Ask Captain Dan: How much air pressure is there in big airplane tires ? Our Resident Pilot Answers Flight Questions.

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Toronto ON – Pilot Dan Baz is answering your flying questions here on the Cornwall Free News.

If you have a question about flying you can email Captain Dan or post below.

Question

My car has a tire pressure monitoring system.  How much air pressure is there in big airplane tires and how often is it checked ?
Question asked by Dorothy.

 

Answer

Tires on large airplanes are inflated to approximately 180 psi to 210 psi.  Airplane manufacturers determine what the exact required pressure is for each airplane type and model.  The pressure is checked every two days, or 48 hours, by maintenance technicians.  Some airplanes also have tire pressures displayed in the flight deck.
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Wheels and tires on an airplane are some of the most stressed components. Therefore airplane tires are inflated with nitrogen, not air.  This is because air contains moisture.  This, however small, amount of  moisture within the wheel and tire assembly, would cause corrosion of wheel metal parts, as they are made from aluminum alloys on smaller airplanes and magnesium alloys on larger airplanes.  Undetected corrosion could degrade structural integrity of the wheels, thus causing  a subsequent failure.

A bit more about Captain Dan:

Captain Dan Baz enrolled in Flight School at the age of 16.

He has completed studies in Aircraft Engineering and Master of Business Administration. He has been at the controls of many different types of aircraft, from single engine Cessnas to large intercontinental jets on global routes.

Over the last four decades he has flown thousands of hours up in the blue sky.

Have a question for the Captain ?  Send it to Captain Dan Baz    captaindanbaz@yahoo.com Every week a question from the readers will be selected and answer posted in this column.

Best Western

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