Inflight I INTERVIEW
had to be replaced in Jakarta due to the ingestion of volcanic ash inside the engines. The team worked for more than 18 days, over 12 hours a day, to complete the dual engine replacement. It was a tiring and stressful experience, but it also strengthened the team.
raft Jetstar airc ence engineer Terfamily Tay and his
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What advice would you give to anyone who is keen to become a Licensed Aircraft Engineer (LAE)?
A day in the life Ever wondered what it would be like to work as a licensed Jetstar aircraft engineer? We meet Terence Tay and talk troubleshooting
What’s a typical work day? We work two rotating shifts of 12 hours, the morning shift from 9am to 9pm and night shift 9pm to 9am. Our work scope includes daily and weekly inspections, scheduled maintenance, pre-flight checks and defect rectification for our fleet of 18 Airbus A320s. Troubleshooting is a challenging part of the job – we are consistently rushing against time to rectify defects and ensure the airworthiness of our aircraft. It’s important for the engineer to work hand in hand with the flight crew; it gives us a
better understanding of the defects and how they occur. We also provide support to aircraft that break down outside of Singapore (this is known as aircraft recovery) so last-minute travel is also part and parcel of my job. We always aim to minimise the time spent defect-solving, yet also ensuring the airworthiness of the aircraft so that our flights can always depart on time – and this is done with a group of technicians. Our only priority is the safety of the passengers, crew and the aircraft.
What are the highlights of your job? There is a great satisfaction whenever I’m able to restore the airworthiness of an aircraft that requires servicing overseas. Sometimes the recovery will take weeks but when the aircraft safely returns, the effort is worth it. It also brings me great joy knowing that Jetstar aircraft are flying passengers to their holiday.
What are some of the most memorable moments of your career? It was my first aircraft recovery. Two engines
Being an LAE isn’t an easy path; we need to pass all the CAAS papers as well as an aircraft course which takes around two to three years, plus plenty of on-the-job experience. This is before we’re even able to sit for an interview where senior engineers will test us for knowledge. Maintaining a positive demeanour and a consistent 'can do' attitude will help you achieve the goal.
What’s your favourite destination to fly to and why? Taiwan. My wife loves the great food and shopping there! There are also so many night markets to explore.
What’s your favourite airport on the network and why? Singapore’s Changi Airport – it’s always nice to be home.