Passenger fixes plane, avoids delay
 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8136193.stm

Holidaymakers escaped a long delay to their flight home when a passenger fixed a mechanical problem with their plane.

Passengers on Thomas Cook flight TXC9641 from Menorca were told to expect an eight-hour wait while an engineer was flown out from the UK.

One passenger then identified himself as a qualified aircraft engineer and offered to try to remedy the fault.

He was successful, and the plane landed in Glasgow only 35 minutes late.

A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said the company followed strict procedures to ensure the man was qualified to work on the aircraft, a Boeing 757-200, during the incident on Saturday.

The passenger worked for another airline, Thomsonfly, which has a reciprocal maintenance agreement with Thomas Cook.

"When they announced there was a technical problem he came forward and said who he was, " she said.

"We checked his licence and verified he was who he said he was, and he was able to fix the problem to avoid the delay.

"We are very grateful that he was on the flight that day."

I did the same kind of thing on a porno set one time, if ya know what I'm sayin'.

friend of mine is a cameraman for CNN..
while flying in bum -fk somewhere Russia ..
the Pilot took up a collection to pay for the parts need too continue..

Rika

Did he get a discount?

There's a reason why pilots are allowed to fly for free, even if from another airline...to avoid those "can anybody fly this plane?" movie scenarios...

did the "fix" involve chewing gum or baling wire?

WOW! This thread is going deep, deep, deep into the gutter...quick! :eek:

Randy

I was trying to find the pic (photoshop?) of the guy climbing out on the wing of his light plane to "fix" the engine.

did your part rhyme with "bluffer"?;)

I did the same on the spaceship to the moon years ago.

No, Livi was very protective of his territory.
:D

You'd be nuts to do that here in the U.S. strictly from a liability standpoint. Anything you sign off that has your certificate # on it is liability for you. To put your # on something UNPAID seems a bit nuts. But maybe the guy figured getting home on time was compensation enough... I guess if he was okay with it and the carrier was okay with it...

if some dude im sitting next to gets up to fix the plane, im getting off and taking a cab home

It is a damn shame that society has degraded to the point that lending a helping hand can end up get one sued.

Was probably a relay or something similar that needed to be reset. I'm sure he wouldn't have a host of spare parts as 'carry on' luggage. Maybe he was....MacGyver....

Article says that both companies had reciprocal maintenance agreements. Now he just has to get his boss to approve the overtime.

its been this way for years. think of the lawsuits against folks that performed CPR and revived the 'victim'....

anyway, if the guy that sits next to me is licensed and repairs the plane, i am ok with it.

I have done that twice here in the states. The big deal for them is to make sure that you have a license and are on a valid drug testing program (frigging lawyers and liability) but both times not a problem.

An A&P with descent tools can do a lot and most of these repairs are not that difficult. As well most airlines keep "hot spares" ready to swap in when needed to keep the planes in the air.

You usually get very good drinks and chow on the flight once airborne...

That is the funniest thing I've seen on the board in a long time. thanks for the laugh.

"Is there a pilot on board?"

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