Latchways Wingrip provides a safe and flexible system for use in the maintenance and manufacturing of aircraft. For use on the fuselage, tail plane and wings, the Wingrip system is quick to deploy, simple to use and is suitable for work inside the hanger and outside on the apron. WinGrip is rated for fall arrest in wet and dry conditions and has been tested by a third party UK Government appointed company to the rigorous European standard EN795 and is CE marked. The Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and USA safety and fall arrest standards are also satisfied by the Wingrip system.

The Wingrip system can be used as a single point anchor or  as a multi-user system by using a number of vacuum pads with a single or pair of cables spanning between them. The system is powered by compressed air or nitrogen, without the need for batteris, electrical cables or large equipment. Being completely non -electircal and with no metal on metal moving contact, the system is inherently safe with fuel tanks open.

The users attach themselves to the cables using an adjustable work positioning rope. The unique Latchways Shuttle, allows the users to access the complete wing without the need to disengage from the cable. This is because the Shuttle simply glides over the intermediate brackets fitted to the Wingrip vacuum anchors. The flexible stainless steel cables can be supplied with or without a coating to eliminate any metal on metal contact.

Wingrip Testing Programme

The latest series of tests to be carried out by Latchways on the Wingrip product entailed a total of over forty separate tests identifying their performance using a variety of load weights and free fall distances in both wet and dry conditions.

They displayed that despite using excessive testing outside of recommendations, the Wingrip system arrested the fall in every instance, highlighting the competence of the system and its ability to meet and exceed international, national and local standards.

This video shows one of the additional tests being carried out.  In this instance a load of 2 x 282 lbs was applied to the system with a fall distance of 14.4 ft. All calculations being in imperial for the American market.

For a full description of the testing carried out refer to Latchways’ Wingrip Testing Report.

For more information on Wingrip please contact Latchways.

Wingrip at a glance

• Is Lightweight, portable, easy to install and simple to use.
• Independently tested and rated for fall arrest as well as fall restraint.
• Inherently safe - even with fuel tanks open. Operated by either compressed air or nitrogen is totally non-electrical and therefore intrinsically safe allowing complete freedom of use in all environments.
• Single vacuum anchor can be used for one person carrying out localised maintenance or inspection.
• Fitted with a series of vacuum pads along the length of the wing can be used by up to four people at one time. This allows inspection, servicing and maintenance of a full wingspan without the need to reposition individual Wingrip pads when an operator reaches the lanyard limit.
• Is fitted with a comprehensive monitoring system in the event of a problem with the air/nitrogen supply or the vacuum level an alarm will sound. If this happens the vacuum pads maintain a safe working vacuum for a minimum of 20 minutes.
• WinGrip has been incorporated in the Airbus maintenance manuals for all aircraft types as the recommended solution for working at height on Airbus aircraft.
• Suitable for all aircraft and currently used on Boeing, ATR, Lockheed Martin, Airbus, Fokker, Gulfstream, Cessna, SAAB, and many more.
• Used by major airlines, manufacturers and military organisations worldwide.