Tuesday, April 10, 2012

DC-3 maintenance

 Wow, things have been busy here in the AIM Air hangar!  I apologize for the lack of blogging over the past couple months.  We have really stayed pretty busy and I just haven't had the chances to take the pictures and document like I have in the past.  However, during a few of the projects, I have been able to get some pictures.  I will try to do better in the future.  Meanwhile, here's a few pictures from the DC-3.  We did just do a Phase inspection on it this past week, but I don't really have any good pictures from that.  Like I said...we were busy!  

 We took off the old props on the DC-3 and installed a new pair.  I don't have any finished pictures, but here is Paul, Caleb, and Joe (L to R) getting one of the new props ready to install.  Well, I think Joe is just goofing off!

 Here's the 3 in the doorway without any props.  You can see by the date how long it's been since I posted anything on here.  

 I caught Joe under the instrument panel in the DC-3 one day trying to get an instrument out.  

I'm not quite sure how that's easier than getting it through the nose cone.  Oh, well. 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Propeller balancing

 Some of the guys here at AIM Air have recently been trained on the MicroVib propeller balancing tool.  So that means that with every new inspection comes a chance to balance propellers.  We have done one Caravan already.  This set of pictures is from just yesterday, when we went out and balanced the propeller on 5Y-XPA.  I went along as the driver, while Jim and Paul did the actual balance job.  It went pretty smoothly (pun intended) and we were done in just a couple hours.  

 Jim and Paul getting set up for the first installation of balance weights. 
 Paul watching the airplanes land in the background.  Notice the routing of the prop balance wiring out the bottom right engine cowling and through the top of the co-pilot door. 
 Calculating. 
 And more calculating.  I started to get a little bored.  So I took pictures of lots of other things. 
 Like this Kenya police helicopter, practicing their hovering.  This is an AS350. 
 This helicopter is relatively new to the field.  I think it's an EC-145. 
 There's the AIM Air Cessna 210, 5Y-BLG, ready for takeoff, with the cityscape in the background. 
  I caught it on takeoff, just when they were putting the gear up.  It looks funny dangling down like that. 
 This picture cracks me up.  This giant billboard out on Langata Road makes it look like this woman is peaking over the trees at me.  Weird perspective. 
 I also caught the MAF PC-12 taking off. 
 I got so bored at one point, I took a picture of the grass. 
 This is a pretty cool looking Cessna 206.  There's always something painted interesting around Kenya. 
 AirKenya operates a couple of these Dehavilland DHC-7s.  Really cool airplane. 
 And of course...one of Air Kenya's Twin Otters. 
I thought this was a neat picture.  You can see all the way to the AIM Air hangar and see the DC-3 sitting outside.  And if you look closely through the haze, you can see one of the line maintenance guys up on the engine nacelle cleaning it. 

Friday, October 7, 2011

Q400 assembly

I saw this video online and thought it was pretty cool...for all those maintenance specialists out there.


Tuesday, October 4, 2011

AMREF Flying Doctors

An interesting video showcasing the Flying Doctors, based at Wilson Airport in Nairobi.