On the southern side of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, construction of Terminal 3 is in full swing, with towering cranes and roaring machinery driving the rapid expansion of Shanghai's international aviation hub. As planned, the original Eastern Airlines maintenance hangar, adjacent to the T3 construction zone, has been demolished, and a new hangar is under urgent construction. During the transition period in the summer of 2026, aircraft scheduled maintenance, previously conducted in the hangar, has been relocated to a shaded area on the southwest corner of the tarmac. The indoor workshop has been replaced by an open, exposed space, where Eastern Airlines' mechanics endure the scorching sun, overcoming challenges during this transitional phase to ensure safe operations.
On a scorching morning at 9 a.m., over 20 mechanics from Eastern Airlines Technology's Pudong Maintenance Base, part of the Boeing scheduled maintenance division, arrived at the site to perform scheduled maintenance on a Boeing 777. They found suitable ladders and pushed them from nearby bridge positions. Even before officially starting work, everyone was drenched in sweat, with their work uniforms clinging tightly to their backs. "Previously, the hangar was fully equipped, but now ladders, tools, equipment, and materials can't be left outside, so we have to manually bring them over when needed. For heavier items, we use forklifts. This is a major challenge we must overcome during the tarmac transition period," said Project Manager Zhu Tao. Compared to before, the same preparatory steps require more time and effort, but the requirement for on-time aircraft departure remains unchanged, and each process and checkpoint must not be delayed.
By afternoon, the tarmac was even more intensely hot. Eastern Airlines mechanic Zhou Chichi and four colleagues began replacing a fuel pump. Below the engine, they climbed up and down ladders, searching for screws, adjusting angles, and carefully inspecting the disassembly, while the aircraft's surface was already scorching hot. Two hours later, the fuel pump replacement was completed. Another mechanic, Chen Hao, climbed the ladder to take over subsequent inspections. Zhou Chichi removed his gloves, his palms white from sweat. He took a bottle of water handed by a young colleague and drank it all at once. On the other side of the aircraft, near the engine, an even more challenging task was underway. Mechanic Zhou Feng climbed a high ladder to begin pre-inspection for engine cleaning. His face was pressed against the engine's cowling, with large beads of sweat dripping from his forehead to his chin, then falling onto the ladder with a "pat." Soon, he crawled into the space beneath the engine, adjusting his posture to fasten the lower panels. As he slowly emerged, the ground beneath him was marked by a faint ring of sweat. "The hardest part is replacing the converter, a delicate task. The engine surface heats up to 80 degrees Celsius, but we're used to it; our skin is thick," he laughed.
Nearby, a young "post-00s" mechanic, Huang Xin, held a command wand in one hand and a fire extinguisher in the other. Throughout the entire engine cleaning process, he had to maintain this stance, focusing intently on the engine to promptly handle any potential emergencies. He stood there for at least 40 minutes, his face covered in sweat. Once the engine fuel pump inspection was completed, the maintenance team worked in unison, steadily carrying water hoses to seamlessly execute the subsequent engine cleaning procedures, their busy figures collaborating under the scorching sun. "Engine cleaning is one of the toughest tasks in high-temperature conditions," said Duty Manager Qiu Huapeng. The monitoring staff must be exposed to the sun for nearly an hour, with deafening noise, blistering heat, and sticky air, severely testing endurance and concentration. "With limited conditions during the transition period, the work environment is more challenging, and the mental and physical pressure on everyone is greater," said Zhou Zhe, Technical Manager of the Boeing scheduled maintenance division at the Pudong Maintenance Base, who closely monitors the frontline workers' status. "In high temperatures, we must pay special attention to employees' physical and mental health. We regularly communicate with everyone to understand their difficulties and needs."
Working on the tarmac under high temperatures is tough, but Eastern Airlines has a "cool" approach to employee care. A bus parked near the aircraft runs its air conditioning continuously, offering cold drinks and ice towels, serving as a cool refuge for mechanics during breaks. This July, Eastern Airlines also distributed incentive bonuses for "harsh, dirty, dangerous, and tiring" positions among frontline summer travel workers. The mechanics remarked, "We all think the bonus name is very fitting, giving us frontline workers peace of mind."
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