Lanzhou, August 8 (Reporter Gao Ying) "Many passengers will affectionately call us 'plane worshipers', because before takeoff, they will see us waving goodbye to the plane on the apron until we glide away. In fact, our position is called route maintenance, the main job is to be responsible for guiding and picking up short-stop flights in place, and then doing round-around inspection and aircraft external structure confirmation according to the work order. Kang Hongqiang, a route operator of China Eastern Airlines Technology Gansu Branch, said in an interview with a reporter from Chinanews.com.
The airline operator waved to the plane before takeoff, and was also called "aircraft worshiper" by netizens. Photo by Gao Ying
During the summer season, after several days of high temperatures, the ground temperature of Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport often exceeded 60 °C. Inside the empty tarmac, the sweltering heat is like a "steamer", and the heat wave visible to the naked eye rolls on the horizon. What is it like to continuously guarantee flights on the tarmac in high temperatures? Why do "plane byeers" keep waving before takeoff?
"Wave-bye is the final step in the departure process, when the aircraft is pushed to the taxiout position, and after the start is normal, the crew evacuates to a safe place to visually observe the crew. When the crew gives a slide-out request gesture, the crew confirms that the ground has no impact, then gives permission to glide gesture, and another operator shows the turning pin streamer, and then the operator waves goodbye. Kang Hongqiang, a flight operator on the route, told reporters that when the plane taxied, the rear hatch slid through the crew and could return to leave.
The picture shows the route operation inspecting the aircraft according to the work order. Photo by Gao Ying
With a loud roar in the ears, one flight after another landed smoothly on the runway. According to the instructions, stop and guide the aircraft, check the aircraft around according to the work order, and do the safe handover of the aircraft with the crew... Whenever a short-stop flight docks, it is guaranteed by a "plane bye".
Yong Wuming, a "veteran aircraft operator" with 41 years of work experience, said that the support work of each flight is completed by two aircraft operators, one is a maintenance personnel and the other is a release personnel. It takes at least 40 minutes to 1 hour to protect an aircraft, and it is sweaty to work on the 60°C apron for about 10 minutes. Even if the sun is shining, the details of the maintenance must be "not falling anywhere", including every gesture must be in place.
The picture shows the front wheel of the aircraft inspection aircraft of the route maintenance. Photo by Gao Ying
It is understood that in order to ensure the safety of the transit flight, the two route operators conduct two cross-checks on each requirement according to the work order to ensure that the aircraft rushing into the sky is "foolproof". If there is a delay, the "bye-bye" must also wait on the hot apron until the plane taxied away. (End)