At QO, while aircraft fly by night, Engineering team works by day. Led by Pratibha Sengupta in Bangalore, the 20-member team ensures aircraft are maintained to peak airworthiness before the next departure window. Each morning begins with logbook reviews, snag assessments, and pre-assigned maintenance tasks.
In one notable instance, a morning defect reported on arrival in Bangalore led to an Aircraft on Ground (AOG) situation. The Maintenance Control Centre (MCC) in Bangalore immediately coordinated the arrival of a B2 AME from Hyderabad and arranged test equipment. With efficient communication and teamwork, the aircraft was serviceable by 2 PM—well before the crew’s duty time limit.
In Hyderabad, lone Station Engineer Anwar Ahamed conducts line checks during daylight. His tasks—fluid checks, minor repairs, system testing—must be completed before 5 PM. Any delay is flagged to MCC and CAMO in Bangalore to explore alternate aircraft or repair support.
Inventory management is equally critical. If a part is unavailable on-site, MCC arranges dispatch from Bangalore or coordinates with MRO partners or other airlines. The focus is always on readiness, safety, and minimizing downtime.
As Continuous Airworthiness Manager, Venkatesh Rao notes, “Everything happens during the day. That’s our opportunity to ensure each aircraft is in top form before the next mission.”
