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News & Media Technique

Securing an airplane on the ramp

Keep your airplane protected when it’s outside

January 2, 2024

By Collin Callahan

Whether your airplane is parked on the ramp year-round, or you are on a trip away from the comforts of your hangar, properly securing your airplane when it’s parked outside is essential.

Illustration by Charles Floyd
Zoomed image
Illustration by Charles Floyd

Mother Nature (and other pilots who may blast your airplane with prop or jet wash) can be incredibly hard on airplanes—animals may try to nest in the openings of the airplane, wind gusts can damage control surfaces, and wind-driven dust can scratch plexiglass. Properly caring for an airplane parked outside will make sure it’s ship-shape for your next flight.

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Complete post-flight checklist items.
Make sure the magnetos and ignition are off, all electronic systems are shut down, and any additional instructions in the pilot’s operating handbook are followed.

Install control locks.
Strong winds (as well as blast from other aircraft) can damage elevators, ailerons, and rudders of unattended airplanes. If you can, parking with the nose of the airplane into the wind limits forces on the control surfaces. Control locks, also known as gust locks, prevent the control surfaces from being blown around. Even if the airplane will be parked outside for only a short period of time, it’s best to install them.

Tie down the aircraft.
If you want to find your airplane in the same spot that you left it, tie it down. There are three tie-down points on most airplanes—one on each wing and one on the tail. Using chain or ropes, secure the airplane to tiedown points on the ramp.

Install covers.
Birds can quickly build nests in engine inlets and insects can wreak havoc on pitot static systems. Install the pitot tube cover and insert engine inlet/cowl plugs; make sure the strap connecting the plugs runs in front of one propeller blade. If you forget to remove the plugs, the prop will pull them out when it spins. If you have canopy covers, install those as well.

Lock the aircraft.
Although many airports are fully fenced and have limited access, it’s best to remove valuables like headsets and tablets from the airplane and lock the doors.


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