Posted on 03/05/2019 11:26:04 AM PST by Rusty0604
The Seattle Times reported late last week the Air Force had discovered unwanted tools, bits of debris, and other garbage in various locations of KC-46A tankers. According to the Times, Air Force pilots at Boeing for training refused to fly the aircraft as a result, citing safety concerns. “This is a big deal," a Boeing memo was quoted as saying.
The presence of tools and debris in aircraft is a serious safety hazard. Objects can roll around in flight, shorting out electrical equipment and damaging other equipment. Tools were found in two aircraft delivered to the USAF and in eight more still at Boeing. The Seattle newspaper says the problem is the fault of mechanics working on the plane but also quality control inspectors that monitor work and ensure nothing unauthorized is left inside an aircraft section before it is closed up. The Times notes this comes as Boeing is preparing to cut up to 1,000 quality control inspector positions.
(Excerpt) Read more at popularmechanics.com ...
Thanks for that info.
AF mechanics can and do carry personal tools (leathermans). But none will ever dremel their names onto them.
Worked C5s for 4 years and you’d be amazed at what we found on pre and post flight inspections.
Yup. I still vividly recall an incident where a toolbox rolled over on the way back to the shop. #2 phillips bit could not be found. After hours of searching the area where the box rolled, they were ready to ground every jet I’d worked, and start pulling seats. Then, it struck me that I’d checked out a T.O., too. It was pulled out of the toolbox and shelved, during the inventory. I asked to see it, and bingo...the little bastard was hiding in the binder.
FOD - Foreign Object Debris
Northrop was the front man for airbus.
The Air Force guys are right.
I worked on an aircraft retrofit in the 80s. Before we could even enter a plane we had to empty our pockets into bins, then we had to weigh our tool box. The tool box was weighed again upon de-planing. If the weight was different we had to go back in and find whatever was missing. Everything had to be accounted for.
Look for the union label!
I forgot to mention cigarette butts everywhere.
Good guess. I remember reading about Nucor steel starting
the first concast plant, the union guys would accidently
drop a hard hat into systems cooling supply. Caused a lot of problems,
some dangerous.
Loose junk in a plane is dangerous!
I worked for a public employee union for years, they will stop at nothing to get what they want.
I’ve been there, done that when I worked for the USAF. Tech data or tool it does not matter. Come inventory if something is missing, everything grinds to a halt until it’s found.
I had a coworker who hated the boss. He had a 9/16 wrench identical to what was in one of the tool kits. So he etched the took kit’s ID number on that identical tool and threw it out on the flight line only to be found by a Chief Master Sgt.
He came over to look at the tool box inventory sheet, only to find the tool in it’s place with an identical one in his hand. Talk about the $hit hitting the fan.
Yep. So is the Naval aviation.
Break the tip off of a Philips screwdriver and everything shuts down while 20 maintainers crawl around looking for it.
Sorry, Yeller, but that is incorrect.
FOD — Foreign Object Dispersal (read: Damage)
Back in my Air Force days they would occasionally order a FOD Walk, with EVERYBODY walking in a line abreast the length of the runway, picking up pebbles, nails, nuts and washers, etc. In short, every freaking thing that could get sucked into a jet engine and cause dispersal.
Boeing is far more concerned with diversity and ensuring there is a black on every team than they are a out quality.
Affirmative. And Airbus would have delivered a more capable aircraft to the warfighter on time and not littered with garbage. If it didn't, it wouldn't get the next contract. If the military isn't a guaranteed jobs program for enlisted troops, it shouldn't be one for well connected defense contractors either. Earn the contracts, don't game the system by juicing the requirements, and deliver.
Good grief.
I was working on the runway condition assessment at NAS Whidbey Island. One morning we found on of the red “remove before starting” streamers that they place over the engines. It was all chewed up and stained from going through the engine.
Did they identify the aircraft or Norman Numbnuts who failed to remove it before flight?
Was it an intake cover or a pitot static cover that got ingested?
Yup. We were to built the tankers her in Mobile.
Patty Murray said that people in Alabama weren't smart enough to build an airplane. The dumb bitch forgets that we built the moon rockets.
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