6 minute read
Helicopter Preservation Packaging
Submitted by Protective Package Corporation
As helicopter service companies and airlines around the globe are grounding flights in response to COVID-19 social distancing and other market pressures, they are scrambling for cost effective ways to preserve out of service aircraft. Often, companies are simply parking aircraft on unused runways at airports.
Long-term exposure to the elements when not in use can present problems for aircraft. Moisture can collect causing rust and corrosion in gas tanks, fuel lines, engines, etc. Sunlight can deteriorate tires and damage paint. Pests can make nests in small access points or do damage by chewing through wires and components.
To keep grounded aircraft in good condition, companies turn to a regular, labor-intensive maintenance schedule. Technicians and pilots check and monitor fluids and fly or reposition helicopters in storage. This reduces the chance that moisture will build up and keeps engines free from corrosion while varying sun exposure and deterring pests.
Another storage option is to park aircraft in a climatecontrolled warehouse; however, warehouse space is costly and limited.
Protective Packaging Corporation offers an alternative: long-term preservation kits that completely enclose helicopters and planes in layers of vacuum-sealed, moisture barrier packaging and heavy duty shrink film with desiccants and humidity indicators. Properly enclosed aircraft can be stored indoors or out. Protective Packaging developed this preservation process for storing a variety of equipment and machinery through years of working with the U.S. military and private companies. Within the last 5 years, the company has customized the process to meet the needs of helicopter and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) companies all over the world to preserve helicopters during transport and storage.
This long-term preservation method is a modern twist on mothballing or cocooning. The process includes unique, flexible moisture barrier films designed to keep even minimal amounts of moisture and humidity from reaching the entire aircraft, its engine, and electrical parts while ensuring no corrosion for a minimum of five years. Vacuum sealing removes most of the moisture and air and aids in completely controlling the environment around each helicopter. This long-term preservation solution is much more cost effective than an expensive climate-controlled environment warehouse or hangar.
Step by step process for wrapping a helicopter
Past Projects
Helicopter Company Servicing Offshore Oil Rigs
During the oil industry downturn in 2016, Protective Packaging Corporation helped a major worldwide helicopter operator servicing the oil and gas industry store and preserve idle helicopters.
The downturn in the energy industry has idled millions of dollars of oil and gas equipment worldwide, including the nearly a fifth of the helicopters used to ferry workers and equipment to offshore rigs, according to The Wall Street Journal.1
“Using our experience in helping protect idled U.S. military equipment, vehicles, planes and technology from environmental factors and idleness, we were able to develop and install a complete solution for the helicopter operator,” said Steve Hanna, CEO of Protective Packaging Corporation. “Our solution is much more cost-efficient than an expensive controlled environment warehouse or hangar. Better yet, this process has been approved by the major helicopter manufacturers.”
The helicopter operator, serving offshore rigs in the North Sea, needed to protect its idled aircraft from corrosion, mold, mildew and other environmental factors until current market conditions change. They also needed access to rotate the blades periodically during storage. The company wanted to make sure the helicopters would not require any cleaning or refurbishing when the helicopters were needed for service.
Protective Packaging Corporation implemented its unique packaging process with AirProPak kits to completely control the environment around the helicopters during storage.
Besides oil and gas industry-related customers, Protective Packaging Corporation has provided long-term packaging preservation for many of the top aircraft manufacturers and defense contractors in the world, as well as for the electronics, communication, and transportation industries. Protective Packaging Corporation is a Texas-based, ISO-certified, veteran-owned small business corporation that has been in business over 35 years. For more information, visit www. protectivepackaging.net.
Marine Corps Preserving Emergency Use Helicopters
In 2019, Protective Packaging Corporation used its expertise with military aircraft to assist U.S. Marine Corps aviation in the protection and preservation of Huey, Cobra, and Osprey aircraft with state-of-the-art packaging technology in accordance with the standard operating procedures of the manufacturers.
These aircraft are on call to provide air support at a moment’s notice anywhere in the world. When not in service, many are stored outdoors on the tarmac, subject to changes in temperature and weather conditions.
To protect and preserve the helicopters, Protective Packaging applied long-term kits and its unique, state-of-the-art storage method. This method completely controls the environment around the aircraft, virtually guaranteeing they won’t be damaged by corrosion or other contaminants. This process involves expertly implementing the kits that are customized to fit each unique model of helicopter.
Protective Packaging gained its experience and expertise with long term storage for the military by providing preservation solutions for aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II.
“Our long-term preservation concept is designed to adhere to the most rigorous requirements. This is particularly important for military aircraft that must be available in perfect condition at a moment’s notice,” said Steve Hanna, CEO of Protective Packaging. “The preservation kit is a cost effective and proven procedure to protect aircraft against corrosion, mold, mildew, moisture, UV, dirt, birds, and other contaminants in accordance with the manufacturer’s maintenance specifications.”
Protective Packaging wrapped one of each model for demonstration and training purposes. After six months in storage, the team unwrapped the aircraft and checked for storage-related damage. All aircraft were perfectly preserved and ready to be put into service. Since then, the Marines have engaged Protective Packaging for several additional preservation projects.
In addition to military aircraft, Protective Packaging has provided preservation solutions for more than 200 commercial offshore helicopters.
Notes
1. http://www.wsj.com/articles/helicopters-areunlikely-victim-of-oil-downturn-1459379211
About Protective Packaging Corporation
Protective Packaging Corporation is a leading supplier of moisture barrier bags and military specification packaging solutions to protect against corrosion and damage from electrostatic discharge during shipping and storage. For over 25 years, the company has worked with the U.S. military and commercial companies developing packaging solutions for everything from computer chips to weapons systems. Protective Packaging carries a wide range of U.S. military specification compliant barrier materials available in rolls, sheets, tubing and bags. Whether companies are protecting machinery during shipment or preserving vehicles during long-term storage, Protective Packaging has products to meet their needs. Protective Packaging also offers packaging consulting, training, and implementation services to ensure their customers receive the right solution.
