Rigid Rail for Aircraft Fall Safety
Alaska Airlines contracted with Kiewit to construct a new $40 million aircraft maintenance facility at the site of the current Signature Flight Support building. Located on the east side of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport (ANC), the new hangar is located about a half mile from Alaska’s existing 37,500-square-foot facility.
When complete, Alaska’s new hangar will measure 105,000 square feet, twice as big as Alaska Airline’s existing Anchorage maintenance hangar. The new hangar will be able to house two 737-Max 9 aircraft, which will be the longest/widest plane in the carrier’s fleet.
Project Details – Aircraft Hangar Fall Arrest System
For this project, Flexible Lifeline Systems designed, engineered, and installed a total of six (6) Type 1 FlexRail systems. Each system was designed and engineered for a two (2) user fall arrest.
One (1) fuselage system and two (2) wing systems comprised the overall fall protection scheme for each of two (2) different aircraft parking locations in the hangar, for a total of six (6) rail systems. The system were attached to the overhead building trusses and truss-bracing via LNA Beam clamp connections and custom-made U-bolts.
Project Challenges
With this project being located in Alaska, the long distance installation required precise planning and logistics as well as accurate material take-off and fabrication to protect profitability of the project for the builder.
FLS Delivers
The FlexRail systems designed and installed by FLS provide 100% coverage across all surfaces of the aircraft for both 737-Max 9 Aircraft parking positions in the new hangar. The fuselage rail sections cover the entire length of the fuselage, plus some extra length, as well as both rear horizontal stabilizers at the tail. Each wing has its own dedicated rail section as well.
