Location Numbering Systems - Aircraft Structures - Aircraft Systems

Figure 4.
Wing stations are often referenced off the butt line, which bisects the center of the fuselage longitudinally. Horizontal
stabilizer stations referenced to the butt line and engine nacelle stations are also shown
Another method is used to facilitate the location of aircraft components on air transport aircraft. This
involves dividing the aircraft into zones. These large areas or major zones are further divided into
sequentially numbered zones and subzones. The digits of the zone number are reserved and indexed
to indicate the location and type of system of which the component is a part. Figure 5 illustrates these
zones and subzones on a transport category aircraft.
Figure 5. Large aircraft are divided into zones and subzones for identifying the location of various components
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Location Numbering Systems - Aircraft Structures
Even on small, light aircraft, a method of precisely locating each structural component is required.
Various numbering systems are used to facilitate the location of specific wing frames, fuselage
bulkheads, or any other structural members on an aircraft. Most manufacturers use some system of
station marking. For example, the nose of the aircraft may be designated “zero station,” and all other
stations are located at measured distances in inches behind the zero station. Thus, when a blueprint
reads “fuselage frame station 137,” that particular frame station can be located 137 inches behind the
nose of the aircraft.
To locate structures to the right or left of the center line of an aircraft, a similar method is employed.
Many manufacturers consider the center line of the aircraft to be a zero station from which
measurements can be taken to the right or left to locate an airframe member. This is often used on the
horizontal stabilizer and wings.
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The applicable manufacturer’s numbering system and abbreviated designations or symbols should The material to be welded, the
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The following list includes location designations typical of those used by many manufacturers. Read more
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Figure 1. The various body stations relative to a single point of origin illustrated in inches or some other measurement (if of
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Buttock line or butt line (BL) is a vertical reference plane down the center of the aircraft from 5
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Figure 2. Butt line diagram of a horizontal stabilizer
Water line (WL) is the measurement of height in inches perpendicular from a horizontal
plane usually located at the ground, cabin floor, or some other easily referenced location.
[Figure 3]
Figure 3. Water line diagram
Aileron station (AS) is measured outboard from, and parallel to, the inboard edge of the
aileron, perpendicular to the rear beam of the wing.
Flap station (KS) is measured perpendicular to the rear beam of the wing and parallel to,
and outboard from, the inboard edge of the flap.
Nacelle station (NC or Nac. Sta.) is measured either forward of or behind the front spar of
the wing and perpendicular to a designated water line.
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In addition to the location stations listed above, other measurements are used, especially on large
aircraft. Thus, there may be horizontal stabilizer stations (HSS), vertical stabilizer stations (VSS) or
powerplant stations (PPS). [Figure 4] In every case, the manufacturer’s terminology and station
location system should be consulted before locating a point on a particular aircraft.

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Figure 3. Water line diagram

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