Open up almost any access panel on an aircraft, and you'll find tubing. Wire bundles run through it, splices are sealed under it, and air and fluid move through it from one system to the next. Most of it is installed once and left in place for years in the nacelles, avionics bays, and under the cabin floor.
Jaco Aerospace is an authorized distributor of aviation tubing. We supply extruded, heat shrink, and spirally cut tubing, as well as the cutting and heating equipment shops use to work tubing for aircraft manufacturing, MRO, modification, and refurbishment.
How Do You Choose the Right Aircraft Tubing?
Four things generally determine the choice:
- Diameter
- Recovery Ratio
- Temperature Rating
- Material
If all four are appropriate for the application, the tubing will protect the wiring and systems for a long time. If one of those is off, then the tubing can crack, slip, or soften well before it should.
What Is Extruded Tubing Used For on Aircraft?
Extruded tubing has a seamless, continuous wall with consistent dimensions, making it well suited for pneumatic, fuel, hydraulic, and instrument lines. It can also serve as a protective sleeve for wiring, cables, and small components (to protect against chafing and contamination).
Fluoropolymers (PTFE, FEP) handle the toughest jobs because they can take the heat and resist almost every chemical you'll find on an aircraft. Nylon, polyurethane, and vinyl are all tough and flexible for general use. Silicone stays flexible over a very wide temperature range. Fluids, temperature, pressure, and flex determine which one you choose.
- PTFE
- FEP
- Nylon
- Polyurethane
- Vinyl
- Silicone
How Does Aircraft Heat Shrink Tubing Work?
Heat shrink may be the single most-used type of tubing in aircraft wiring. It comes in an expanded state and, when heated, shrinks tightly over a wire, splice, or connector. The result is a tight-fitting layer that insulates the joint and provides support against vibration and strain.
Single-Wall
Single-wall heat shrink provides insulation, color coding, strain relief, and abrasion protection.
Dual-Wall
Dual-wall heat shrink has an inner adhesive liner that melts and flows as the tube shrinks, forming a moisture seal.
High-temperature versions are available for use in engine areas and other hot spots, and fluid-resistant versions are available for use around fuel, hydraulic fluid, and lubricants.
Recovery ratio tells you how much a tube will shrink. 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 are fairly common ratios; the higher the ratio, the more a connector can slide over one tube while still shrinking tight on the wire behind it. We offer a wide range of diameters and colors, including clear tubing, so you can see the joint.
Printed heat shrink sleeves can serve as wire and cable markers (they carry the circuit numbers and connector references specified in the maintenance manual). As they shrink tight to the wire, they don't slip off, and the printing remains legible for years.
When Should You Use Spirally Cut Tubing?
For retrofit and repair work, breaking down a harness is time-consuming and risky. Spirally cut tubing overcomes that. It's cut in a continuous spiral down the length of the tube, so you can wind it around an existing harness, hose, or cable bundle without disconnecting a single wire or pulling a single pin.
Wires can break out of the bundle at any point along the wrap, which is especially useful in avionics bays, cockpits, and cabins where wiring will change as the aircraft ages. The spirally cut tubing also protects against abrasion and keeps bundles neat, so the next technician can easily trace the circuit without wrestling with a mess of tangled wires.
Where Is Tubing Used on an Aircraft?
Engine and Nacelle
High-temp tubing on lines running close to hot components.
Cockpit and Avionics Bays
Heat shrink and spirally cut tubing keep the wiring insulated and tidy.
Landing Gear and Wheel Wells
Tubing that can withstand abrasion, water, and fluids.
Cabin Systems
Cabin systems, lighting, and in-flight entertainment wiring are all reliant on it.
Drones
Drone builders use lightweight tubing to protect the wiring and sensors on the airframes (where every gram counts).
Our customer base includes airlines, MROs, OEMs, drone manufacturers, military operators, government agencies, and private aircraft owners, and they all use the same core products.
Which Tubing Brands and Processing Equipment Does Jaco Supply?
Our tubing comes from leading manufacturers including TE Connectivity (Raychem), 3M, Zeus, and MM Newman, among others. Their part numbers appear on drawings and in maintenance programs across commercial, military, and general aviation, so you can order exactly what the drawing or manual calls for.
| Tyco |
Raychem |
3M |
| Zeus |
MM Newman |
and more... |
Harness shops that use a lot of tubing use cutting machines to produce clean, accurate lengths and heat shrink ovens that apply uniform, controlled heat to many parts at once. We supply that equipment to harness shops, avionics shops, and aircraft production lines along with the tubing that goes through it.
What Sizes and Certifications Are Available?
Diameters, wall thicknesses, and colors vary considerably. Some customers order a short length for a one-time repair; others buy bulk spools for production. We can often get the hard-to-find sizes and materials on very short notice. If you don't see what you need on our website, just send us the part number, and we'll quote it.
Every foot of tubing we ship is new (non-surplus) from authorized manufacturers. Each order includes:
- A Certificate of Conformance
- The manufacturer's certifications
- Full traceability
Your receiving team has the paperwork it needs the moment the box arrives and doesn't sit at inspection waiting for the correct documentation.
Order Aircraft Tubing From Jaco Aerospace
Jaco Aerospace has supplied aerospace components and materials to the global market since 1971. We handle AOG requests as soon as they arrive and can arrange expedited shipping anywhere in the world. You can find the tubing you need for your application on our website, or send us the part number, size, and quantity for pricing and lead time.