As someone who runs a small flight school, I learned everything about facility maintenance through hard experience. Probably should have led with this: the hangar door stuck again this morning, jammed about three feet off the ground. Third time this month.
I keep telling myself I will bring a can of lubricant from home to fix it properly, and then I keep forgetting. Today I finally just stashed a bottle of WD-40 in my flight bag so I stop making the same mistake over and over.
The Unglamorous Side of Flight Training
Hangar maintenance is one of those parts of running a flight school that nobody talks about. Students show up expecting to learn how to fly, and they do not think about the fact that someone has to keep the facilities functioning. The hangar door, the tow bar, the fuel sump cups, the headsets – all of it requires upkeep. That has gotten complicated with all the small tasks that pile up. And since we are a small operation, that someone is usually me.
I spent about twenty minutes this morning working on the door mechanism. The tracks were full of grit and old dried grease from who knows when. Cleaned them out with a rag, applied fresh lubricant, and worked the door up and down about ten times to distribute it evenly. Now it glides like new. Should have done this weeks ago. I also checked the counterweight cables while I was at it – those can fray over time, and a failed cable with a heavy door is a safety hazard nobody needs.
Taking Inventory
While I was at it, I did a quick inventory of the hangar. We have got three trainers – two Cessna 172s and a Piper Cherokee – plus some ground training equipment that was looking a little dusty. Organized the sectional charts, threw away some expired approach plates, and cleaned the whiteboard we use for briefings. Found a couple of outdated AFDs in the pile too. None of this is flying, but all of it matters.
I also checked the fire extinguisher dates and the first aid kit. Both current, which is good. We keep a spare set of headsets in the cabinet for when students forget theirs, and I tested those too – one had a bad mic cord that needed replacing. Added it to my shopping list for the pilot supply store next week.
Why First Impressions Matter
A well-maintained hangar reflects a well-maintained operation. When a prospective student walks in, they notice these things, even if they do not consciously register them. A stuck door, dirty equipment, clutter everywhere – it all sends a message. We might be a small school, but we take pride in what we do. That is what makes the difference between a school students recommend and one they warn friends away from.
Finally got N7341P out and preflighted around 8:30. My first student, Eric, was waiting patiently in the lobby, probably wondering why we were running behind. I did not mention the door issue. Some things are just part of the job, and he does not need to worry about them. His job is to learn how to fly. My job is to make sure everything else is squared away so he can focus on that.
