Page 24 - SAFFER 03

Letters to the Editor

The Handle

This happened long, long ago, but it feels like just the
other day. Must have been 1988 or 1989.

I was an apprentice at 16 SQN Port Elizabeth. One
Saturday morning the squadron had an Air Sea Rescue
exercise with the local NSRI. I was one of the duty crew
personnel that day and the Flight Engineer was one of
the flight sergeants at the squadron. The Flight Engineer
had the NSRI team out on the flight line to brief them
on the day’s proceedings. Myself, just off to the side,
hanging over a fire extinguisher like a “vink”, as all good
apprentices should, listening and watching, wishing I
was him!

Anyway, fitted to the ALO’s top cabin frame, between the flight engineer door and the rear sliding door of the
helicopter, like I’m sure you all would remember, was a leather strap handle. At some point during the brief-
ing, the flight engineer got a hold of the handle and said to the team to be hoisted that day,

“When you’re hoisted up into the chopper’s door, don’t wait on me to help you inside, take a hold of this
hand-grip and pull yourself in, it will not break.”

At that moment he pulled on the leather strap to show what he meant. A loud bang! There he stood, with the
severed leather handle in his hand!

Shortly after that, to the amusement of the team, I was doing the perimeter of the flight line with an ALO
jack, for laughing at a Flight Sergeant.

Regards,
Johnny Sinden

Editor’s Note: It is claimed that those straps
handles NEVER break – in all my years of
service I only ever heard of one snapping –
the one mentioned above!

OH, if you’re wondering, the flight engineer
doing the briefing on the day was yours
truly! Thanks for reminding me of that
day Johnny… and as for my memory, did
I really make you do a “jack circuit” or has
my memory gone into selective retention
mode?

Just btw, Johnny pursued his wish, he qual-
ified as a FE in 1991, served as a flight engi-
neer until leaving the SAAF in 2008. Johnny
remains active in the aviation industry –
looking after choppers all around the world!

| 24