In answer to an earlier query by Smuj.
7th October 1987, I was on the call out crew tasked to fly to Canada with spares to rescue an aircraft on an OCU trainer. This was the unfortunate incident of the life-raft that self-ejaculated from its stowage on the wing somewhere over the Gulf of St Lawrence forcing an emergency landing in Sept-Isles in Quebec Province.
As was SOP we handed our aircraft to the other crew who quickly departed, and then checked into our hotel to await the verdict of the technical experts as to how quickly they could fix the damage.
First problem: the GE informs the captain that instead of (say) 10 big bolts and 30 small bolts we have 10 small and 30 large, I cannot remember the exact number.
After a quick phone call back to base, we are told the correct bolts will arrive at Quebec airport and to jump in a taxi and go get.
Problem: Quebec was 650 kilometres away, Sept Isle is in the back of beyond where the paved road stops!
Problem: we needed a scissors truck or cherry picker, there were none available.
Problem: Thanksgiving in Canada is celebrated on the second Monday of October, it's a statutory holiday, and everything will be closed.
Problem: Sept-Īles has a borderline sub-arctic climate, despite being located at around only 50 degrees latitude nobody had come prepared with appropriate clothing.
As if things could not get any worse our allowances were not enough to cover three square meals a day and everyone spoke French. This meant if you wanted to keep warm and save money by staying in your room TV was in a foreign language. Believe it or not we longed to be in Gander.
The captain was lucky he hired a light aircraft to fly him to Quebec where he HAD to spend the night and then returned with the spares. The Co-pilot meanwhile was ringing round trying to pay over the odds to hire the appropriate ground equipment.
We escaped after 6 days!