More than just a job

SUPERHERO OR ENGINEER — COULD YOU FIX A PLANE?

Read how MAF Aircraft Engineer Mark Newnham got into aviation engineering, and what qualities and experience you need to become a great engineer.

WITH ENGINEERING THERE’S A LOT TO LEARN. HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIKED STUDYING?

MARK: Actually, I never liked school — I endured it. But I did like fiddling and fixing things. I’d always be tinkering with this and that. So, it was my love of fixing things that led me to engineering and then MAF. And I’ve never looked back!

WHAT WAS YOUR JOURNEY INTO MAF?

MARK: I got an apprenticeship for an engineering company and that set me on a course for a job in engineering. I wanted to serve somewhere I’d be needed — to be part of God’s plan. So my wife and I wrote to ten organisations, asking, 'Can you use us/ our skills?'

One said, 'No', and two said, 'Yes, but you need more training.' One of these was MAF. We did the interviews, and things just took off from there. This was clearly the course God wanted us to take!

Mark and Sarah with their children

Originally from:Gillingham, Kent

MAF base: Nairobi, Kenya

Job title: Area Head of Maintenance

Time with MAF: 18 years

WHAT WAS IT THAT ATTRACTED YOU TO MAF?

MARK: I'm not the kind of person to be up in front of a church speaking and going into communities evangelising. That’s not where my skills lie. But working with MAF meant that I could have an impact on the mission field, which would then enable other missions to do their work better, more efficiently.

WHAT DOES YOUR ROLE INVOLVE?

MARK: As Area Head of Maintenance in MAF Kenya, I oversee maintenance across MAF operations in Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Chad — making sure that maintenance is scheduled and carried out to a high standard. If a plane breaks down away from our base, my role is pivotal in finding a solution. Communication skills are key.

WHAT OTHER SKILLS ARE NEEDED?

MARK: Engineers obviously have professional qualifications and experience, but at MAF you also need to be adaptable. Sometimes we don’t have parts available for the next day like we do in Europe, so we have to swap parts between aircraft to keep them flying.

If we don't have a specific tool, we might end up making one! Skills beyond fixing aircraft are required. You need to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions that are safe and legal.

WHAT DO YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE ABOUT WORKING FOR MAF?

MARK: I love being involved with other MAF programmes and having a positive impact across the region. Even though we are different people from different backgrounds, everyone desires to work together and do what it takes to keep our planes flying safely.

HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THE CHALLENGES YOU FACE?

MARK: Working in an international team does have its challenges, but it’s nothing God can’t overcome. I’m working outside my comfort zone, so I’ve learnt to rely more on God and the people around me than if I’d been working in the UK. Together, we can be more effective and make a difference.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR ANYONE WANTING TO JOIN MAF?

MARK: Don't feel you need to be someone who's amazing — we’re just ordinary people! Yes, you need to have the skills, passion and calling, but you don't have to be Superman! God has equipped me, but I can always improve.

It’s not always easy and at times we’ve faced life’s turbulence. But, through it all, we’ve known God’s sustaining hand and remembered His call to us. For me, it's more than just a job, it's God's plan