Since returning in July, maintenance at the hangar has been pretty busy. I arrived back on a Monday afternoon in July and started work on the Tuesday. That week was not too busy and allowed me to catch up on somethings that needed attention before returning to work on aircraft. We also saw the formation of three teams for working in the Hangar. One team for single engine aircraft and two teams for Twin Otter maintenance when needed. From these three teams would make up a team for the Cessna Caravan too. I am in a Twin Otter and Cessna Caravan team, but down as a utility Engineer. Come the next week we started a C check on MFU, one of our Twin Otters. But that Monday MFB came in for unscheduled maintenance with a NLG (Nose Landing Gear) problem. So two of us removed MFU’s NLG and rectified any problems with it and installed it onto MFB. It was intense, involved most of the day and was able to get the aircraft serviceable by 1730 just in time for last light to return to Goroka. It was also my first sign off release to service since becoming licensed. It was called my baptism of fire.
1. A few aircraft in for maintenance
The C check is always a big task on our Twin Otters. As an average for our three Twin Otters, for every one hour of flying, the aircraft is in for 3.75 hours of maintenance. So very maintenance intensive and MFU is our oldest Twin Otter being 43 years old. We had five aircraft in for maintenance during the first week. I ended up working on ex MFB NLG for most of the C check. Which was rather new for me, I had done some work on one before. The job started off as a mess and turned out to be a nightmare in the end. Some of us were working overtime every week of the check, except for the second week where we had exams to study for. I battled sickness during the check at times, but the thing that made me hit the wall and fatigued, was working just over sixty hours one week following several weeks of overtime. I would have to say that C check was the most stressful period I have experienced here at MAF. It was not only the pressure at work, but also all the things at home I was not getting done. So it was a big relief to see the C check completed. It was a good time of stretching to grow as an Engineer and I learnt alot during the check. I only got through by God’s strength and I am still recovering from those five weeks.
2. MFU after it’s return to service flight on completion of the C check
Last week we had a B check on MFB, another Twin Otter. It was nice to get on engines this time around. Being three months since doing the PT6 course, I had forgotten so much from the course. But refreshed myself a little since my last time on engines back in February. There continues to be maintenance in the hangar, but is a little easier going at the moment. I want to continue to grow in Engineering, especially as I now focus on Twin Otters and the Cessna Caravan. Please pray for the Engineering team here, for strength, wisdom, to grow and God’s provision of experienced Engineers.
