Child's Play

Just today a couple of incidents involving the locals here have revealed to me a somewhat child like quality in them. Cute, funny and endearing, that's if they were 8 year olds, stupid and irresponsible if an adult. But nevertheless, funny all the same. First one involved us calling the local engineering firm to rent one of those man lifter, basket-on-a-boom vehicles, so we could gain access to the tail fin of the aircraft. When 2 guys from the firm arrived with the man lifter, "R" made sure that it worked by telling them to show him how it worked. And true to form, they couldn't get it to work. So ensued around an hour of them pressing buttons, starting and stopping the engine and calling friends. All to no avail. So "R" and me walked off to the canteen to have a coffee while watching their endeavours. After another 15mins we noticed 1 of them in the basket at the controls and another guy standing on the ground, by the main control box. And the guy in the basket was moving up and down. Great, they seemed to get it working. With that we both moved out and "R" asked the guy on the ground if everything was good and it worked. Guy on the ground said yeah, everything is fine, works good. Suspiciously "R" eyed him and they eyed his friend in the basket, 12 foot in the air. Slowly "R" said to the guy on the ground, "Ok, if it works you move away from the machine" And with that the guy gave a very reluctant smile nd moved away. "Right, now, you, up there, I want you to come down!" A sheepish smile spread over his face as he gingerly moved the controls. As suspected nothing happened, "No, sir, it not work here." he yelled back. Basically the guy on the ground was moving the basket using the main control box on the ground and getting his friend to stand in the basket and pretend to work the controls to try con us that the controls in the basket worked fine. It was just so funny watching both their faces. Was like catching a couple of lil kids lying to their parents, right down to the silly smiles.

Next one that happened was when we were running the Auxiliary Power Unit, APU. Which is simply a small jet engine used to supply power to the aircraft when the main engines cannot be run. After smooth flawless operation for about 30mins it started to sound a little rough and black-ish smoke was jetting out the exhaust. Best shut it down and see what's up with up. Getting a man lifter we moved up to the APU and opened up the cowl doors. Immediately we spotted the fault. A slightly charred blue shirt was sucked up against the air inlet screen. Pulling the shirt out we headed down to the hanger floor. The inspector present "L" started to address the bunch of cleaners around the aircraft, asking whose shirt it was. All of them looked up as he yelled out his question and expectedly they all vigorously shook their heads in unison chanting out "No sir, no sir, no sir, no sir". Even the lil guy at the back cowering behind his mates... the only guy with no shirt on...