The previous week our PNG airframe licenses had arrived after a three month wait. It had taken a long time for them to be processed and a lot of chasing too. That Thursday afternoon I finally received news that the lock bag had been sent from Port Moresby and will be on the afternoon jet. I went down to the Air Niugini cargo to pick up the lock bag. Friday morning at morning lotu (devotions) a presentation was made and the licenses were presented to Laz, Auda, Daniel, Maipson and myself, plus Mat T received two new ratings. Somehow by God’s timing Mike Jelliffe arrived in Hagen on the same flight the previous afternoon, up from Australia. He was the program manager during 2005, along with the PNG board who helped kick start national Engineer training again. So it was special that he could not only be there but also present the licenses to the new LAME’s too (Mike played a big part in my short term trip to PNG in 2005).
1. Receiving airframe licenses from Mike Jelliffe (member of the PNG board)
It has been a big victory for the guys and me to finally get our first license or licenses. For all of us it has been bit of a journey and a lot of work. Back in 2000 and 2001 when waiting on the Air Force, I never thought of getting licensed, as the military system is different to the civilian. But when I started my apprenticeship in 2002 with Qantas that was the goal, to get licensed. So after four years of shift work at Mascot, I moved to Richmond where I worked on military C130′s, after that bible college/getting ready to come to PNG and now almost two years in PNG. Serving here in PNG with MAF is the first opportunity I have had to get licensed following completing my apprenticeship. By that getting the required hours of experience on aircraft type to get licensed and finish off exams required too (For MAF aircraft, Group 1 & 5 airframe). I know that it has been all in God’s timing. Now the next goal is to get engine licenses. I don’t know how to explain the system easily, your apprenticeship is like getting your degree and getting your license is like getting your masters.
2. New LAME’s with Mike (Laz, me, Maipson, Daniel, Auda & Mike)
It is really encouraging to see the National guys to get their first license, as it has been many years since the last. Also to see the team of Engineers and staff in Engineering that God has placed together. Having five more licensed Engineer’s will make a big difference on the hangar floor. But it is always said that once you get your license, your real learning begins, we still have plenty to learn (you never stop learning in aviation). The difference between an AME (Aircraft Maintenance Engineer) and a LAME (Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer), is that the LAME certifies the AME’s work or his own work (where the AME signs for, but does not certify), supervises and release’s an aircraft back to service.
3. Little department bung before lunch to celebrate – cake and coke
Please pray that with the new responsibilities of being licensed that we would continue to grow as Engineers. I had set the goal to obtain my airframe license’s by the end of my first term. With my furlough coming two months earlier than expected, it is great to achieve it after almost eight years since starting my apprenticeship.
