Aircraft mechanics were exposed to asbestos through the wheel brakes, engine gaskets, and heat insulation they serviced on both military and commercial aircraft.
How Aircraft Mechanics Were Exposed
Servicing aircraft wheel-brake assemblies — the same friction work as automotive brakes but under heavier loads — released asbestos brake dust when mechanics blew out, removed, and replaced worn linings. Engine and exhaust work meant scraping and replacing asbestos gaskets on hot sections and manifolds, and firewall and engine-bay work exposed mechanics to asbestos-fabric heat insulation and blankets. Enclosed hangars concentrated the dust.
The Asbestos Materials — and the Products They Came In
Exposure tracked to a handful of material types. Each links to products documented in the AsbestosIndex as allegedly asbestos-containing:
Aircraft wheel brakes & friction — blown out, removed, and replaced:
- Bendix Aviation aircraft wheel-brake assemblies · Bendix Aviation military aircraft brake linings · BF Goodrich Aerospace aircraft brake linings · Goodyear Aerospace aircraft brake linings · Dunlop aircraft-brake linings
Engine, turbine & exhaust gaskets — scraped off and replaced during overhaul:
- Wright Aeronautical / Curtiss-Wright radial-engine cylinder-head gaskets · Pratt & Whitney JT8D turbofan exhaust gaskets · GE CF6 turbofan combustor gaskets · Rolls-Royce aircraft-engine turbine-casing gaskets
Firewall & engine-bay insulation — cut, fitted, and disturbed:
- Piper Aircraft asbestos-fabric cabin firewall insulation · Pratt & Whitney aircraft-engine exhaust asbestos wrap
Take-Home Risk to Families
Like other dusty trades, aircraft mechanics carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, skin, and tools — exposing spouses and children who never worked with asbestos. See take-home asbestos exposure.
Browse the full Brake Friction and Gaskets & Packing categories for more.
If you worked as an aircraft mechanic and were diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease after exposure to asbestos on the job, you may have a legal claim.
Product references reflect allegations documented in publicly filed asbestos litigation. This information is published by an independent media organization — not a law firm — and is educational only. It does not constitute legal advice or provide legal services.