A chat with...

World2Fly Technical Director

"The engines are the part of the plane that need the most attention. And the most expensive"

How would you explain what you do to someone with no knowledge of the subject?

It involves ensuring that planes fly safely and ensuring that when they break down, they're properly fixed.

Now that no-one else is around, what do you like the least about your profession?

If I could change anything, it would be that the planes only broke down between the hours of 08:00 and 15:00 as opposed to the middle of the night.

Are you able to travel on a plane as a mere passenger?

To be honest I find it hard. I inevitably end up looking out for anything that's not functioning perfectly.

What is the most fragile part of an aeroplane?

The entire plane has to be in perfect condition. However, the engines are the parts of the plane that need the most attention.

And the most expensive?

The engines, without a doubt.

How would you define an A350? And an A330?

The A350 is the most state-of-the-art aircraft and has the best passenger cabin designed to date. The A330 is its little brother.

What's the most surprising thing about a commercial aeroplane that (almost) no one knows about?

Less and less metal and more composite materials are now being used to make planes lighter. 53% of the parts of the A350 are made of carbon fibre.

Is there an MOT for aeroplanes?

All aircraft have to comply with a rigorous maintenance program, generated by each Operator and which must be approved by the Spanish Aeronautical Authority (AESA). It includes all the jobs that need to be done, from the daily preflight inspections to the more in-depth structural inspections carried out every 12 years.

Tell us an unusual fact about yourself and your job...

In my last year of secondary school, my father took me to a maintenance hangar at the Palma airport where there was an old DC-9 being serviced. The maintenance technicians showed me around the plane and explained what each of the clocks in the cabin were for... I still remember that day.