Ep.5

Our guest for this episode is Minghan Liao. He joined ALTEN last March as an aircraft maintenance engineer. His primary responsibility is the inspection and maintenance of large passenger aircraft, providing a solid foundation for the safe flight of these planes and safeguarding our journeys through the skies. 

During the interview, he mentioned that civil aviation is experiencing significant growth. China"s domestically developed C919 aircraft has entered commercial operation, and there will be more airport expansions. ALTEN has not only provided him with a job that matches his professional expertise but has also allowed him to explore knowledge that was not covered during his university studies, enabling him to face the rapid development of the industry with greater confidence and composure.

Don"t miss out on this opportunity to delve deeper into Minghan Liao"s journey! Tune in to the podcast or read the article for an insider"s perspective on his career and achievements.

Episode Transcript

[01:02] What are the requirements to be an aircraft maintenance engineer? 

First of all, compared to general electronics, aircraft systems, structures, and ordinary electrical components are much more complex. Maintenance engineers need a great deal of patience to study and disassemble each part of the aircraft, as well as the capability to review government-issued regulations.

Meanwhile, as aircraft maintenance engineers, a meticulous work attitude is essential. Due to the high safety requirements of aircraft maintenance, every delivery of technical documents or hands-on operation must ensure that all steps are executed according to the work standards manual.

At last, I think proficiency in English is necessary for this industry. Most of the aircraft models I have encountered are predominantly from EU and US, so maintenance engineers must be able to comprehend technical documents provided by manufacturers and data displayed on instrument panels to make informed technical judgments smoothly for subsequent maintenance work.

[02:41] What makes your job special? 

The greatest peculiarity of this job lies in the complex systems of the aircraft itself. Some damages are not limited to structural issues; what may seem like a minor malfunction could be caused by damages to multiple systems. The maintenance work involves coordination with colleagues responsible for other systems, thus requiring extensive communication. Engineers from different countries may be involved, operating in different time zones. Therefore, each cross-departmental communication is akin to a large medical expert consultation. Engineers collaborate intensively to address the aircraft"s issues, ultimately developing a comprehensive maintenance plan aimed at minimizing costs and preventing future failures.

[03:24] What is your daily work like? 

The client I am currently serving is a large airline company, and my job is to deal with structural technical problems encountered by the client during the use of the aircraft. Unlike maintenance personnel who need to participate in flight, my work is carried out on the ground, and the maintenance problems I deal with are complex and diverse.

For example, aircraft can sustain physical damage such as lightning strikes or bird strikes during flights. They can also develop issues like fatigue cracks or corrosion as they reach structural strength thresholds due to their flying hours. Similar to cars, aircraft undergo regular inspection cycles where each cycle reveals challenging faults. This requires me to guide the airline company in performing maintenance tasks and ultimately restoring the aircraft to a condition where it can safely resume normal flights.

[04:48] What is the biggest challenge in your work? 

After joining ALTEN, the first challenge I encountered was English expression, because ALTEN is a very international company. My clients come from all over the world, including the UK, France and India. Communicating effectively required overcoming different accents from various regions.

Looking at the long-term perspective, being an aircraft maintenance engineer is initially demanding compared to other technical professions. The industry"s compensation may not be high initially, and engineers often face complex working environments. However, akin to doctors, as experience accumulates, aircraft maintenance engineers can swiftly diagnose aircraft faults and propose comprehensive repair solutions. Therefore, the value of the aircraft maintenance engineer role becomes increasingly prominent over time through accumulated experience and expertise.

[06:18] What is your biggest gain at ALTEN? 

My greatest achievement has been delving deeper into my professional field, gaining significant technical enhancement. In my previous role at an airline, I primarily handled routine aircraft inspections. However, after joining ALTEN, I"ve had numerous learning opportunities that have provided me with a more comprehensive and profound understanding of aircraft structures as a whole. Additionally, at ALTEN, I"ve interacted with engineers from various fields, which has broadened my industry perspective and even deepened my understanding of automotive construction.