par 4) ​

5. Houses (par 5) ​

6. Connects (par 6)

Exercise 5- Answer key

1. The main gear works in conjunction with the nose gear to provide support for the aircraft on the ground.
   
2. The main gear is hydraulically retracted, but free falls into the extended position after the main gear doors are fully opened.
   
3. The main landing gear door assembly is a structure of formed aluminum hinged outboard in three places.
   
4. The component is machined from a one-piece steel forging.
   

Exercise 6 and 7- Prepositions 

After you have landed you will be at the airport (hopefully). From there the plane will taxi to the correct terminal, where you will get off. Later on you will need to describe where the different buildings at the airport are. You will need to use the correct prepositions to do so.

• What are prepositions?
• When do you use them?

To make sure you know everything there is about the aircraft, and you know how to use prepositions correctly, do the following exercises:

• Exercise 6: Use the correct preposition
• Exercise 7: Name all the different parts of the airport.

​

Exercise 6 - Answer key

1. On​
   
2. From​
   
3. To ​
   
4. Via​
   
5. Along​
   
6. Across​
   
7. Onto​
   
8. Into​
   
9. At​
   
10. Ahead / on​
    
11. Towards 

Exercise 7 - Answer key

1. Intersections
   
2. Ramp
   
3. Markings
   
4. Runways
   
5. Hangars
   
6. Control tower
   
7. Gate
   
8. Beacon
   
9. Signs
   
10. Terminal
    
11. Lights
    
12. taxiways
    

Speaking exercise

Divide in pairs of two

One of you will be person A and the other will be person B

DON’T LOOK AT EACH OTHER’S PICTURES

Speaking exercise 1 – describing where the building are at the airport

Describe for your partner where the buildings are on the map. Your partner will mark the buildings on his or her map.

Speaking exercise 2 – find the differences between the two pictures

Find out where the different planes are on the runways, gates and ramps.

Explain the function of the main strut within the landing gear.

When would you use the preposition at?

Name of the following places or buildings at the airport

Name of the following places or buildings at the airport

Name of the following places or buildings at the airport