In addition to the ongoing training and accreditation of our pilots, we employ an Aviation Safety Officer (who is also an RFDS line pilot) to ensure that all incidents relating to safety are reviewed, documented and prevented from recurring.
Every 100 to 200 flying hours, each aircraft undergoes a thorough maintenance check and the engines are checked every 1,750 hours and overhauled at 6,000 hours.
Behind the scenes
The engineering team ensures that our aircraft are safe, well maintained and ready to fly 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Our engineering team is comprised of specialist engineers who service airframes, engines, electrics, instruments and radios. Apprentices train with our engineers in these individual areas.
Our storemen manage the purchasing, overhaul and compliance of over $2.9 million dollars worth of spare parts ensuring that our aircraft are not delayed while waiting for spare parts.
The
technical records team prepares and checks the paper work for every check carried out on RFDS aircraft. They manage maintenance and ensure that the Service bulletins and the Airworthiness Directives issued by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority are implemented in a timely fashion.
Our maintenance controller is the person who coordinates when and who will carry out one of the 110 routine checks we perform each year on our aircraft fleet. The controller also manages engine changes and propeller changes when required. And when the engine goes out for overhaul, our controller ensures there is a rental engine available for the aircraft so that it can keep on flying.
We also employ a quality assurance officer who ensures a continual review of our systems and our aircraft maintenance.