Motion, You Left Just in Time...

Jeff Higgins · 05-03-2015, 10:45 PM

From Tel Aviv. It was one hell of a night last night. Here is the last of four constantly elevating travel advisories we received last night:

UPDATE - Israel: At least 41 people injured during clashes in Tel Aviv
Category: Civil Unrest, Demonstration, Protest, Police Operations, Road Disruption
Latitude, Longitude: (32.075700, 34.791600)

Incident level : 4

According to the latest media reports, at least 41 people including 23 police officers have been injured after protests turned violent in Israel’s capital Tel Aviv on Sunday. The authorities have used stun grenades and tear gas against the protesters that tried to break into the City Hall located next to Rabin Square. The demonstrations began as Ethiopian migrants started protesting over police brutality near the Kaplan Interchange, where major junctions, including the Ayalon South freeway and Hashalom Interchange were closed. Activists also marched along Derech Begin towards the train station but were stopped by police. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for calm on Sunday evening, saying that all complaints must be investigated. ANVIL continues to advise travellers to avoid the area near the city hall as well as all other sites of unrest. Adhere to the guidelines provided by the local authorities.
Reported on: 03/05/2015 22:32:45

I guess I'm a bit surprised to see a protest of this nature in Israel. We don't really hear about them back home in the States (have any of you heard about this one?).

What this meant to us as an AOG team working around the clock to fix an airplane is that we had one hell of a time trading off crews from the hangar to the hotel. Huge delays in getting anywhere around here last night. We had a long, long day waiting for the night shift guys to get the all clear to leave the hotel, then to inch their way through traffic. All was calm by the time we made it back to our hotel, though.

group911@aol.co · 05-04-2015, 06:18 AM

Not widely reported but it's out there. Israeli Ethiopian protests 'reveal open wound', president says - BBC News

Rich Lambert · Rich Lambert's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

From Tel Aviv. It was one hell of a night last night. Here is the last of four constantly elevating travel advisories we received last night:

UPDATE - Israel: At least 41 people injured during clashes in Tel Aviv
Category: Civil Unrest, Demonstration, Protest, Police Operations, Road Disruption
Latitude, Longitude: (32.075700, 34.791600)

Incident level : 4

According to the latest media reports, at least 41 people including 23 police officers have been injured after protests turned violent in Israel’s capital Tel Aviv on Sunday. The authorities have used stun grenades and tear gas against the protesters that tried to break into the City Hall located next to Rabin Square. The demonstrations began as Ethiopian migrants started protesting over police brutality near the Kaplan Interchange, where major junctions, including the Ayalon South freeway and Hashalom Interchange were closed. Activists also marched along Derech Begin towards the train station but were stopped by police. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for calm on Sunday evening, saying that all complaints must be investigated. ANVIL continues to advise travellers to avoid the area near the city hall as well as all other sites of unrest. Adhere to the guidelines provided by the local authorities.
Reported on: 03/05/2015 22:32:45

I guess I'm a bit surprised to see a protest of this nature in Israel. We don't really hear about them back home in the States (have any of you heard about this one?).

What this meant to us as an AOG team working around the clock to fix an airplane is that we had one hell of a time trading off crews from the hangar to the hotel. Huge delays in getting anywhere around here last night. We had a long, long day waiting for the night shift guys to get the all clear to leave the hotel, then to inch their way through traffic. All was calm by the time we made it back to our hotel, though.

Two interesting perspectives...Bob texted me yesterday and said temps were in the '80's and he was sitting in a world class cigar bar.

Jeff Higgins · 05-04-2015, 06:34 AM

Ask him how late he got there. Then ask him about the young lady working there...

It was kind of weird - by the time we did get back, it was like it never happened.

Oh, and I've officially converted Bob from an electrician into a budding tool maker. He spent all day yesterday building a cool little brace for me for the inside of the center tank.

Rich Lambert · Rich Lambert's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Ask him how late he got there. Then ask him about the young lady working there...

It was kind of weird - by the time we did get back, it was like it never happened.

Oh, and I've officially converted Bob from an electrician into a budding tool maker. He spent all day yesterday building a cool little brace for me for the inside of the center tank.

Yeah, last week he helped me modify the seat rear seat mounting bracket on my Harley and then helped troubleshoot the horn circuit on my 911 (which is way more complex than anything on 767)...he's very handy to have around.

motion · 05-04-2015, 07:34 AM

With all the complexities of that region, I'm surprised there isn't more of this going on. I saw riot shields lined up on the ramp to the Dome of the Rock. These guys are pretty serious. Glad it didn't affect you too much, and glad I missed it!

Jeff Higgins · 05-04-2015, 08:26 AM

No kidding they are pretty serious. I'm used to passing through airport security to get to the working side, but these guys bring it to a whole new level. I guess they have to - they don't have many friends around here. Kinda funny (in a way) stereotypes, though - very fit young men in business suits and dark glasses who really don't seem to notice (or care) when their coat tails get caught on their Glock, exposing it for all to see.

motion · 05-11-2015, 01:58 PM

This is pretty spooky. I seem to have a knack for barely missing crazy stuff while traveling.

A year and a half ago, we were in Kiev, right on Maidan Square a few weeks before things went upside down there.

A few days ago, I flew out of Rome 2 hours before a major fire at the airport broke out: Chaos at Rome Fiumicino airport after terminal fire - BBC News

And even crazier, I was in Kumanovo a couple weeks ago. So, just missed this action:

Clashes in Kumanovo, Macedonian, kill 5 police officers - CNN.com

I am waiting for the black helicopters to swoop down and gather me up.

john70t · 05-11-2015, 02:48 PM

Remember to tip better next time.

speeder · speeder's Garage

I'd still love to visit Israel. It's on my bucket list.

Jeff Higgins · 05-11-2015, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

I'd still love to visit Israel. It's on my bucket list.

After having been here for just over a week now, working with and hanging out with the locals, visiting some of the most historic places on Earth, I have just one recommendation - don't hesitate to come here. These are some of the warmest, friendliest people you will ever meet, living in some of the most beautiful country you will ever see. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting, but this place exceeds all of my expectations. It now stands at the top of my list of "other places I could live", having knocked Wales from that lofty perch. I love this place. Dang it, though, we'll be done in a couple of days. *Sigh*

Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Jesus:

Room in which the last supper was held:

Countryside between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem:

Jeff Higgins · 05-11-2015, 06:34 PM

Old Jerusalem:

West (Wailing) Wall:

Handy unattended backpack detonating container:

speeder · speeder's Garage

Great photos, thanks for sharing. The Holy Land.

Jeff Higgins · 05-12-2015, 02:58 PM

Yeah - "The Holy Land". Hopefully without bumping this to PARF, I guess I didn't know what I was expecting on that front, either. As a former Catholic (raised that way), then a former Lutheran (married that way), and now a "recovering Christian" who has less than no use for any kind of church or organized religion, I guess maybe I was expecting to "feel" something. At least have it be a little moving or something. Maybe if I just touch the Wailing Wall...

Nope. Nothing. The most "moving" part of the whole experience was seeing the armed guards sitting up above around the perimeter, and that goofy back pack exploding container. I was moved to disgust and anger that they still have to maintain that level of security, because a small minority of zealots (on all sides) are so willing to kill - and to die - for what they believe it all represents.

I'm sure no place on Earth elicits such strong emotions from such a broad variety of ethnic backgrounds. And they all want to kill one another over it. Yet I was there - went to all of the holiest of holy places - and felt nothing beyond the normal historic/cultural curiosity I feel anywhere else I go.

Neilk · 05-12-2015, 03:56 PM

So Jeff, what kind of repairs did you have to do? What caused it or not allowed to say?

motion · 05-12-2015, 05:56 PM

I had a religious buddy ask if I felt anything when visiting there. He hasn't been there. I said, "Are you kidding me?". I proceeded to school him on what the old Jeruselam is really like. How its divided up into little sections, and each group would like nothing better than to kill each other. But they can't, because there's a bunch of bad-ass Israel soldiers with machine guns keeping order. At least, for now. I asked him how it felt to have the only real god in the world, when everyone else claims there's is real, as well. Yeah, I didn't feel anything, either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Yeah - "The Holy Land". Hopefully without bumping this to PARF, I guess I didn't know what I was expecting on that front, either. As a former Catholic (raised that way), then a former Lutheran (married that way), and now a "recovering Christian" who has less than no use for any kind of church or organized religion, I guess maybe I was expecting to "feel" something. At least have it be a little moving or something. Maybe if I just touch the Wailing Wall...

Nope. Nothing. The most "moving" part of the whole experience was seeing the armed guards sitting up above around the perimeter, and that goofy back pack exploding container. I was moved to disgust and anger that they still have to maintain that level of security, because a small minority of zealots (on all sides) are so willing to kill - and to die - for what they believe it all represents.

I'm sure no place on Earth elicits such strong emotions from such a broad variety of ethnic backgrounds. And they all want to kill one another over it. Yet I was there - went to all of the holiest of holy places - and felt nothing beyond the normal historic/cultural curiosity I feel anywhere else I go.

HHI944 · 05-12-2015, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neilk

So Jeff, what kind of repairs did you have to do? What caused it or not allowed to say?

This+ was it that Saudi jet that cause a ruckus?

Jeff Higgins · 05-13-2015, 02:39 PM

Sorry guys, but I really can't say what we were doing. "Customer sensitive" and all of that. All I can say is that while it was a pretty extensive repair, it was all pretty low key stuff - no bullet holes, shrapnel damage, or anything like that. We've actually fixed some of that in neighboring countries, though...

Neilk · 05-13-2015, 05:57 PM

So Jeff, since you can't talk about that one, did you work on this Qantas plane Link? What an amazing repair.

Jeff Higgins · 05-13-2015, 07:40 PM

No, I wasn't on that particular trip. That's a very good synopsis of what we do, though.

My specific responsibilities include all of the tooling we use on these repairs; both designing it and assisting in its use. I also take care of the jacking and shoring, both designing the equipment we do that with and then applying and monitoring the loads on it when we are on site. I design and assist in the use of any alignment or locating tooling, and monitor the alignment of the aircraft as the mechanics remove damaged structure and rebuild the affected areas.

I actually use surveyors' equipment (transits and optical levels) to monitor the state of the airframe during the repair, adjusting loads on the various jacking points to maintain alignment. The aircraft are equipped with what we call "golden rivets" that are located at specific station, waterline, and buttline values. We "shoot" these in optically as our alignment references.

In this kind of a mishap, the aircraft will often suffer damage to landing gear mounting trunnions, control surface hinges and tracks, and engine pylon mounting points. While we replace the gear, control surfaces, and pylons as necessary, there are also some pretty big fittings, clevises, trunnions, and the like from which all of this stuff hangs that also have to be replaced or repaired. Upon replacement or repair of these mounting points we wind up having to bore them in place on the aircraft to ensure final alignment; I design this equipment and assist in its use as well.

Oh, and if it ran off the runway like this one, I'm also responsible for the equipment that we use to recover the aircraft. Not the actual tugs and cranes and stuff, but the method of attachment to the aircraft.

It's really pretty fun stuff for a hopeless tinkerer like me. I get to work "hands on" in the field, which is effectively precluded by the mechanic's union rules at home in the factory. We get to be pretty creative sometimes, and no two jobs are the same. On top of that, I've traveled the world on Boeing's dime. Doesn't get much better than that.