Tire change while boarding
 

Which type are we talking about?

Here on the DH8, our maintenance engineers request us to delay boarding until tire changes have been completed. The aircraft is hoisted up by a manual hydraulic pump, and it is easier when the aircraft is as empty as possible. The maximum load on the hoist seems to be a factor as well. And, finally, the engineers prefer not to work in plain sight of the passengers. Not because they are in the slightest way non-presentable or not doing their job right, but to ease the minds of the many passengers with a fear of flying, of course.

Our manuals state that it is permissible to leave passengers on board or to continue boarding if the tire change is being performed by our own company maintenance personnel. If it's done by vendor personnel, we have to go by their procedures, which usually require no pax on board for liability reasons.

For my money, I'd rather deplane the people. A tire change can easily take an hour or more, depending on circumstances, and do I really want people bottled up on the airplane for all that time? I'd much rather they go back in, get a bite, use a real bathroom, and re-board once everything is squared away and signed off. People stuck in a non-moving aluminum tube for extended periods of time have a way of getting progressively more and more pissed off.

Tyre changes are accomplished by changing a wheel assembly! Imagine the size of the tyre levers that would be involved! :eek: On Big Airways A318/19/20/21 and B777 (and most other types) it is permissable to change them with passengers on board. Though the latest edict is we are not allowed to jack an a/c whilst fuelling is in progress.

Depends on maintenance manual procedure , loading /fuelling etc not permitted on Airbus wide body types , but not specified in 777 manual even for a centre wheel. Wonder if anyone has a H&S risk assessment for this ..........!!!!

We change them usually during normal turn-around, if we need to. I mean no actions with the pax taken at all.

Yep, our mob change tires during transit with no requirements that I've been told about!!

A330 777 etc

We usually talk with our maintenance guys about it, but usually it is permissible to change a tire while boarding. Depending on crew have seen a tire change in 18 minutes on a 737NG and a single maintenance guy not familiar with the type taking more than two hours (in this case without passengers on board). Never had one on bus so far, they try to change tires proactively during the nightstop.

Jacks have been known to fail with an increase in load during a wheel change. I've seen it happen and it is a PITA trying to sort it out especially if it's nose wheels. It is good airmanship to pause/hold refuelling and cargo loading if the job can't be completed before. Passengers can usually be permitted, depends on type. When lowering off the Jack after completion I would usually ask that boarding is stopped so there are no trips at the door threshold as the airbridge or steps adjust.

In my outfit main wheel changes are permissible during boarding, but no work on the nose gear is permitted with pax on board. Thats for all types from A319 to B777.

we have no restrictions on wheel changes, 20 mins or so for a 744/330.

Thanks everyone for your replies! It seems that, in general, tires are changed while boarding, except maybe a nose wheel tire. It also seems that not all carriers have something written about it for pilots. So it's done by maintenance guidance or at CAPT's discretion. Anyhow, thanks again. DG

So who is legally responsible then if it goes wrong ,the CRS is on the hands of the engineeer as the aircraft is legally his( undergoing maintenance) yet the Commander is on board with pax ?

That's the exact question that triggered my post. If it's not written if it can be done or not and, while the passengers are boarding, something goes wrong (e.g. the jack fails and the mechanic, a passenger, or a crew member gets hurt, or the aircraft or the jetbridge gets damaged, etc.), the CAPT may have to face some "questioning".

I suppose it may depend on the country/operator, but if there is a passenger or crewmember injury, there may be "questioning" regardless of "whose" the aircraft was at the time...

If EITHER Captain or Certifying Engineer/Mechanic/Technician decide that boarding should not go ahead during maintenance then so be it. No arguments. :ok:

Have had wheel changes done with passengers already onboard in Singapore and Malaysia. Needed it done in China and had to disembark the passengers.

As a mechanic on all Boeing and Airbus types, I don't give delay instructions to loaders, cleaners, crew,... during wheel change. Sometimes the beacon is even on with the tow truck waiting when I'm still removing the jack and equipment.One jack can typically handle 50 tons, more than the average wheel axle on which you're replacing. I only tell pilots to not put on brake fans if installed (and pull CBs also of course).
Only limiting factors for me are nose wheels and a strong wind. I've seen more than often getting the nose wheel lifted off jack to be put down a few inches further.

For all the guys wondering about jack fail, I've had it happen before, no big deal, the bogie will go down again and the other wheels will take up the load. Things to consider however, is that the engineer will have to change the other wheels due to overload, and in the case of a nose wheel where both wheels are often replaced at the same time to avoid shimmy, never remove them at the same time just for the reason of possible jack fail.

For us, as long as the mx work is not completed and signed for by the engineer, it's in the engineers hands. If all mx work is done, and the capt signs acceptance, he is responsible from that moment on. But of course, in real life if the capt decides to wait boarding, that will be it.