The terms “fuel cell” and “bladder” tanks are used interchangeably to describe a fuel tank that is completely removable from the airframe for servicing and not integral to the aircraft. While all but gone from commercial transports, they will likely see continued application in general aviation aircraft. Removable tank maintenance is frequently overlooked until a leak is spotted. Then, the only alternative may be a total replacement, according to Erich Hartwig, manager of Hartwig Aircraft Fuel Cell Repair in Hallock, Minn.

For airlines and business jet operators, there has long been the argument that radials are the aircraft tire of the future, given their significant advantages over bias types. Southwest Airlines’ Richard Giacomello reports that the carrier has seen about a 30% increase in overall tire life with radials over bias tires. The basis of that comparison is data collected since 2001 on the radial tires used on Southwest’s Boeing 737-700 and the bias types on its 737-300 and -500 aircraft.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is reporting successful trials with an innovative ozone-based aircraft water system sanitization unit, according to Cory Howe, an aircraft systems engineer in the carrier’s maintenance and engineering department. “The EPA has issued some recent rulings which prompted us to look into new technologies that can remove potential hazards and allow for aircraft potable water system quality verification on our entire 737 fleet,” he explains.