Local technicians perform heavy maintenance aircraft check
In keeping with its in-house Zambian approach to operations, Proflight Zambia engineers have successfully completed long-term maintenance programme on one of its Jetstream 41 aircraft.
The airline’s in-house team of engineers performed the scheduled C-check on the high-tech aircraft at its maintenance facility in Lusaka as part of a routine safety and preventive maintenance procedure to keep the aircraft in a perpetual airworthy condition.
“This is a large and critical check, and we are very proud of our local maintenance team for this,” said Oliver Ndhlovu Director Maintenance. “Proflight gained AMO approval to carry out C Checks on the Jetstream J4100 in 2014, this was a major milestone in the development of the Proflight maintenance wing and since that time we have completed 9 C Checks on our J4100 fleet. Aircraft maintenance is a continuous process, and we have another 2 ‘’C Checks’’ planned during 2022.”
Proflight Zambia also had eight students from Zambia Air Services Training Institute (ZASTI) who were on attachments to assist and observe during the maintenance check to give them valuable practical experience.
The C-check on a Jetstream 41 aircraft is carried out every two years or 3000 flight hours, whichever occurs first. Other checks that come in 300-hour intervals would also be included as part of the major check.
“The aircraft’s maintenance schedule is set by the manufacturer and every operator in the world has to follow the manufacturer’s schedule, in this case British Aerospace,” said Proflight Director Flight Operations Capt. Josias Walubita.
“Aviation is truly an International Industry, and we are proud to be part of this great industry. The tasks our team perform are exactly the same as you would find if you visited a maintenance facility doing a check on a Jetstream in the UK, America or Australia,” added Capt. Walubita.
A maintenance check of this magnitude requires months of careful planning that involves all Proflight disciplines from commercial, finance, flight operations and engineering.
The airline said that safety and comfort of its passengers was its top priority, adding that it was important for local engineers to be entrusted with carrying out critical operations like the C-check as this would help create a wider range of opportunities for Zambians in the growing aviation industry.
