Taking Flight with the Right Seals Seals are some of the most important components of an aircraft, used in countless applications throughout a plane – from exterior flaps to cockpit windshields.

Aerodynamic deterioration

Some of the most severe penalties in terms of fuel consumption are caused by increased drag resulting from poor airframe condition. Normal aerodynamic deterioration of an aircraft over a period of time can include the incomplete retraction of moving surfaces, damaged seals on control surfaces, skin roughness and deformation due to bird strikes or damage caused by ground vehicles, chipped paint, mismatching doors and excessive gaps. All these items are potential money wasters. Each deterioration incurs drag increase, and this increased drag is accompanied by increased fuel consumption.