High Season at SWISS: How Johannes keeps the Aircraft in Good Shape

In our summer series, we portray SWISS employees who are on duty during the challenging summer holiday period to ensure that our passengers have a carefree start into their holiday. In the fourth episode, we accompany SWISS technician Johannes "Johnny" Gadient during his early shift in Line Maintenance.

If a passenger seat is jammed on an aircraft that has just returned, the coffee machine goes on strike or a wheel needs to be changed on the main landing gear - then this is a case for our Line Maintenance team. They carry out daily and routine repairs and maintenance on arriving and departing aircraft.

The roughly 115 technicians in this department at Zurich Airport work in two shifts 365 days a year to keep the SWISS operational fleet in good shape at all times. From their base at the head of Dock B at Zurich Airport, the teams of two or three swarm out to the arriving aircraft. Despite the often short time they spend on the ground, they carry out the necessary technical checks. The aim is to hand over a technically flawless aircraft to the next pilot crew.

In full action - Johnny closes the engine cover while laying on the ground.
In full action - Johnny closes the engine cover..

One of the most experienced colleagues in the line maintenance team is Johannes "Johnny" Gadient. He has more than 35 years of experience as an aircraft mechanic and has been working for SWISS in the technical department as a "man for all cases" for six years. We accompanied Johnny on his early shift.