SASKATCHEWAN INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGIES
AME students visit STARS facility

SIIT's Year 1 and Year 2 Aviation Maintenance Engineer students visited the Saskatoon Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) facility on March 7, 2017. STARS transports critically ill and injured patients through its helicopter air ambulance. Outfitted and staffed as mobile ICUs, the STARS system provides the very best in critical care for those living in rural communities, working in remote areas, travelling on highways or being transported from community hospitals to major medical centres.

The students were invited to the STARS facility to undertake a mock inspection of its new AW139 helicopter, the kind of check-up which occurs every 50 hours or bi-weekly. The students were divided into two groups and assigned a STARS maintenance engineer who provided in-depth information about all aspects of the aircraft's system, including the Main Rotor, Tail Rotor, Engine Systems and Navigation Systems.

It was a great opportunity for the AME students to view the complexity of the large, twin-engine helicopter and "a chance to see and touch the future."

A big thanks to the STARS crew, including Saskatoon/Regina Base Director, Cindy Sidel, Dwight Webb, Director of Maintenance, and Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Ryan Gillis and Nathan Bartsch for the exciting opportunity to visit and get to know more about STARS and its helicopter maintenance operations.