airframe hours

[rancherman]

when discussing or advertising 'hours on airframe'.. how is it amassed?

engine hours are easy, but how about the actual airframe? Is there a ticker on the Rrpm?

Several of my ground based equipment have newer tachs that only count when engine rpm is slightly above idle.

I remember renting a tractor years ago, that was rented by the tach hour. So, as long as the key was 'on' the $$$ added up. That made for some expensive entertainment for my hired help when they'd shut down, turn the radio on to kill time when waiting for the combine to come by.

 

[Loren Jones]

I suspect most track tach hours on an engine and apply those to the airframe. When it engine is overhauled, the engine hours are reset, but the airframe hours (in the aircraft log as opposed to engine log) continue accumulate by adding current engine hours to previously accumulated hours.

 

[rancherman]

Thanks! yeah, I suspected it was more 'log book' accounting than meter chronology

 

[WaspAir]

My helicopter has a Hobbs meter that only records when the collective is up. An 18A I owned had a squat switch on the gear for that same purpose (and to lock out prespin in flight). Weight on wheels is a common differentiator.