Wings of Hope Performs Winter Maintenance on Fleet, Upgrades Piper Navajo Avionics

By Carmelo Turdo

Wings of Hope, the global humanitarian non-profit organization, is starting the year performing inspections and heavy maintenance on the Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) aircraft fleet at their Spirit of St. Louis Airport World Headquarters location. Staff and volunteer technicians have removed the engine cowlings from the two Piper Seneca V twins to assess their condition. These aircraft are the workhorses of the MAT program, and are meticulously maintained. Sixteen volunteer MAT pilots flew 218 patients nearly 117,000 miles for advanced medical treatment at locations throughout the Midwest (2019 data).  

The newest aircraft in the fleet, a Piper Navajo, offers a roomier interior and longer flight range than the Seneca. It is currently receiving a complete instrument panel upgrade that will replace the vacuum system instruments with glass panel avionics. The photos below illustrate the previous panel layout and the progress made thus far. Also, the Navajo's engines have been removed and are out for overhaul, so this aircraft will be a much greater asset to the MAT program when the work is completed.