3 Reasons Why Your Aircraft Hangar Will Benefit From a MEGADOOR

“People like our doors.” This much is true. There is no other hangar door manufacturer which receives quite as much positive feedback from people on the ground as MEGADOOR. So what's their secret? Airport International spoke with Ulf Petersson, proud Managing Director of the company, to discuss what makes a MEGADOOR so special and why they are the choice of airport engineers, managers and the US aerospace industry.

1. Stronger than Steel

You could be forgiven for thinking that steel would outdo fabric door designs in terms durability, but Ulf is confident that this is not the case.“I would argue that our specialist fabric is more resilient than traditional steel doors. We have installed MEGADOORs all along the gulf coast, where they have stood up to wind loads in excess of 160mph – that's hurricane force!” This is an impressive feat, which is recognised by aerospace manufacturer Boeing, who currently store both equipment and aircraft behind MEGADOORs.

Built from a combination of high strength fabric and aluminium, the aerospace hangar doors benefit from both strength and flexibility, delivering a solution that is far more lightweight and resistant to corrosion than steel alternatives. “The hangar doors are carefully designed according to their environment.” Says Ulf. “For example, a door that we install in a coastal area will use a higher strength aluminium to counter increased wind loads and corrosion.” There's more to these hangar doors than meets the eye, in some situations the doors have actually “gone beyond their design capability” standing up to pressures that would have caused lesser structures to cave in.

2. Space Saving and Suitable for Retrofit

A hanger door retrofit can be a costly, disruptive and time consuming task. The MEGADOOR solution takes the sting out of this process by offering simplified installation, which does not require any specialist foundations or additional door tracks. “Our solution can increase both the width of the hangar opening and its footprint without disturbing the airport ramp.”

Opening vertically and being fashioned from flexible fabric, a MEGADOOR folds upwards into “condensed and gathered” storage at the top of the hanger, saving space. Ulf outlines why this is a distinct advantage. “The issue with horizontally sliding doors is that they are usually stored at either side of the hangar entrance. This narrows the hangar's opening, which restricts the type of aircraft than can be stored.”

The work required to install a conventional sliding door could involve digging up the airport ramp, laying additional tracks or even extending the existing hangar. A MEGADOOR solution does not require any of above. The solution is flexible enough to fit into existing structures and as a result will provide a quicker turnaround than a track-based solution.

3. Safeguards The Well Being of Employees

Other hangar door manufacturers are keen to push their “unsurpassed craftsmanship” or “rugged design”, but fail to mention what this actually means for those on the ground. MEGADOOR designs take this into consideration, delivering solutions that provide better working conditions for employees and improved productivity.

Firstly, a MEGADOOR is fully height adjustable, so the lower half of the door can be opened for ventilation in warmer climates. “People using our doors in the Middle East have mentioned how they double up as a means of ventilation and a sun shade. The door does not need to be fully open, so shields those working in the hangar from harsh sunlight and maintains a comfortable working environment.” The translucent fabric of a MEGADOOR also allows soft natural light into the hangar, which is not only better for employees, but saves on electricity costs as well.

In colder climates, workers have noted how well their MEGADOOR excludes drafts due to the unique “seals” and multi-layer fabric design. Ulf is keen to highlight the good work the company has done in the freezing American state of Alaska. “We've replaced doors from the North Slope to the Aleutian  Islands and all over Alaska - its been one of our best markets. A major part of this success is due to doors working without tracks.” In freezing conditions this means that the door can be immediately opened without the need for track heating or manual defrosting.

With an ever growing distribution network and impressive reputation for providing aircraft access solutions, MEGADOOR have earned their place as the world's leading supplier of hanger doors. “People like our doors.” Says Ulf. “They like them for the light, the ventilation and ease of opening and closing. I've been selling MEGADOORS for 35 years and I'm extremely proud of what we've achieved.”