Road Link in Airways Maintenance
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iTAINTAINING the giant aeroIV.I. planes of the Pan-American World Airways system in faultless condition for their flights of thousands of miles over land and sea requires tremendous organization and particularly the scientific application of modern equipment. An important factor in this work lies in the great P.A.A. engineering works at Miami, in Florida, which are claimed to be the largest of their kind in the world. But part of the answer lies in the efficient transport system which brings the aeroplanes engines from far distant places into the works in accordance with a prearranged schedule.
Power units from the Constellationtype Clippers which fly between America and Europe and between New York and Caracas, Venezuela, are transported from La Guardia Airport, New York, by road to Miama. Special White articulated vehicles have been put into service for this purpose by the Joseph Peter Trucking Company, and these units carry from three to five of the B6 2,200 h.p. Curtiss-Wright engines which each weigh something like 2 tons.
These articulated units average two round trips a week over the route, carry ing engines for overhaul on the southbound journeys and reconditioned engines northwards, so that there is no dead mileage. Substantial stocks of reconditioned units are maintained at the airport so that they can be immediately fitted in place of the engines which are removed for overhaul on the completion of 1,000 hours' running. At the Miami overhaul plant there are 1.000 workers employed in the engine reconditioning shops alone. The units are completely taken down and the vanious components moved on a 900-ft. journey through the shops, there being separate production lines for the four different-sized Clipper-class engines which power the D.C.-4, D.C.-6 Constellation and Convair. By using road transport, handling of the load is avoided and, in addition Co the engines, the fleet also moves factory equipment as well as supplies purchased in the New York district for use at the Florida factory. Other motor fleets are employed in supplying fuel, food, and other goods for aircraft operation.