Ever wonder how airplanes are able to land without skidding? It’s not uncommon for airplanes to touch the runway at speeds of up to 180 mph. In some cases, pilots must also deal with inclement weather. Most airplanes, however, are equipped with an antiskid system to prevent skidding when landing.
What Is an Antiskid System?
An antiskid system is a braking component that’s designed to help pilots maintain control of airplanes during landings by preventing the wheels from skidding. It’s similar to antilock brakes for automobiles. Most modern cars and trucks are equipped with antilock brakes to prevent skidding. Airplanes, on the other hand, are equipped with an antiskid system.
The Importance of Antiskid Systems
Airplanes feature an antiskid system to lower the risk of accidents during landing. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), over half of all airplane accidents occur during landing. Skidding, of course, is a serious hazard. It occurs when the brake force applied to an airplane’s tires is more than what the tires are able to grip on the runway. Rather than creating traction on the runway, the tires will simply glide.
How Antiskid Systems Work
Antiskid systems work by continuously monitoring the speed at which the airplane’s tires turn and making the necessary brake pressure adjustments as needed. The goal is to ensure the airplane’s roll on the runway without sliding or skidding.
As previously mentioned, skidding occurs when the brake force is greater than what the tires are able to grip on the runway. Antiskid systems prevent skidding by making adjustments to the brake force. They can lower the brake force so that the tires maintain traction with the runway and, thus, roll.
Components of an Antiskid System
Most antiskid systems consist of several components, one of which is tire sensors. The tire sensors are designed to monitor the speed at which the tires spin.
Another critical component of an antiskid system is the control unit. This is the brain of the system. The control unit is designed to collect and process data from the tire sensors. The tire sensors send data to the control unit, and the control unit makes the necessary calculations to determine what, if any, adjustments are needed.
There are also brake valves in antiskid systems. Brake valves control the hydraulic pressure applied to each tire. They can increase or decrease pressure as needed. Finally, the hydraulic system is the system that powers the brakes. The antiskid system makes small adjustments to the hydraulic power so that the tires don’t slide or skid.
