Many airplanes have been hibernating in the Australian outback since the pandemic began.
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When planes have been grounded for some time, getting them ready to fly again means starting with simple things like removing the massive number of blanks engine protectors and tapes covering every hole, port or probe, explains licensed B1 aircraft engineer Steph Smith. There is nothing worse than having systems full of bugs, water or debris because, as aircraft accident investigations have shown over the years, blocked pitot-static systems can be catastrophic, says Smith.
The jets will also need a good airing, she adds. You don t think when you leave an aircraft sealed up for a couple of months, it s just going to stink due to the lack of ventilation.