Gas Welding on air planes.

[Portable Welder]

I stopped at the car wash today in my welding rig and while waiting an old guy started talking to me, telling me that you are only aloud to OX / Ac. weld aluminum ( PER )
FAA rules. I have never seen anyone use this method, But I was polite and let the old guy ramble on thinking he was right and since I dont get asked nor am I certified to weld on air planes I would go ahead and ask this question.
However I do a fair amount of work at the air port, and when I look at what machines every one is using, I happen to see the same tig machine that I own.
However are their certain applications that might require a gas welded aluminum part or is the old guy living in the past.
Quote ( If the FAA catches you Tig welding aluminum they will give you a
$ 48,000.00 fine )
Where do these people come from, He also said he was currently a Mill Wright at Ford Motor Company.

[Pinecone]

There are all kinds of people in the world. And many hold forth on things they have no idea what they are talking about.

[admweld]

I think this old man might have been rambling.
I personally don,t weld much aluminum but when i have it was with a mig or
tig.some elderly people like to talk to welders were nice people :)

[Laiky]

Back in the day, all A/C welding was done with OAW or with hydrogen and o2. Probably doesn't know what TIG is. Go to an aviation museum, all the steel (chromoly) was gas welded then too.

[Paul Seaman]

Some hobbiest aircraft builders are still doing it the old fashoned way but in comercial aircraft it is tig, or a more complex process, EBW-electron beam welding. the experimental aircraft industry has really turned toward tig in the last few years due to the advancement of tig machines. The old fellow was correct for years gone by, but not anymore. BTW the AC Cobra bodies were made of aluminum and they were all hand hammered and gas welded!

Peace,

[lramberson]

He is flat wrong, Tig is very much accepted in airplane construction & repair. It wouild also be a fact that Andy attends the Sun and Fun Fly In(a public avaition show) to do demos and talk the talk :D. Old timer needs to get up to speed :eek:
Laurence

[Pinecone]

Yeap, in fact I bought my Dynasty 200DX from the deal offered at the 04 Sun n Fun. I didn't make this year.