When the Rats Leave the Ship
An old marine proverb says that rats leave the sinking ship. Strangely, this somehow applies to airliners as well. Keep cool, there are not rats on board, Ram Air Turbines, abbreviated RAT. But just as the rats of the proverbs, when the RAT gets out, situation on board is not so good.
Two forms of power are required to operate a modern jet: electric and hydraulic. Electricity is needed for all the flight computers, radios, pumps, controlling environment systems, lighting, and many other systems. If all generators on board are lost, the batteries can be used but for a relatively short time only.
Hydraulic power is used to move the control surfaces: rudder, elevator and ailerons. These in turn make the airplane change its course. Hydraulic is also used to extend or retract the landing gear and other important things.
Under normal circumstances, both electricity and hydraulic pressure are produced by generators and compressors run by the engines. In the very unlikely case of everything failing (generators, pumps or engines), the last option is the RAT… (more…)
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Category: On Airports and Airlines
Tags: Airliner emergency Ram Air Turbine RAT
