My name is Vangela Margaret Naa Adukwei Vanderpuye. I am a 4th-year Aerospace Engineering student, and I am excited to share my internship experience with the world.
I was privileged to intern at the Engineering Wing of the Ghana Air Force Base, Accra. It was an experience of a lifetime. As customs demanded, I had to be put in a squadron. The Ghana Air Force has four squadrons, and I was tasked to work with Number 4 Squadron, the nation's fighter jet squadron. This Squadron is mainly in charge of the country's fighter jets, from the pilots who fly them to the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers who service them.
My daily routine as an intern was usually supposed to begin by 7:00 am, but not to miss Before Flight checks, I usually was thereby 5:30 am. This decision was a rather bold one I had to take to learn more about aircraft servicing and maintenance. Before Flight checks, the first aircraft check is done in a day on an aircraft to ensure that it is in a condition fit enough to fly. I usually performed before-flight checks under excellent supervision and guidance as an intern. Before Flight checks, the aircraft had to be towed from the hangar to the tarmac for flight operations. I got the opportunity to interact with some fighter pilots and seek their advice and counsel for the exciting future ahead. As an intern, I also got the opportunity to witness and participate in refuelling the aircraft and specific servicing and maintenance activities such as changing the booster pumps of the engine, performing functional checks on the landing gear, assembling and disassembling the smoke generator pod and many others. I also had the chance to interact with Aircraft Maintenance Engineers from companies like Passion Air.
My challenge, I would say, was adjusting quickly to the military environment. As interns, we were not exempted from the military training and discipline. I joyfully recount moments when interns had to form up and march for a few minutes because we were dulling around. Lateness and indiscipline were also in no way tolerated. I am glad to have had such an experience because it has given me a taste of the professional world and how things work there. Now more than ever, I am glad to have chosen this career path, and I look forward to the exciting future with glee and hope.
