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Air Force Halts Tanker Deliveries After Finding Planes Are Full of Trash
Popular Mechanics ^ | 03/04/2019 | Kyle Mizokami

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 ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: military
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To: elcid1970

I’m just the site civil engineer. But welmew something wasn’t right when we found it. After 4 months of walking the runway, we had accumulated quite a bit of aircraft parts inluding a fuel cap. They were flying the EA6 Prowlers at the time.


41 posted on 03/05/2019 3:13:28 PM PST by shotgun
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To: DNME; Old Yeller
Sorry, Yeller, but that is incorrect.

It is absolute correct. At least nowadays.

In my time on the flight line (USAF 1981-1990), they called it Foreign Object Damage (FOD) prevention. Not sure when they started using "Debris" for the actual items.

Never heard dispersal.

Foreign object damage

42 posted on 03/05/2019 3:15:51 PM PST by Mr.Unique (The government, by its very nature, cannot give except what it first takes.)
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To: jz638

You want to rely on the Frogs to make a critical military component for our defense,rather than the guys that flew over Europe in the 40’s, Koera, Vietnam, The Gulf.... for the Frogs!??

Boeing aren’t saints. Still, they provide a great deal of kit to our military, and I rather have them profiting from our tax dollars, than France.

If you want to hold them accountable for crimes real or perceived: fine.

But we need to keep some things in house.

Northrop has sold us some pretty expnise kit. If they want to do a tanker in-house, great! They’re certainly capable.


43 posted on 03/05/2019 3:41:23 PM PST by AFreeBird
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To: Rusty0604
the Trash goes in before the Name goes on...
44 posted on 03/05/2019 6:08:12 PM PST by Chode ( WeÂ’re America, Bitch!)
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To: Tijeras_Slim
Human error in a nuclear facility nearly destroyed Arkansas,
Powell was working on a Titan II missile fitted with a thermonuclear warhead, tucked away underground in Damascus, Arkansas. When the socket fell, it plunged 70 feet to pierce the side of the ...
45 posted on 03/05/2019 11:23:53 PM PST by mabarker1 (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!!)
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To: Kommodor; Chode; Squantos; snooter55; SkyDancer; All

I was on a SWA Flight from DFW to AUS a long time ago. Being a seasoned flier I knew that Window seat rows have better legroom plus I can watch things; Flaps, Slats, Thrust Reverser, Etc. And it puts Me in charge of the Window Exit.

So We take off for the 35 minute flight. The flight path is basically like this ^ so I order a double Screwdriver and the Flight Attendant hands Me the drink and I go back to watching out the Window. As I’m scanning the Wing Surface I see 7 Screws that are sticking up about 1+ inches. As I stare at these 7 Screws to make sure they don’t unscrew any more. I had tools that had to be Checked in the luggage bay because “I might take apart the Plane in flight” said the Ticket Agent. I guess it didn’t matter because I can’t climb out there and fix it anyway.

So I sit there staring at the 7 Screws. The Captain comes on the PA telling Us that We are starting Our descent into Austin. I don’t see any reason to cause a panic so I watch and sip on My Screwdriver thinking how darned ironic it is !!! I’ve got a Screwdriver drink in My hand while I need one in Tool form. I sit and stare out the Window, watching the 7 Screws and waiting to Land. Finally We Land in Austin and the Screws are still there !!!

I stay seated while everbody Deplaned and one of the Flight Attendants walks up to Me and asked if I was OK. I smiled at Her and said I’m fine but “You might want to have the Flight Engineer or Ground Crew check out these 7 Screws, I’ve been watching them for most of the Flight and they didn’t move” She looks out the Window and gasps
A bit. I tell her that there was no point in scaring the whole Cabin in Flight because the ensuing Panic wouldn’t have helped. “She said I can’t believe You sat here the whole flight.” So now I get My carry on from under the seat and Deplane.


46 posted on 03/06/2019 12:52:03 AM PST by mabarker1 (Congress- the opposite of PROGRESS!!!)
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To: mabarker1

for the lack of a screw


47 posted on 03/06/2019 4:06:16 AM PST by Chode ( WeÂ’re America, Bitch!)
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Did ya see yer shadow ?


48 posted on 03/06/2019 10:24:58 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: mabarker1

Was she pretty ?


49 posted on 03/06/2019 10:29:40 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: mabarker1

“...tucked away underground in Damascus, Arkansas.”

In the Bible there is specific prophecy about Damascus being wiped from the face of the earth, and never to be inhabited again.

I always thought it was talking about Syria, but....


50 posted on 03/06/2019 10:40:00 PM PST by 21twelve (!)
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To: Squantos

Sorry about the late reply.

Did you hear about this?

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26810/the-usaf-is-finally-ditching-the-last-of-its-cold-war-revolvers-for-new-semi-auto-pistols

USAF retiring the last of their S&W Model 15’s

Weeping.


51 posted on 03/10/2019 3:31:22 PM PDT by Tijeras_Slim
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To: Tijeras_Slim

Awwww ..... did hear about the unions trashing the tankers . Serious stuff. FOD is no joke. Sad about the SW Combat Masterpiece Mod 15. Great reliable revolver. In EOD we were unofficially allowed to carry anything with a NSN on it . 1911A1 or a Browning High Power’s were available to us. Still liked the SW Mod 15 . CMP gonna get em to sell ??


52 posted on 03/10/2019 8:00:14 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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