The installation process involves setting the simulator, which weighs 35,000–50,000lbs (25 tons), onto a hydraulic actuator.
“To set a simulator, Landry Simulation historically used a system of chain falls, hydraulic cylinders, and a significant amount of wooden cribbing,” said John Kuka, director of business development for Engineered Rigging, which was asked by Landry Simulation founder Claude Landry to “improve the installation process” and to identify the safest, most efficient method for its operations using equipment that is easy to transport.
After analysing the simulator installation process, Kuka recommended the SCJ-50 Cube Jack System. The portable cube jacks have a 56-ton lifting capacity per jack. The system utilises base lifting frames and self-aligning, lightweight steel cribbing blocks, instead of wooden cribbing materials. To simplify control of the lifting operation, all of the system controls are contained within the cube jack, aside from the main directional valve that is located on the hydraulic power unit.
“An in-person demonstration helped Claude [Landry] gain an appreciation for the equipment’s compact design and functionality,” said Kuka. “Seeing it in action, he realised that the cube jack system is a perfect fit for the safety and efficiency goals he wanted to achieve.
“However,” Kuka added, “he had one critical concern.”
Typically, Engineered Rigging’s cube jack systems – its fleet includes both the SCJ-50 and SCJ-100, which has a 110-ton lifting capacity – are powered by split-flow pumps, which require 480V/3 phase power. However, the build-out spaces for Landry Simulation’s flight simulators often have only standard 115V power. Working with Enerpac, Kuka identified an alternative power source: the ZE-Series hydraulic pump and a split-flow manifold, which the New York-based Landry Simulation also purchased.
Landry Simulation first used the new system for an installation at a flight training centre in Dallas and reported the new lifting system improved productivity and reduced the time to install the simulator.
Kuka said: “The Engineered Rigging team enjoys working with our customers to understand their needs and identify the best heavy lifting solutions. I was thrilled that we provided Landry Simulation with the technology to safely and efficiently install flight simulators around the world.”
