|
LanChile
AIRLINES SELECTS
HOBART FOR TRAINING
On
March 5, 1929, the present international carrier, LanChile
Airlines, officially began operations under the name Linea
Aeropostal Santiago-Arica. Funded by Chilean capital and
operated by Chilean professionals, the company utilized small,
Havilland Moth bi-planes for passenger and mail flights from
Ovalle, Copiapo, Antofagasta and Iquique to Santiago.
Chileans heavily supported the new airline despite
hazardous flying conditions due to the lack of ground
communications or meteorological data.
As a result, the carrier began a new route to Puerto
Montt with stops in Chillan and Temuco, and also added its first
12-passenger, Ford 5-AT-C tri-motor aircraft.
Throughout the years, LanChile
Airlines expanded into several other countries and today employs
10,700 people. The
airlines are a member of One
World organization. Routes
carry passengers to major countries throughout the world.
On June 13, 2001 the first of six Airbuses programmed for
purchase by the company arrived to Santiago. This was the first
aircraft outfitted in a completely tourist version and has a
capacity of 156 passengers.
The fleet renovation plan that was begun in 2000 will
conclude in 2005.
The
incorporation of these modern aircraft is an important step
forward in consolidating LanChile's leadership position as a
world-class carrier. It demonstrates the company's concern for
the passenger and its interest in continued investment in the
development of LanChile, betting on the future.
Behind the
scenes of this magnificent company is a workforce of welders,
inspectors, mechanics, specialists and engineers who ensure
the aircraft are safe and ready to fly.
It is their concern for the passengers and a desire to
meet world-class standards that led LanChile management to
Hobart Institute over five years ago. At that time, Carlos Hermosilla G., a certified welding
inspector, and Sergio Canales C., a welder, along with a few
others traveled to Troy, Ohio for specialized welding training
and certification.
The
certifications necessary to meet the American
Welding Society D.17.1, Specification
for Fusion Welding for Aerospace Applications, must be
renewed every five years. During
the first week of December, Carlos and Sergio returned to obtain
recertification and this time were accompanied by Christian A.
Molina C. and Isidro Fierro Vergara, both mechanical welding
specialists, along with Sergio Pizarro F., a structural
engineer, who became certified.
Work and
repairs on any part of an airplane that affects passengers and
safety requires certified welders.
In Chile, the welders are certified by Direccion General
de Aeronautica Civil Licencia Aeronautica which is equivalent to
the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) here in the United States.
“Welding on
each metal requires a separate certification,” indicates
Isidro Fierro Vergara. “We
must be certified on aluminum, chromium, stainless steel,
titanium, Inconel, Monel, and Hastelloy to work on aircraft
engines, components, and connections.”
Because he
works in the engineering department in the structural repair of
the B737, B767, A320, and A340 airplanes, Sergio Pizarro F.
says, “I came to the Hobart Institute to obtain a better
understanding of welding and the way metals react within the
weld.”
Working with
Jim Collins, Nelson Morales, and other HIWT staff members,
specialized training and certification is provided to meet their
specific needs. Having
the AWS D17.1 certifications allow LanChile Airlines employees
to service and repair any aircraft from the U.S. that lands in
Chile, where LanChile employs 7,600 people.
The airlines have also received their ISO 9000
certification that is important to their international work.
In 2003, for
the second consecutive year, LanChile was recognized as one of
the world’s best companies according to a survey, based on the
opinions of 8,000 frequent flyers.
While those evaluating the company base their ratings on various aspects such as the condition of the
passenger compartment, comfort of the seats, on-board service,
politeness and quality of the personal service aboard,
entertainment, feeling of security and price to quality ratio, it
is the welders behind the scenes who help to make all this
possible.
For
further information about Hobart Institute’s certification
services, visit our web site at http://www.welding.org
or call 1-800-332-9448, ext. 5107 or (937) 332-5107.
Reference:
http://www.lanchile.com
|
