Regulations for Aviation Fasteners
Fasteners are a crucial aspect of aviation operations, serving for the assembly of aircraft, their various systems, and much more. As the fasteners implemented on aircraft require the ability to withstand intensive environments where they face temperature extremes, high pressures, chemicals, and more, they must be manufactured to rigid standards. Additionally, aviation fasteners also undergo very thorough inspection prior to being sold to ensure their quality and caliber. These processes and standards are extremely important as they make the difference between a robust aircraft and one that is very hazardous to fly. In this blog, we will discuss the regulations that aviation fasteners are subjected to, allowing you to better understand the importance of such control.
While one may find screws, nuts, bolts, pins, and collars in any standard hardware store or mechanical toolbox, such fasteners are rarely built to the standards necessary to take on extreme stresses, temperatures, and pressures without failure. Aluminum is a common material for aerospace applications, due to its high strength-to-weight ratio. For a fastener such as a rivet, cold-head-formed aluminum allows for a robust and reliable joint to be established for the means of securing the fuselage skin and other aerospace components.
Stainless and alloy steel materials are also a common option under aviation fastener regulations, and they are typically used to construct bolts that must take on high amounts of stress and heat. Series 300 corrosion resistant stainless steel is a great example of a material that is used for aviation fasteners, and it allows for protection against humidity. Despite this, it lacks the ability to withstand high temperatures like alloy-based steels.
Alongside such examples, many materials find use for aviation applications, and it is paramount that manufacturers carry out extensive quality-control measures for all produced fasteners to ensure that they meet U.S. government standards. As such standards cover a range of processes from the selection of materials to conducting tests with special imaging systems, the production process can take time.
While aviation fasteners that are built to regulation can be trusted for their reliability, there is the issue of counterfeit hardware that has permeated the market throughout the last few decades. Called “unapproved parts” by the FAA, these hardware components should be avoided as they can lead to disastrous hazards that could be well avoided. While many U.S. regulatory bodies have taken immense steps to crack down on the sale and distribution of counterfeit hardware, everyone should remain adamant and careful when engaging in the market. To prevent the chance of accidentally procuring counterfeit hardware, it is crucial that one only shops with trustworthy distributors that work with other reliable entities. Luckily for you, Hardware Orbit is a leading distributor of aviation hardware and fasteners, operating with AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, and FAA AC 00-56B accreditation as a result of our dedication to quality control.
Whether you are in the market for auxiliary power unit parts, a fire-extinguisher system, fuselage skin components, or various other aviation products, Hardware Orbit has you covered with over 2 billion items readily available for purchase on our website. Take your time in exploring our current set of offerings, and our RFQ service will allow you to request quotes with ease. If you happen to be facing a time constraint and require parts fast, we provide expedited shipping to domestic and international customers alike through the use of our global supply chain network. If you have any questions about our services or would like to learn more about what we can do to serve you, give our team members a call or email at your earliest convenience.
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