Tag Archives: hangar

Prepping your Aircraft and Hangar for Winter

15 November 2022   Aircraft Maintenance

If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to prep your aircraft and your hangar for the cold winter months. In New Jersey, we know that in the coming months we’ll probably experience freezing or below-freezing temperatures, so ensuring your aircraft and your hangar are prepped is critical. Preparing for winter is way more involved than preparing for summer, so our team at Monmouth Jet Center has put together this helpful list to help you get winter-ready.

Oil and De-icer For Your Aircraft 

You should be using lower viscosity oil in your engine during the winter months because it circulates better, especially when the engine is cold. Lower viscosity oil is beneficial for pressure and circulation, and if you’re unsure about which oil to use in your aircraft’s engine, ask the maintenance crew who services your aircraft. 

De-icer fluid is another winter essential. It removes frozen contaminants like snow and ice from the exterior of your aircraft, which can interfere with a safe take-off if not removed on a regular basis. De-icer is usually applied using a large spray nozzle at a very high pressure, operated by a line service technician.

Preheat Your Aircraft Engine

Have you ever tried to start your car on a freezing winter morning, and found that the engine struggled to start? Aircraft engines can have difficulty starting in the winter, just like car engines. A temperature-controlled hangar can help keep the engine warm when your aircraft isn’t in use, and many aircraft have an electric plug you can use to heat the engine oil. If you know you’ll be using your aircraft, call ahead and have the hangar crew preheat your engine for an easy start. 

Insulating & Heating Your Hangar

Your aircraft is probably in its hangar most of the time, so it’s essential to keep the hangar at an above-freezing temperature. But heating a big space like a hangar can be expensive, especially when the heat is running constantly. Instead of heating the entire space you can invest in things like under-floor heating and insulation to keep the temperature up. 

Winter Accessories for Your Aircraft 

  • Wing covers: These will help protect the aircraft’s wings and prevent ice build-up when your aircraft isn’t in use or in a hangar. 
  • A full aircraft cover: If you want to protect your entire aircraft, you can keep it covered while it’s in its hangar. This helps protect the aircraft and prevents the engine from getting too cold. 
  • A carbon monoxide detector:  It is required to install a carbon monoxide detector both in your aircraft and inside your hangar, especially if you’re using any type of heating method. Exposure to carbon monoxide can become deadly in a matter of minutes, so protect yourself. 

For more information about prepping your aircraft and your hangar for winter, or if you have any questions, please contact our team at Monmouth Jet Center today or visit our website at: https://monmouthjetcenter.com/

How To Prepare an Aircraft for Long Term Storage

12 July 2022   Around the Airport

As most pilots would agree they want to fly as often as possible, however life sometimes has other plans. If you find yourself needing long term storage for your aircraft, there are a few things you should consider. If you don’t already keep your aircraft in a hangar when you’re not using it, you should consider renting a hanger as it will best protect your investment. Leaving an aircraft on an outside tie down long term, while not using it often is a recipe for additional maintenance costs. 

Hanger Space is your Best Option 

If you won’t be using your aircraft for the foreseeable future, hangar space is the best option to protect your plane from elements like moisture which can cause multiple hush cost problems, birds looking for refuge and even sun damage which can fade your paint job, and the interior of your aircraft. The rent you pay for a hangar could pale in comparison to the kinds of expensive repairs an inactive plan stuck outside may need in 6 months. Inside a hanger you will keep your aircraft safe and keep the maintenance bill as low as possible.

What to Consider When Looking for a Hangar

Generally you can look at a wider range of airport locations when shopping for the best deal on hangars for storage, because proximity isn’t as important as it would be for frequent fliers. Monmouth Airport actually houses a number of aircraft for NY based clientele who enjoy the lower hangar rents than NY area airports, but they can still get from the city to their jet in an hour by car, or 20 minutes by helicopter.

Additionally, hangar spaces come in different sizes, so it’s important to make sure you get something big enough to comfortably house your aircraft but also not so big that you are paying for wasted space.  All hangar spaces should offer electricity and water, if you need to vacuum, wash, or preheat and charge your aircraft battery. Some hangars at Monmouth Airport are also heated or come with a small flight office particularly helpful for small commercial operators. 

Hangars at Monmouth Jet Center 

Monmouth Jet Center has affordable hangars available where you will be paying a fraction of the price they charge at a busy airport like Teterboro. Additionally in most cases you don’t have to be on a waiting list for a hangar, they normally have them available immediately. Because you choose to store your aircraft at a smaller airport, you also enjoy lower fuel costs and a more relaxed class 2 airspace compared to the hectic airspace at a busy NY airport. Give our experts at Monmouth Jet Center a call today to answer any questions.