Aviation companies in Iqaluit rallied to help a Swiss Air International maintenance crew navigate some unfamiliar territory this week.
On Feb. 1, A SwissAir Boeing 777 on its way to Los Angeles from Zurich had to divert to Iqaluit with an engine failure. Another plane was sent from New York to get the 233 passengers and crew but the 777 wasn’t going anywhere without another engine.
The airline sent a new one via a chartered An-124 and local companies First Air and Touchdown Services helped the Swiss mechanics get the job done.
The big airplane wouldn’t fit any hangars so an insulated tent had to be put up around the engine and heaters put inside to get the workers out of the -30 weather.
The engine is reportedly in and will be tested Thursday with a tentative departure for the aircraft of late in the afternoon.