Material & Component Services
Landing Gear Maintenance Department
Check & Repair Section
Please tell us about your duties.
I inspect and repair aircraft landing gear. After a certain period of service, landing gear is removed from the aircraft and brought from the hangar to the repair shop.
Landing gear is made from specialized metals and nonferrous materials, and maintenance on each individual component is performed. It is an essential part of the maintenance process as we conduct visual inspections, dimensional measurements, and nondestructive testing to confirm the integrity and assure that the landing gear can be used for the next ten years.
What is the appeal of component maintenance?
The appeal lies in acquiring specialized skills and techniques focused on components and being able to address any component-related trouble. For example, in my workplace we handle both metallic and nonmetallic materials. The extensive expertise we develop can be applied not only to large aircraft belonging to JAL but also to small aircraft and helicopters belonging to other companies.
When urgent issues arise, we rush to airports across Japan to restore aircraft to an operable state as quickly as possible, fully leveraging our technical capabilities.
What are your future goals?
I have achieved the goals I once set as a maintenance engineer, which were to become a qualified First-Class Maintenance Engineer, a nationally certified Aircraft Factory Maintenance Engineer, and to become a top meister as a role model for engineers. By passing on the knowledge I have cultivated, I will help raise the skill level of maintenance engineers, create a workplace where all employees can work with a smile, and foster engineers, who safeguard the safety of the skies.
Component Maintenance
TOYOFUKU Takako
Material & Component Services
Mechatronics Maintenance Department
Aircraft Equipment Section
What led you to join JAL Engineering?
Since childhood I have enjoyed detailed tasks such as origami and puzzles, and I wanted to pursue a career where I could put those skills to use. When graduating from high school, I learned about aviation colleges and began the path to becoming an aircraft maintenance engineer. In a vocational school, I belonged to the electronics department and studied the fundamentals of electricity and electronics. After graduating, wishing to apply that knowledge while also engaging in aircraft component maintenance, I joined JAL Avitech Co., Ltd., the predecessor of JAL Engineering Co., Ltd. Another major attraction was the well-established environment that allows continued employment after marriage.
Please tell us about your duties and work style.
In my workplace, we inspect aircraft components received from manufacturers. We check the components and their documents for damage or corrosion and that the part numbers are correct. The components we handle range widely, from bolts used in engines to seat parts.
The workplace atmosphere is cordial where everyone can consult experienced colleagues at ease. We carry out our daily duties while exchanging opinions.
The systems supporting working women are robust, including maternity and childcare leave as well as nursing leave, which is what I am taking. It is a comfortable working environment.
A message to customers and students
Aircraft components are the beginning safety for aircrafts. Component inspection, therefore, is a critically important task.
I would be delighted if everyone is interested in not only maintenance on the aircraft, but also jobs that inspect components as it supports safety from the parts level.
