For many months now planes have been grounded and collecting dust at a desert graveyard in the Northern Territory – but as vaccinations accelerate towards reopening targets – planes are revving the engines.
It comes as one of the worst affected industries throughout the COVID-19 pandemic has been the travel sector.
Head of Line Maintenance for Qantas John Walker discussed with Sky News Australia how engineers are prepping the jets for take-off.
Mr Walker said the airlines kept the airplanes during the current lockdown in a sort of "part-time" regime.
He said as an example a 737 for "one day a week would go for a flight and it was enough to keep it alive".
One of the challenges faced working in the desert was dealing with various insect and reptilian life making a home within the planes.
Mr Walker said he had encountered rattlesnakes nestling in the wheels of the Qantas 380s as well as insects in the control systems.
"So we cover them all up and if need be we give the whole system a flush so it's nice and ready for return to service."
0 Comments