The year is quickly coming to an end as we're busy preparing for the holidays. Most are probably completing their last-minute shopping, putting up their Christmas trees and planning their holiday travels. Did you know that
6.4 million people are expected to fly somewhere this holiday season between Dec. 23 and Jan. 1? That’s 640,000 people each day getting on flights in one of the nation’s 44,000 airports. To put that into perspective, 640,000 people is approximately the population of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Honolulu, Hawaii combined.
It may seem like the norm today, but air travel wasn’t always as readily accessible. In 1903, the Wright brothers invented the first successful airplane, the Wright Flyer. The first flight lasted a mere 12 seconds, but the technology revolutionized the transportation industry.
Today, the manufacture, maintenance and repair of these metal birds involve a global network of suppliers who apply advanced technologies to keep commercial airliners, business jets and military aircraft flying. A recognized leader in the industry is Aviation Technical Services, Inc., (ATS).
ATS provides maintenance, repair and overhaul services on transport category aircraft, in addition to aircraft components for commercial customers and tooling used to repair commercial aircraft. Each year, its six facilities across North America service 450 wide and narrow body aircraft.
The high volume of work requires energy efficiency in all phases of operation, including its compressed air system. At ATS, they use a total of 11 Atlas Copco compressors throughout its six facilities. For efficient production, they’ve incorporated Variable Speed Drive (VSD) compressors to match varying air demand throughout the work day. The VSD technology increases the air supplied during peak production hours and decreases it during night shifts.
In ATS facilities, compressed air is used in 90 percent of all operations with direct uses in paint booths, sand blasting, mills, drills, rivet guns and grinders. ATS also uses compressed air in performing composite repairs where the air is used to create vacuum for bagging parts.
Without compressed air, air travel just wouldn’t be possible. ATS and other aircraft maintenance and repair stations alike rely on compressed air to power tools that make flying safe and sound.
Happy holidays, and safe traveling to wherever you’re headed! Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog for more articles like this.
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