Photo courtesy of ExxonMobile As the worldwide supply chain challenges impact raw materials such as rubber and silicone, dozens of aviation products are affected. These days owners are usually aware of common hard-to-find items that can ground the airplane, like tires and batteries. But technicians are concerned about many more, including grease.
Twin Commander braking systems were certified for use with a MIL-spec grease. In recent years that has drawn most technicians to Aeroshell 22, which meets MIL-G-81322 called out in the maintenance manual. Now that Aeroshell 22 is basically unavailable, it’s clear that an alternative is needed.
The engineers and buyers at Twin Commander Aircraft confirmed with the brake manufacturers that while Mobil SHC 100 doesn’t specifically adhere to the applicable MIL-spec, it does meet newer ASTM standards and is approved as a suitable replacement.
It’s critical to note, however, that these products are not interchangeable. Because each brand has a different chemical composition and they use different base materials, mixing the greases can result in component damage. So before switching to Mobil SHC 100, the system must be disassembled and completely cleaned of the Aeroshell 22 before being reassembled.
Twin Commander Aircraft continues to investigate and address owner/operator issues with regards to the supply chain. With original source documentation and direct relationships with the component manufacturers, the staff is usually able to resolve potential shortages quickly.
