The equipment needed when tying down airplanes are those strong enough to be able to handle high tensile forces. According to the FAA, a tie down anchor is the best option when it comes to tying down an aircraft with only one engine. In the case of multiengine airplanes, the tie down anchors to be used should be able to handle 3,000 or 4,000 pounds. You may think that multiengine aircrafts is heavy enough to weather the windstorm but it will still suffer from unexpected damages.
There are many kinds of anchors to choose from to be used as tiedown. There is one design referred to as the doggie ring and is not recommended by the experts because of the equipment’s tendency to fail easily. The top portion of the triangle in the set up will straighten out as soon as heavy loads are applied and the anchor cannot be attached firmly to the ground thus it is easily removed. Another tiedown not included in the recommended list is the screw-type. The screw will not anchor to the ground properly because of the spiral style embedded on the screw that makes the ground looser. Cable anchors, on the other hand, are very good option when it comes to tiedowns because the lengths available are ideal.
The most recommended type when it comes to anchors is the multi-pin design. It has a number of stakes and it is anchored to the ground at various points and direction. If you prefer, you can also make your own tie-down anchors. You will need steel rods that an half an inch in diameter and the shortest length should be 18 inches. The stakes should be in the opposite direction of the aircraft and should be anchored properly into the ground with 30 degrees angle. The anchors should be placed away from the aircraft and not under the wings. The rope quality is also one determinant when it comes to the efficiency of a tiedown. The recommended ropes are those made of Dacron or a braided nylon that is UV-resistant. It is not advisable to use the manila ropes because it easily shrinks when exposed to liquid, mildew and rot. It is also not very durable.