To Request a Quotation

SmartStem Tire Pressure Sensors are approved for installation on a number of large commercial and regional aircraft. To find out more about SmartStem retrofit applications for your fleet or to request a quote please contact:

Tim King
Tim.King@craneae.com
+1 425 743 8392

Eric Haas
Eric.Haas@craneae.com
+1 425 743 8293

SmartStem Retrofit Commercial Transport Certifications

Complete List of Certifications:

View a complete list of certifications.

Commercial Transport Certification Basis

Crane Service Letter for 737NG and 747-400

Want more information?

Contact us to request more information about our SmartStem retrofit products for your fleet.

See What Customers Are Saying About SmartStem!

“If you saved the airplane from having a low tire and damaging it the payback was instant… In our opinion SmartStem paid back instantly; it’s a safer operation for us, it’s an easier operation.”

“I think it’s tremendous — from somebody who wasn’t very much sold on the idea to a situation where I don’t know what we would do without it. I mean it is just that much of a change for me and our operation.”   

    - Wayne Smith, Maintenance Manager, CommScope, Hickory, NC

"We've had SmartStem installed in our Lear60 since November 2010. We've incorporated tire pressure as a task we do as we pre-flight the airplane. We've gone as long as two months without adding air to the tire, so that in itself saves about $100 every time. I think one of the major benefits is the increased safety that you get by the flight crew knowing what the condition of their tires is."  

    - Keith Lorch, Aviation Manager, Chief Pilot Red River Resources, Phoenix, AZ

“Prior to going to a continuous checking process, we were seeing our tires wear out at around 150 to 175 cycles. We’ve now had main gear tires that have gone 293 cycles, operating in and out of a 3,500 foot runway." 

    - Jad Donaldson, Chief Pilot Avfuel Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI     

“The single most important thing to prevent over-deflection and tire-related events is: Proper Tire Inflation. There are devices out there that that you can use to make it easier. For example, Crane Aerospace & Electronics has SmartStem, which is a pressure sensing valve stem with a wand for checking, makes it a lot easier.”  

   - Keat Pruszenski, Engineer Retired from Michelin Aircraft Tires

“The technology provides numerous benefits including reduced maintenance costs, improved convenience, and automatic tracking of tire pressure checks – adding an extra measure of safety and extending tire life. It is also designed to be easily retrofitted on existing aircraft since it is compatible with all standard tire maintenance equipment.”

   - Dassault Falcon Jet Corp.     

"All the negative aspects of using a tire gauge have been removed - things like the loss of nitrogen when we check tire pressures, debris entering the stem when you check it, or unseating the valve stem and having it not seat properly and losing tire pressure that way.”

   - Kevin Hanlon, Pilot Red River Resources, Phoenix, AZ

Contact Information/Reference SmartStem Customers

Jad Donaldson, Chief Pilot Avfuel Corporation  jdonaldson@avfuel.com

Cliff Jenkins, Director of Aviation Milliken & Company  cliff.jenkins@milliken.com

Keith Lorch, Aviation Manager, Chief Pilot Red River Resources  keithlorch@cox.net

Kevin Hanlon, Learjet 60 Pilot Red River Resources  kevinhanlon@cox.net

Want more information?

To find out more about SmartStem retrofit applications for your fleet or to request a quote please contact:

Tim King
Tim.King@craneae.com
+1 425 743 8392

Eric Haas
Eric.Haas@craneae.com
+1 425 743 8293

Frequently Asked Questions

• On which aircraft can SmartStem TPS be installed?
  A complete list of aircraft on which SmartStem TPS are certified can be found on the Certifications tab.

• What is the basis of certification?
  Details of the certification basis by aircraft model is found in the table on the Certification tab. On some aircraft SmartStem is certified through a TC modification executed by the aircraft OEM; on other aircraft SmartStem is certified through an STC.

• Does one need to replace the tires or have the wheel non-destructive tested prior to installation of SmartStem TPS?
  No – there is no requirement to replace tires or NDT the wheels prior to installing SmartStem TPS. Please refer to your wheel CMM to determine the requirements for wheel rebalancing and whether or not it is required following installation of SmartStem TPS.

• How long does it typically take to install SmartStem TPS? 
  On the line or in a hanger, it takes approximately two hours, including nose wheel rebalancing. The aircraft will need to be jacked up, tires deflated, valve stem removed, SmartStem TPS installed, and tires re-inflated. SmartStem TPS can also be installed in the wheel shop by replacing the standard fill valve during tire servicing.

• Do SmartStem TPS contain a battery for communicating with the HHR?
  No – SmartStem TPS are passive devices that do not contain a battery. When installed as part of a retrofit, they are interrogated by the handheld reader which couples a signal to the TPS similar to RFID technology. SmartStem TPS are not transmitters.

• Does one have to remove the valve cap on the SmartStem TPS to check tire pressure?
  No – when using the Hand Held Reader, the valve cap on the SmartStem TPS does not need to be removed. However, since the SmartStem TPS has an integral fill valve, a traditional mechanical tire pressure gauge can be used if the handheld reader is unavailable.

• Are SmartStem TPS compatible with standard tire inflation equipment?
  Yes – simply remove the valve cap on the SmartStem TPS and attach standard fill equipment when required for tire servicing. 

• How accurate is SmartStem technology?
  SmartStem TPS are accurate to within +/- 2.5 PSI between -20 to +125C.

• Is any periodic calibration required?
  No - neither SmartStem TPS nor the handheld reader ever needs to be calibrated. The Hand Held Reader does have a sensor for measuring atmospheric pressure which can be checked – but this is not required. 

• Will the Hand Held Reader work on more than one aircraft?
  Yes. The Hand Held Reader will read and store data from any aircraft with SmartStem TPS installed.  The data records can also include the tail number and wheel position so the tire pressure data can be easily analyzed.

• How does one download tire pressure data records from the Hand Held reader?
  Up to 10,000 unique data records containing tire pressure, temperature, date and time – as well as tail number and wheel position, if programmed – can be easily downloaded from the handheld reader via wireless means or via USB. 

• Can spare SmartStem TPS or the Hand Held Reader be purchased separately?
    Spare parts can be ordered directly from Crane.

• Warranty:
  SmartStem TPS have a 3 year warranty from Crane ship date; the Hand Held reader has a 1 year warranty from Crane ship date.

• How many aircraft are currently outfitted with SmartStem TPS?
  More than 1000 aircraft are fitted with SmartStem systems worldwide & over 20,000 SmartStem TPS are in the field today.

Want more information?

Contact us to request additional information about our SmartStem retrofit products for your fleet.

Registering Your SmartStem

To register SmartStem for installation on A320, De Havilland Dash 8 or Embraer 190, and to receive access to all needed documentation, please register your products using the link below.

SmartStem Product Registration

Registering your SmartStem system will enable you to download a copy of the STC, LOA and other necessary paperwork to permit installation of SmartStem TPS on your aircraft.  Please note that only the documents within the CCL labeled as “Descriptive Data” are required and are available for download.

Want more information?

Contact us to request additional information about our SmartStem retrofit products for commercial aviation.