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A Wing with a “Leg to Stand on”
W
hile serious pilots may bristle at the expression “winging it,” MAF’s John Miller took the expression literally when searching for innovative solutions to perform maintenance on landing gear. “It’s one of those ideas that came in the break room over a cup of coffee,” Miller explained. “About five years ago, our maintenance guys were asking us to come up with a better way to do things.” The invention that emerged? The wing stand.
THREE WAYS Through PAYROLL DEDUCTIONS Many employers offer a workplace giving program that encourages contributions to charities through payroll deductions. Simply designate MAF as your charity of choice when you contribute through your workplace campaign, United Way of America campaign, Combined Federal Campaign (designate #10989), or state/local campaign.
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Through GIFT-MATCHING PROGRAMS
Your place of employment may be one of hundreds that generously match their employees’ contributions to MAF check with your employer, or visit www.maf.org/ workplace_giving and search the online company database to determine if your company has an established matching program. It’s fast and easy.
As a WORKPLACE CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEER
Photo of wing stand.
“When you work on the landing gear or the belly pod beneath a Cessna Caravan, you need to be able to levitate the plane once you pull the wheels off,” Miller said. “The wing stands gives you that ability.” Once maintenance workers jack up the plane, they lower the wings onto the wing stand. It gives the mechanics more room to operate and remove the landing gear or perform other maintenance duties. After the plane is jacked up a few feet, a giant ERECTOR set-looking device is placed beneath each wing as the plane is lowered down on top of them. They keep the plane suspended off the ground while work commences.
You can introduce your coworkers to the ministry of MAF by representing MAF during your company’s annual workplace giving campaign. Most campaigns are closed to MAF unless an employee of the company invites MAF to participate or represents MAF at the event. If you are willing to help open the door for MAF to be represented at your company, MAF will provide the necessary materials to help you introduce others to MAF. For more information contact MAF at 1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623) ext. 1765, or CFC@maf.org.
When word began spreading among MAF mechanics and pilots about the wing stand devices, every program wanted one. The latest set Miller created is heading to Mongolia, after completion of a six-month engineering analysis report required by the country’s civil aviation organization. As originally created, the stands can hold up to three times the weight necessary to support a Caravan. “You can’t buy wing stands,” Miller said. “They are something we created specifically for MAF. But they sure do make things easier for mechanics. And as you can imagine, they’re quite popular.” Fall 2012 | www.maf.org
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