Many job descriptions sound pretty self-explanatory. Aircraft Mechanics. Flight Line Personnel. Aircraft Cargo Loaders. Parts Room Clerks. Flight Followers. Pilots. Secretaries. Grounds Maintainers.
But what usually happens in aviation is that people do many things outside their allocated job description. For many of us there is a wild card category called "Jack-of-all-trades." Such is the case here in Alaska.
Here are just a few things I did in my first week of volunteering at the Missionary Aviation Repair Center:
1. Facility Familiarization
2. Assist with yearly inspection, servicing, and repair of local bush aircraft
3. Load missionary aircraft with construction supplies headed to remote places
4. Prepare aircraft for departure
5. Clean windshields and condition de-ice boots for possible flight in bad weather
5. Fuel aircraft
6. Transfer fuel from ground tank to mobile fuel truck (2000 gallon truck, takes hours to fill)
7. Troubleshoot transient aircraft electrical problems
8. Cleaning up the hangars and machine shop when not doing the above
9. Run errands to another local airport
10. Aircraft Maintenance Paperwork
11. Unload inbound aircraft from the bush
12. And the list goes on and on...
Each morning to start the day people gather in the office for a short devotion and prayer time. It is a nice way to remind us why we are here working and keep things in perspective.
Everyone works together to get the job done, not matter what one's specialty skill set may be. The trick is to be flexible and willing. Besides, being a "Jack-of-all-trades" keeps things interesting vs. being stuck doing just one task. To be honest I prefer it.
The pilots often have long days. Although the King Airs they fly are pretty fast, it is not uncommon for them to be gone overnight. They sometimes zig-zag across the region hauling people and supplies before returning to base. Earlier this week one of the planes had a flight to Eastern Russia and back.
Today we celebrate our Independence. MARC was closed for the day so everyone could enjoy a three day weekend. For a day trip I drove out to the Kenai Mountains and hiked up the Skyline Trail. It tops out on a ridgeline traverse about 3000 feet above the valley below. Treeline around here is around 2000 feet so I very much enjoyed the alpine tundra scenery. There are some pictures of it on the 2014 photos page.
We have been busy up here to the point I forget to take more pictures. Stay tuned and I should have more coverage coming of the work being done with Missionary Aviation here in Alaska.
