Fulfab summer 2003

Better Days and Hangars Ahead
As we described in last summer's issue of the T-Hangar Times, General Aviation has struggled to regain the robust activity it enjoyed prior to 9-11-01. General economic conditions, combined with the Federal government's constraints on funding for improvement projects, have left the entire aviation industry in a two-year holding pattern.

Recently we have begun to see a significant rise in the volume of hangar projects being publicly bid and privately proposed for development, which we attribute to the improving economic outlook. Once Congress decides on realistic spending levels for airport security and approves funding of the Airport Improvement Program, most industry experts expect a healthy increase in activity.

Here at Fulfab, we have taken advantage of the slower times to complete several projects, which will allow us to better serve our customers as the demand for hangars returns to full-strength. Most notably is the redesign of our website and an exciting evolution of our sliding door hangar models.

The new sliding door hangars, which are also detailed on our website at www.fulfab.com, are described on the inside pages of this newsletter. These hangars, which are now in production, have undergone a complete redesign that we feel certain will be well received by hangar owners, contractors and pilots alike.

We are proud to offer the “new generation” Fulfab sliding door. Similar to our bifold doors, these manual sliding doors are designed for use with our post and beam hangar structure. This top-hung bottom-guided door system shelters all moving parts inside the hangar and away from weather and debris, which often interfere with bottom-rolling doors.

Our sliding doors also avoid expensive foundation track systems required by bottom-rolling doors. Each sliding door consists of two sections, which are weather stripped at the top, bottom and jambs with a polypropylene brush developed specifically for aircraft hangar doors. Each door section is rod-locked in place; one section is operational from inside the hangar to meet fire code requirements, while the other half is opened with a keyed handle from outside the unit. This eliminates the need for a separate persnnel door, although pre-hung access doors can be installed in a sliding door section, if required.

Our sliding door system utilizes time-tested Cannon Ball track and needle-bearing trolleys featuring DuPont Delrin wheels.
• Quiet running,
• Corrosion-resistant
• Set to roll inside heavy-gauge galvanized tubular track
• Pre-lubricated for maintenance free operation.

The Standard Nested “T” produces a long and narrow building and minimizes office space. The Standard ”T” allows most sliding doors to be opened without compromising adjacent hangars.

The Full-Nested “T” produces a wider and shorter building, optimizing ground space and resulting in larger office areas. The Full-Nested “T” requires each set of sliding doors to open in front of or behind adjacent doors.

The Clear Span series hangars are rectangular units for your corporate hangar needs. These buildings utilize an open web joist system for the roof structure to provide a larger column free interior in the hangar units.

We recommend that you inspect and lubricate your Fulfab T-Hangars and bi-fold doors at regular six month intervals. Reproduced above is our maintenance checklist with procedures that should be performed on each bifold door.

Each procedure referenced on the checklist is described and pictured in our “Bifold Door Maintenance Manual.” We can provide copies of these manuals to you free of charge.

Any worn or damaged parts should be reported and replacement parts secured before the doors are used further. Fulfab maintains a complete stock of replacement parts.