By: Mohd Alamin Pardi (Engineering & Maintenance Division)

For two days, NDT section has been involved with the Malaysian Grand Prix Formula 1 race. NDT involvement was not so much on the Sepang race track but in helping the Mercedes Benz team racing cars to be race worthy. To be exact, NDT task was to carry out x-ray inspection on the engine coil bars in our facility at Subang. The images produced on the engine coil bars were then transmitted to the UK office for assessment by their experts. By having the images, the Mercedes Benz team will be able to ensure only the good condition engine coil bars are used for the vital race.

Dr. Sashi Balakrishan (Tribologist) and Vic Locke from Mercedes High Performance Engines sent  six set of Coil Bars and twenty-three spare sets  for X-ray  inspection for defect check, through Mr. Kenny Allan – Logistics Coordinator. These six set of Coil Bars used on Sunday 04 Apr 10 for Formula 1 at KLIA. This project was coordinated by Engineering Commercial Dept – Ms. Shanthi Kandasamy.

While waiting for the x-ray result, we extended our Malaysia Hospitality;   Mr. Kenny Allan was taken for a short tour by NDT staff, Philo. He was amazed to see how the work was carried out at Line 8, he also thank Line 8 staff, especially Engineers Troy Aleksey B., Maizuki and Munusamy for explaining and showing around. He also thank Engineer Jeffery Fosberry from line 7.

Mr. Kenny Allan was happy with the NDT staff, Leong Chee Hon, Yeap Khang Sean, Asnan and Islamuddin as they rushed to carry out X-ray work. He thanked the MAS -NDT for their cooperation in work with a prompt. In addition, the results came without any defects.

These Mercedes Benz- High performance Engines will be driven by Michael  Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button,  Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil and Vitantonio  Liuzzi.  It is good to see Michael Schumacher back.

Mr. Kenny Allan shared his small part with Mercedes Benz- High performance engines. He has been with the company for fifteen years, traveling to   various countries for Formula 1. He enjoys his work and loves challenges. Winning races bring excitement for the hard work by the team.  The Beauty of the Team is they work as a family concept and very close knit. As they all are away from home for eight months March to November - 19 races   in a year! They spend most of the time with the family before they go off for another eight months on circuit again to different countries.

By: Keith Kueh & Ee Yong Hua (Malaysia Airlines Engineering Training Centre (METC)

Joyful moments with Mr. Au, Mr. Edward and Ms. Swee Yim

A common scenario that majority of us have experienced while walking down the street is we will be surprised to realize there are many pairs of eyes staring closely at us. A small Malaysia Airlines’ logo is sewn onto the top right corner of our pure white-coloured uniform is undoubtedly very attractive and cool. Why? Not too long after, a man tags us in high intensity of curiousness, asking us a million dollar question, “Are you a pilot?” Sadly to say, we will probably raise our eyebrows in disappointment and reply, “No, we are Trainee for Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (TAME).” The fact that people just cannot stop relating a pilot with an airline is still rooting firmly in the society; needless to say, this field of study is still new and fresh in Malaysia’s industry development. No doubt, our name may not be as glamorous as pilot, but, we are still the frontline fences of an airline. As a Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAE), our main responsibility is to carry out maintenance of the aircraft from head to tail according to the airworthiness requirements, and then, by the end of day, dispatch the aircraft into safety and orderly operation.

Ee Yong Hua and Keith Kueh

We are second to none, we are the best

In the month of October 2009, we bid farewell to our beloved Training Manager, Mr. Au Ting Ling. He has been one of the best instructors in METC; favourite among the trainees for his skillful drawing of aircraft model. He has taught us whole-heartedly, making sure all his trainees understand the contents of each lesson. He puts enormous effort in making the lesson as fun as possible with his jokes and laughter. Indeed, we are enjoying every moment of Airframe Modules with Mr. Au; hydraulics, landing gears and aircraft’s structure have been fantastic with Mr. Au around. His advice for us before he left was something that we will never forget. Again, being a typical “Mr. Au”, he reminded us to strive harder to obtain our “three golden bars” over our shoulders. (Three golden bars are the epaulets put over our uniform to indicate our position as LAE) His message touches deep into our hearts; his words of wisdom will remain ringing in our ears. Without realizing, warm tears dripped down from our cheeks as we waved goodbye to Mr. Au on his last day of duty. Here, we take this opportunity to wish him all the best in his future undertaking. Take care always, Sir. We will miss you …

Friends forever!

Time flies in the split of seconds. Three years of training in METC is drawing to a conclusion. We had sailed through the sea of modules steadily without stumbling; our aim remains intact – To establish as a qualified LAE by the year 2011. Our next stop will be heading towards to MAS E&M for our two years of OJT. Being the pioneer batch from METC, we shoulder heavy responsibility to live up to the expectation, so as to raise the standards and quality of aircraft maintenance engineering. We foresee a new chapter of life in front of the road ahead, but, this will not deter us from cruising forward with strong grip of perseverance and endurance. Together, we unite, survive and win! Voila METC trainees …

Batch 06, TAME 69

By: Keith Kueh (Malaysia Airlines Engineering Training Centre (METC) 

Looking into the mirror deeply, back in the olden days, I was introduced to aircraft by a very peculiar way. As opposed to the typical phrases where many parents used to teach their kids on ABC, where A is for Apple, the first alphabet I knew was A for Aeroplane. By the age of three, when I have the intellectuality to understand by visual and acoustic, Dad spoke to me a lot about airplanes. He started off with simple and easy methodology…

I recalled,

Occasionally in the evening, whenever he was not working, he would drive me in his creamy white Toyota car to the airport. He parked his car beside the road, overlooking the long runway; holding me tight around his broad arms, whispering softly into my ears, “Son, this is an aeroplane, and this is where your destiny begins.” The joy of seeing the aeroplane taking off with its wheels departing from the ground was overwhelming, even though it was just a split moment. Innocently, my eyes stared closely to the aeroplane until it disappeared behind the cloud. As I grew up, I developed deep interest in aeroplane, as if there was as strong bond and fondness between us.

I recalled,

When Malaysia Airlines (MAS) did modification to its B747 fleet into freighter aircraft, I was one of the very few who had an opportunity to attend the exhibition when it made its maiden flight to Kuching International Airport. I was rather shocked and amazed; for this was my first time to see such a huge aeroplane. I asked Dad, “Why this aeroplane so big and has four engines?” He replied me with a joking tone, “Because it is a Daddy aeroplane”. Nevertheless, I was very excited that I jumped in a cloud nine.

I recalled,

When I was in Standard Three, my foster father’s son, Augustine had been offered by MAS to study Aircraft Maintenance Engineering as an Apprentice. As a father who wants the best for his child, he harbored a dream for me to emulate Augustine’s footsteps. He told me from time to time, “Son, study hard, and hopefully next time, you could enter this programme too”. Being a typical kid who was so eager to play, I had never really appreciated Dad’s advice till one day; teacher in school gave an essay with the title, “My Ambition” to be. I was totally lost and with a blanked face, I could not pen down any single word. From that moment, I remembered what Dad have been telling me all this while; and I found my direction to sketch out an essay, entitled, “My ambition is to be an Aircraft Engineer”. I began to understand the importance of education; I started to love Physics and Mathematics. However, to master these subjects in hands was quite an uphill task, but there was always this inspiration that drove me through.

I recalled,

Every time, Dad comes back from work, I saw this kind of weary look in his eyes. Being a line technician in Kuching International Airport, he has to cope with his circadian rhythm to work shift hour, either in the early dwell hour of 430am or as late as 12 o’clock in the midnight. Furthermore, he has to cope with the extremes of ferocious weather; sometimes in got-scotching sun, sometimes in heavy downpour, and for years, he never breathes any single word of complaints to his family. I was touched and moved by Dad’s sacrifices to work till his bones’ end just to fill our empty stomach, but, as the same time, somewhere in my heart, I felt needles of pain; more toward to a sense of guilt for being a spoilt kid. I made a promise to study hard to succeed one day in order to ease Dad’s burden off his shoulders.

I recalled,

After SPM, I submitted my application to MAS for the Trainee Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (TAME) programme. I was called for an Aptitude Test, however, luck was not on my side; I did not get through. Hugely disappointed and broken-hearted, I isolated myself miserably in room. Dad came in, tapped me gently on my head, saying, “Son, don’t give up, there will be another chance for you. I am sure, there will …” Dad was right, he never lie to me. A year later, I got another shot after submitting my second application. I got through every obstacle up till the day of interview.

I recalled,

A day before interview, Dad thought me about Basic Engineering tools (multi-grip pliers, mallets, screwdrivers, etc) and some basics on aircraft’s systems. Indeed, I felt relaxed and confident while facing the panel of interviewers. They were impressed with my performance, and I left the room with a broad smile on my face. Dad has never abandoned me throughout the journey; he is always by my side to cheer me up and supporting me endlessly.

Today,

I am part of MAS big family. I have been accepted into Malaysia Airlines Engineering Training Centre (METC) for the TAME programme. Everyday, aircrafts such as ATR 72, B737 and sometimes A330 fly over my head. Again, I recalled Dad’s words back in twenty years ago. His words have brought me thus far in my life, shaping my inner self and molding me into a better person. His word of wisdom is still ringing in my ear; I will always remember them forever. Coming into the third year of training, I hope to obtain my certificate and licenses soon as a present to my Dad. I want to make him the happiest Dad in the world. One day, I hope to be linked up with my Dad in working area; the excitement of releasing the aircraft into service together through the co-operation of a father and a son will be a sweet memory to remember …

Featured in Going Places, Malaysia Airlines Inflight Magazine

At one glance, it’s hard to tell brothers Hisyam Nasirun, 24, and Hanafi Nasirun, 22, apart.

“When we first started working at Malaysia Airlines, many people were confused as to who’s who,” reveals Hisyam, currently training as a Junior Technician at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport in Subang.  “Now that we’re based at different airports, it’s not so bad,” says Hanafi, an Aircraft Maintenance trainee at KL International Airport.  Besides looks and a fun-loving nature, the brothers have two other things in common: A passion for airplanes and the aim to become aircraft engineers, something both are working toward, albeit via different paths.  “Hanafi will probably graduate earlier than me, because he took a more direct course route,” explains Hisyam. “When that happens, he may even become my boss!”

What do they hope to achieve after realizing their first goal?  “Malaysia Airlines is a huge company, and there are so many divisions.  Whatever your chosen path, it doesn’t just stop there as there’s always room to ‘expand’ and upgrade yourself,” the pair concurs.