Airline saves time and money with equipment gift |13 November 2008

This follows the airline’s donation of a $6,000 torque wrench to the SBS recently, when bureau chief executive Amy Quatre invited other airlines, shipping and transport firms to take advantage of the new equipment and have their tools checked.

The head of Air Seychelles’ technical support, Robert Chong-Seng, said maintenance in the aviation industry is sensitive and bolts cannot be made either too loose or too tight. So the wrenches that turn them must exert known amounts of pressure.

To do that they need to be calibrated independently, which means Air Seychelles is not allowed to do the job. The SBS is entrusted with the responsibility, being recognised by international aviation regulators and the Seychelles Civil Aviation Authority as a competent body.

Mrs Quatre said the SBS laboratory has been involved in providing quality calibration services for temperature, volume, mass and pressure, for example. But though it had the ability to calibrate torque wrenches, it could not offer the service before because it lacked the equipment.
 
“After a visit to Air Seychelles, the possibility of acquiring the equipment for the SBS was discussed. I am happy to say we reached a mutual agreement and, without wasting time, Air Seychelles purchased it,” she said.

She called the handover of the torque wrench an important milestone for the bureau as it has enabled it to provide this extra service.

“This equipment will be vital in providing calibration of torque wrenches to Air Seychelles and potential customers such as the SPTC and Helicopter Seychelles,” she said as Mr Chong-Seng handed over the torque wrench to her.