17 Jul 2008

Library Profile: Claire Ovaska at Regional Aviation

My library is a bit different to the other libraries around Cairns. Regional Aviation flies eight different helicopter types and four different models of fixed-wing aircraft, with the fleet currently totalling 41 aircraft (and growing). To maintain these aircraft the library has a collection of aircraft maintenance and operational manuals, and happily for me many of these are now available on CD-Rom or online. (Electronic manuals are a great advance for aviation librarians as aircraft maintenance engineers tend to leave oil marks on hardcopy manuals!)

Our main bases are currently located in Cairns, Horn Island, Burma, Indonesia, East Timor, PNG and the Solomon Islands, and I am responsible for ensuring the libraries held in these locations are kept up-to-date. This can be quite a challenge, particularly when taking into consideration unreliable telecommunications and slow delivery times to many of our third-world locations. Aviation libraries are regulated by civil aviation authorities, and I get audited at least twice a year by CASA and PNG CAA. Regional Aviation could be grounded if my library is not up-to-standard!! Luckily for me (and my continuing employment) management and auditors have always been happy with my work.

My job isn’t all hard yakka. Last month I was able to go on a Bell 212 helicopter ride out to Green Island, Palm Cove and the Cairns Esplanade – it was a perfect afternoon for a flight.

Claire Ovaska
Technical Librarian for Regional Aviation

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