It is this marvelous engineering which gets you from one point to the other.
Even if a single tiniest of the part fails to respond at any instant, it can have catastrophic consequences. Thus maintaining and repairing each and every part of the aircraft becomes crucial.
Lets assume a maintenance engineer has figured out which part has failed or which needs some sort of maintenance.
The question here arises how will he locate that specific part in this giant structure?
To answer this, engineers established a method of locating components and reference points on the aircraft.
This was accomplished by establishing reference lines and station numbers for various aircraft components like fuselage, empennage, wing, landing gear etc.
Moreover, the method of zoning was set forth for large aircraft by the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) in ATA-100 Specifications for Manufacturers' Technical Data.
This was accomplished by establishing reference lines and station numbers for various aircraft components like fuselage, empennage, wing, landing gear etc.
Moreover, the method of zoning was set forth for large aircraft by the Air Transport Association of America (ATA) in ATA-100 Specifications for Manufacturers' Technical Data.
The reference lines and station numbers can be categorized as following:
Fuselage Stations
These include the longitudinal points along the length of the fuselage of an aircraft and are determined by reference to a zero datum line which can be denoted as F.S.(Fuselage Station) 0.00.
This zero datum line is set based on the aircraft manufacturer. Some select the zero datum line ahead of the aircraft as shown below and some can use the wing, engine firewall etc. as the datum line.
These include the longitudinal points along the length of the fuselage of an aircraft and are determined by reference to a zero datum line which can be denoted as F.S.(Fuselage Station) 0.00.
This zero datum line is set based on the aircraft manufacturer. Some select the zero datum line ahead of the aircraft as shown below and some can use the wing, engine firewall etc. as the datum line.
These station numbering is given in inches aft or forward of the zero datum line and is negative for stations ahead of the zero datum line and positive for stations behind the zero datum line.
Wing Stations
These are the station points for locating components embedded in the wing hence the name wing stations (WS). These points are measured from the fuselage centre line which is also known as the Butt line (BL).
Similar to Fuselage stations the station numbering is given in inches either to left or right of the butt line.
Water Line
This is used for locating the stations on a vertical line. These station numberings are again given in inches and positive or negative depending upon whether the station is above the butt line or below the butt line.
These are typically used to locate positions of Vertical Stabilizer, Landing gear etc.
This is used for locating the stations on a vertical line. These station numberings are again given in inches and positive or negative depending upon whether the station is above the butt line or below the butt line.
These are typically used to locate positions of Vertical Stabilizer, Landing gear etc.
Butt Line
As mentioned, it is the fuselage centre line and are used to give locations on the Horizontal Stabilizer and elevator. Similar to wing stations, locations are given in inches either to left or right of the butt line as shown below.
As mentioned, it is the fuselage centre line and are used to give locations on the Horizontal Stabilizer and elevator. Similar to wing stations, locations are given in inches either to left or right of the butt line as shown below.
Component Stations
Some components of aircraft have their own station numbering. These can include winglet stations, aileron stations, engine stations etc. and are measured in inches with reference to their own zero datum line.
With regard to Zoning, this is typically done for large aircraft and is indicated by either a major zone, major sub-zone or just zone.
Major Zones are identified as following:
Major Zones are identified as following:
| Major Zone No. | Area |
| 100 | Lower half of the fuselage to the rear pressure bulkhead |
| 200 | Upper half of the fuselage to the rear pressure bulkhead |
| 300 | Empennage, including fuselage aft of the rear pressure bulkhead |
| 400 | Power Plants and pylons |
| 500 | Left Wing |
| 600 | Right Wing |
| 700 | Landing Gear and LG doors |
| 800 | Doors |
| 900 | Reserved for uncommon differences between aircraft types. |
These major zones are subdivided into major sub zones by adding a non zero number to the tens digit. These are identified as follows:
| Major sub-zone no. | Area |
| 310 | Fuselage aft of the pressure bulkhead |
| 320 | Vertical Stabilizer and Rudder |
| 330 | Left Horizontal stabilizer and elevator |
| 340 | Right Horizontal stabilizer and elevator |
Major sub-zones are finally subdivided into just zones by adding a non zero number to the units digit. These are identified as follows:
| Zones | |
| 321 | Vertical Stabilizer leading edge |
| 322 | Vertical Stabilizer auxiliary spar to front spar |
| 323 | Front spar to rear spar |
| 324 | Rear spar to trailing edge |
| 325 | Lower rudder |
| 326 | Upper rudder |
| 327 | Vertical Stabilizer tip |
Conclusion
By using the method of station numbering and zoning for the components of the aircraft it is easier for a Maintenance engineer to locate its position, do the required repair or maintenance and ultimately save time and money.
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