Pilots helping pilots
View over 100 airline profilesAdd to Google



Go Back   Airline Pilot Central Forums > Career Builder > Technical
Register FAQ Advertising Members List Calendar Mark Forums Read


Technical The airliners we fly

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-20-2009, 12:46 PM   #1 (permalink)
Gets Weekends Off
 
Ozpilot414's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jan 2007
Position: Left
Posts: 134
Default TBM700 Tire's Nitrogen or Air?

No where in the POH does is say that you are supposed to use Nitrogen in the tires...but with the altitudes we operate (in the FLs) would it not be a good idea to use nitrogen? And if so, are we allowed to add nitrogen if a tire is low or is that a MX item??

Thanks
__________________
One day...it will happen....One day
Ozpilot414 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-20-2009, 01:06 PM   #2 (permalink)
Doesn't really work
 
Ewfflyer's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Piston/Turbine Props....not just for boats!
Posts: 2,271
Default

Yes on the nitrogen. Use regular air only in a pinch.
__________________
Come to KMIE and eat at Kacy J's(PM me for hours)
Ewfflyer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-25-2009, 12:34 PM   #3 (permalink)
Line Holder
 
KIGONYE's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Capt
Posts: 28
Default

nitrogen is more stable than air, so it is always the best choice
__________________
MANUAL! We dont need no stinking manual
KIGONYE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2009, 05:39 PM   #4 (permalink)
Line Holder
 
EMC2's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: DoD Physicist
Posts: 63
Default

Nitrogen is not more stable as air is 78% nitrogen as it is. As far as altitude is concerned the only thing that falls out of the equation at high altitudes is water vapor content, but the rest of the constituents in the air are exactly the same, just less molecules around.

That being said, pure nitrogen does maintain tire pressure better than regular air, but not by a whole lot. And all the air has to be purged from the tire before pumping in the nitrogen otherwise what's the point.

Just a physicist's two cents...
EMC2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2009, 09:47 PM   #5 (permalink)
Gets Weekends Off
 
Kilgore Trout's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Nov 2008
Position: DHC-2
Posts: 460
Default

Ozpilot,
It can't hurt, but I would recommend you contact your maintenance section or provider for further advice, they in turn will consult your aircraft's maintenance and service data to give you a definitive answer.
The reason nitrogen is specifically required for large aircraft is that in the event of high temperatures, temperatures that can be generated by braking action or aircraft structural fire, the nitrogen filled tire is less supportive of combustion. In smaller aircraft generating lower braking heating, or not exposed to actions like combat conditions, nitrogen might be used in order to have the wheel assembly exposed to lower moisture content- in the hopes of minimizing corrosive action on the wheel structure.

Your question about pilots servicing the aircraft tires with nitrogen is an interesting one, I was unable to find any data suggesting a verdict either way. Honestly, I would see no problem with the procedure as long as the pilots in question have been properly briefed on the procedure by licensed maintenance technicians, and the procedure is subject to proper oversight. I can see how this would be a concern if you and your aircraft were at an outlying station with no mx people present.

The important caveat to this however- consult your maintenance staff about this, and make sure you are legitimately authorized to perform this kind of procedure. It's easy to overstep the bounds of what a pilot is authorized to do versus what a licensed mechanic may do.

I'd appreciate it if you let us know what your maintenance types say in this case.
Kilgore Trout is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 10:02 AM   #6 (permalink)
Line Holder
 
KIGONYE's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Capt
Posts: 28
Default

i would rather here from a chemist than a physis.....phycic....phyziz....physics guy, mr PHD


Just a GED's 2 cents 50
__________________
MANUAL! We dont need no stinking manual
KIGONYE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 10:58 AM   #7 (permalink)
Line Holder
 
EMC2's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: DoD Physicist
Posts: 63
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KIGONYE View Post
i would rather here from a chemist than a physis.....phycic....phyziz....physics guy, mr PHD


Just a GED's 2 cents 50
I could be nice and explain to you how this is actually a material science problem which falls under physics and NOT chemistry. However, I'll let your scientific deductions stand on their own merits.

P.S. Not all physicists are male.
EMC2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 12:59 PM   #8 (permalink)
Line Holder
 
KIGONYE's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Capt
Posts: 28
Default

dude/ dudet relax iam just kidding. thanks for telling us about the moisture content thing.
__________________
MANUAL! We dont need no stinking manual
KIGONYE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2009, 05:20 PM   #9 (permalink)
Line Holder
 
EMC2's Avatar
 
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: DoD Physicist
Posts: 63
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KIGONYE View Post
dude/ dudet relax iam just kidding. thanks for telling us about the moisture content thing.
Duly noted!
EMC2 is offline   Reply With Quote


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Air France Flight 447 Missing HectorD Hangar Talk 2 06-01-2009 08:57 AM
Pacific Wings charges its pilots for CASS cencal83406 Regional 17 02-03-2009 08:19 PM
Rwy Incursion Lowlevel Regional 37 02-03-2009 11:04 AM
Jumpseating on Skywest freightdog Regional 43 01-11-2009 09:41 AM


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:50 PM.


Copyright ©2000 - 2009 Internet Brands, Inc.

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC7