This autumn we’ll be taking some time out on the ground for our annual maintenance checks, which involves a major strip-down of the aircraft to make sure it’s in excellent airworthy condition.
The FAAM team just finished a very busy period of operations during the summer, so they will be using this ‘downtime’ to make instrument and technical developments and to set plans for next year’s deployments in motion. These behind the scenes activities are crucial and often just as demanding as our deployments, so that FAAM can resume operational readiness in the new year.
The major strip-down will involve removing the racks of scientific instruments, many internal panels (including the galley, toilet and large parts of the floor!) and a deep structural and mechanical check on the entire airframe. During this time, FAAM will also be taking the opportunity to install a new navigation system.