Does Anyone Else Have This Problem?

[BCpilot81]

ASA for the past few months, is putting band-aids on mx issues and deferring everything but wings and engines. Anyway, now that they hit cold wx, it all goes to hell. For example, stuck in PWM already 3 hours late. As of right now, plane is still in ATL. Not that I really care, it is only day 2 of 3, and I get paid for whatever changes to the sched. Also, I realize that wx in the upper NE is not the fault of any airline. But the "band-aids" are breaking again due to the wx. Dont mean to vent....well yes I do. Time for a smoke.

 

[sweptback]

It's the SkyWest method of maintenance. Defer everything you can to get the flight back on time. Maintenance has been told that even if it's an easy fix to defer it, but some mechanics will still fix things rather than defer it.

 

[Jon Rivoli]

Line MX's job isn't to fix planes, it's to keep them moving. When it goes in for service is when it get's fixed. Unless it's something really simple or the plane is AOG slap a sticker on it and move on.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

That's not the way it's supposed to work. I'm pretty sure the feds will catch up with that after a while.

 

[eaglefly]

That's not the way it's supposed to work. I'm pretty sure the feds will catch up with that after a while.

Actually, they can sticker the crap out of 'em and still be legal as long as none conflict and they're within their time limit.

It usually takes a fatal accident before the feds pay attention and even then it will be to deflect blame on everyone but their weak limits.

 

[xjcaptain]

While I would like all aircraft to be 100% all the time, it's not reality. What's the problem with operating under a valid MEL? Broken yes....but legally broken. No reason to delay or cancel flights when the flight can operate safely and legally. MEL's obviously have specified times, so they will be repaired when the time and parts are available.

 

[Andrew_VT]

For example, stuck in PWM already 3 hours late. As of right now, plane is still in ATL.

In managements defense, an ASA flight has never left PWM on time

 

[rjacobs]

I remember at TSA a mechanic told us that they would MEL an item and then when the MEL ran out, show the part on order to the FAA saying the part was back-ordered only to cancel the order the next day so that they could run a Cat B or C MEL for 3 or 4 times the legal time frame. I flew an airplane with 7 MEL's on it. Was weird coming to XJT and the first day of training the DO saying that with 274 airplanes we try to start the day with 7 MEL's fleet wide(that has held true, for the most part, for almost 2 years now).

 

[asayankee]

While I would like all aircraft to be 100% all the time, it's not reality. What's the problem with operating under a valid MEL? Broken yes....but legally broken. No reason to delay or cancel flights when the flight can operate safely and legally. MEL's obviously have specified times, so they will be repaired when the time and parts are available.

The problem is that they are deferring and item and once the timeframe runs out they perform some kind of BS fix like "cleaned cannon plug and reseated....ops check good" Well, on the very next flight it gets written up for the same thing and MX comes out and redeferrs the same system....essentially restarting the MEL clock without ever fixing anything. Happens all the time

 

[Beech Balls]

YOU GUYS ARE SISSIES!
Try starting your day with 17 MELs (my record)....and that's not system-wide, that's on your airplane....friggin stickers everywhere!
I LOOOVVVVVEEEEE DOIN' THE COLGAN! well....Colgannicle...Polgan....whatever we are now...

 

[Beech Balls]

The problem is that they are deferring and item and once the timeframe runs out they perform some kind of BS fix like "cleaned cannon plug and reseated....ops check good" Well, on the very next flight it gets written up for the same thing and MX comes out and redeferrs the same system....essentially restarting the MEL clock without ever fixing anything. Happens all the time

SO TRUE...this is a famous method...

 

[nwa_contrails]

It's true! This happened recently at TSA...an aircraft had a really bad oil leak...at every stop, MX would look at it and say it's "within tolerances", clean up the oil on the cowling, top of the oil and continue on, even though there was a massive puddle of oil under the engine...they kept putting it on the carryover list and deffering it.

Well, it finally happened the other week that on a short hop, the engine lost all oil pressure and the crew had to shut it down in flight, declare an emergency, all that garbage...Kudos to the crew for getting it downs safe, but still...perfect example of the 'band-aid' breaking.

 

[Jon Rivoli]

If your MX is abuseing the system then you do have a serious problem, but the MEL system is intended to keep planes moving safely. As for high oil consumption, I write it up to protect my lisence then tell the mechanic if you want to sign it off fine we'll put your lisence on the line, not mine. If the above story is true the FAA investigates every time an engines rotation stops in flight. With a history like you describe I would imagine they will take action.

 

[JPAustin]

That's not the way it's supposed to work. I'm pretty sure the feds will catch up with that after a while.

Actually, it is the way it is supposed to work, or else it wouldn't be legal. Now, you don't want to have stickers hanging like wallpaper, and any airline will realize a diminishing returns of having TOO many MELs. Plus, you are right, the Feds will be over any airline's a-- that abuses the rule, but again, the rule is there to make the economics work.

Anyway, there exists a "marginal return" point where the number of MELs is most efficient for the maximum return on revenue.

Safety of course is number one, but it is usually better to run the MEL to near the end of the term and when the aircraft is at a maintenance base so as not to lose revenue.

Again, don't abuse the rule, use the rule properly and it will work.

 

[MusicMan]

If you feel that maintenance isn't fixing stuff the way you want then one option is to change the wording you use when you write something up. Write it so that they have to fix it.

 

[John Pennekamp]

If you feel that maintenance isn't fixing stuff the way you want then one option is to change the wording you use when you write something up. Write it so that they have to fix it.

Exactly. If they can just slap a deferral sticker on it and go, you're not writing it up right. Any airplane can be grounded anytime. If you're not comfortable with the plane and it's deferrals, Captain, grown some balls and refuse it!