ASA CR2 Preflight

[Airboss]

So its been 4 years without a new contract. As stated online, we all need to just do our jobs and fly the contract. If something is broken on an airplane, please write it up.

I would like to make a list of items that are common missed items on a normal preflight that may or may not ground an airplane.
As stated before, just legal means, no work action.

1. Each door that opens i.e fuel door, must have a 'medal' bonding strap that connects the door to the airplane. This is a grounding item.

2. Over the ADG needs to be a CAUTION ADG placard.

 

[No Delay]

Sounds good to me.


What else? Any other good write ups to look for? Got to be more than 2.

 

[socrates1]

The bottom step on the boarding door. It folds up when the handles are lowered by a connecting rod. The bottom step is made from a composite material, maybe fiberglass, and where the rod connects to the step gets cracked. That door is an emergency egress and can't be deferred.

 

[wmuflyguy]

So its been 4 years without a new contract. As stated online, we all need to just do our jobs and fly the contract. If something is broken on an airplane, please write it up.

I would like to make a list of items that are common missed items on a normal preflight that may or may not ground an airplane.
As stated before, just legal means, no work action.

1. Each door that opens i.e fuel door, must have a 'medal' bonding strap that connects the door to the airplane. This is a grounding item.

2. Over the ADG needs to be a CAUTION ADG placard.

Saw an ASA plane in CHO push out 5 early this morning, doesn't look like many want to play the slow down game. God knows I would.

 

[zawillif]

We don't even need to. The closed runway is doing it just fine.

 

[homerjdispatch]

Sounds like a good way to get Uncle Jerry to speed up the transfer of aircraft and JOBS to SkyWest....

 

[Dumb Pilot]

I don't work at ASA, but we are just talking Pilot Stuff, Right? Don't forget that there are wire mesh straps for grounding purposes between the flight spoilers and the frame, and those have to be attached also, without any hydraulic power to the A/C you can lift the spoilers with your hand and check. Just pilot stuff folks. That is what we are talking about, right?

 

[Airboss]

if the pedestal light rubber cover is missing, the whole pedestal light has to be defered.
(The light that is between the fwd and side windshield)

 

[Palerider957]

Believe it or not the magnetic compass can be deferred, but I don't think the compass card can......it would be a shame if you noticed it missing at an outstation.

 

[HarryParatestes]

deleted

 

[shamrock]

I've had 4 planes in the past 3 weeks that had problems with one or both packs not putting out any air when descending with the power at idle. With the power off the cabin will climb at 1500+ FPM and when you add power the cabin will then descend at the same (or greater) rate. Not at all comfortable for the passengers or crew.

Good thing is that the ATL ramp and airport delays make most any efforts to slow things down completely unnecessary. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

 

[Seahawker01]

[FONT=&quot]A Capt. pointed this out to me. The spare fuses on the CB panel behind the F/O seat are a part 91 requirement.[/FONT]

 

[ReportCanoa]

I've had 4 planes in the past 3 weeks that had problems with one or both packs not putting out any air when descending with the power at idle. With the power off the cabin will climb at 1500+ FPM and when you add power the cabin will then descend at the same (or greater) rate. Not at all comfortable for the passengers or crew.

Good thing is that the ATL ramp and airport delays make most any efforts to slow things down completely unnecessary. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

You haven't flown an old jet like the 727 some of which leaked like mad. The sad thing is, these jets are practically new by airline standards.

 

[SPDBRD747400]

Check the outside panel where the rampers plug in the headset for pushbacks, there are some lights in there that should be working, batt master on & parking break set. Check them out, caught a bunch on the 70's.

 

[Huck]

there are wire mesh straps for grounding purposes between the flight spoilers and the frame

dam', you beat me to it.

From the last time: a certain female ATR captain wrote up the left engine for taking too long to come out of feather after start. Mx tried it and signed it off as normal. So she wrote up the other one for coming out too quickly. Who was it? Joe M's girlfriend, believe it or not....


Here's my contribution: frayed seat belts in the cabin. Good luck guys.

 

[FmrFreightDog]

Believe it or not the magnetic compass can be deferred, but I don't think the compass card can......it would be a shame if you noticed it missing at an outstation.

Careful there. If you write that up at the outstation, somebody is going to say either (a) you flew an unairworthy aircraft to said outstation or (b) the crew that handed the aircraft off to you flew an unairworthy aircraft to said outstation. If you're gonna write something up at an outstation, make sure it's something that could actually conceivably break at an outstation. Having said that.... Don't make crap up. If it's broke, it's broke, and it needs to be addressed. Do as thorough a preflight as you want, but intentionally breaking stuff and/or putting bogus writeups in the can is dishonest and unprofessional. Aside from that, it's a good way to get yourself in a spot you don't want to be in. If you really want to write something up, I guarantee that if you look hard enough, you'll find something legitimate.

 

[scarlet]

someone said cracks somewhere around the engine mounts?? Not sure if that is true....SLOWDOWN....maybe putting our foot thru the CRT.....

 

[AeroDork]

1. Each door that opens i.e fuel door, must have a 'medal' bonding strap that connects the door to the airplane.

does the medal have to be gold, silver or bronze?

 

[wickedpilot]

Check the outside panel where the rampers plug in the headset for pushbacks, there are some lights in there that should be working, batt master on & parking break set. Check them out, caught a bunch on the 70's.

Yep, usually the 'Batt on' light in the 200. That and placards.

 

[katanabob]

Wow, here goes.

1. Radome delamination. Carry a quarter out with you (or a nickel, in the case of FOs.) and tap on the areas that look lousy. If they sound different from the rest of the panel, they're delaminated. This works on all composite panels.

2. Compartment lights. On the -200, there are nose gear, av. bay, and aft equipment bay compartment lights, with associated switches. The aft bay has three separate lights. They are all numbered for your convenience when writing them up.

3. Aforementioned bonding straps. These are especially critical on composite panels. Hint: all gear doors have at least one. The main gear doors' straps are kinda hard to see. (easiest to see from the back, looking forward)

4. Antiice sealant. There is a high-temp RTV (Room temperature variant; you'd call it silicone) compound that seals the edges of each and every bleed-heated panel (the shiny ones) on the airplane. Is some missing? It's plainly addressed in the CDL.

5. Brake line wear. When looking at the main gear strut extension, check out those nasty, frayed, and often leaking brake lines.

6. The aft equipment bay. Yes, I know we all hate looking in here but it's the only place you'll find the master hyd. quantity gauges for system 1&2. They have to be clear and readable. Check accumulator pressures as well--there's a placard for reference. Don't forget the APU box! feel the bottom edges for oil leaks.

7. Have you ever turned on the emergency lights before a walkaround?

8. Fuses on the FO's side are the backup for the ESS TRU fuses. It's the only way to get the ESS TRU back if a fuse blows. (look higher on the panel and you'll see where they go) Oh, and circuit breaker panel labels. Those things that are always laying on the floor are actually supposed to be attached.

9. Avionics bay. I once opened one and lav juice came running out...

10. FDRs. The sealing tape can't be damaged. (The reflective stripes) Skydrol does a number on them.

More to come later...

 

[FishandFly]

About 6 months ago I posted this same question, and increased the detail of my preflight duties.

Then 3 months ago we broke an airplane at an outstation. It was going to be a long while so I went inside the terminal to find some food.

As I walked into the gate area I noticed a lady was crying.


-------

I have absolutely no idea why she was crying, but thought it through a little further. What if she was crying because our flight was now so delayed that she was going to miss her connection and in turn miss seeing her dying mother that night? Or what if I delay a flight that has a serviceman back from Iraq who is not going to get home until the next day.

--------

I pretty much think this company should burn for how it has dealt with our contract for the past 4 years, but I wish customers didn't have to get hurt by it.

 

[ASARJMan]

dam', you beat me to it.

From the last time: a certain female ATR captain wrote up the left engine for taking too long to come out of feather after start. Mx tried it and signed it off as normal. So she wrote up the other one for coming out too quickly. Who was it? Joe M's girlfriend, believe it or not....
Here's my contribution: frayed seat belts in the cabin. Good luck guys.

Last contract Joey and his older girlfriend bragged about their write-ups. ASA ALPA even had to defend Joey for his method of write-ups. I even overheard his girlfriend ask joey (after stating what she wrote-up) "I did good huh honey?" (seeking approval from Joey). These two pieces of work were the worst (along w/ their bud KC) at writing up planes. All of them went way too far. And now they preach to the rest of us. Amazing.

Get ready because these two will make a run for MEC office, even as they trash ALPA. Amazing. I still wonder what management has promised them.

VOTED IN FAVOR!

 

[thesource]

I'd just like to add that during the last contract fight around '97 or so.
One of our pilots was fired for writing up the little balls on the end of the seat adjustment levers (both missing) on the E120.

A mechanic told the company that he had just done a daily inspection and that both parts were infact there when he did the inspection just minutes ago. Not being listed in the MEL the plane was grounded and of course we had no replacement part in stock.

During the investigation it was discovered that the parts were on a bench, in a plastic baggie labled with the AC number. In Texarkana. They had been removed by maint during a check and no one noticed untill this Capt.

Be carefull. And you can't count on Maint to be your friend. The mechanic in question didn't care much for the pilots and was more than happy to lie to management about seeing the parts only moments before.

Of course 95% of our mechanics are great and are just as mad at management as we are.

In the end ALPA got the pilot his job back. But what a hassle.

 

[John Pennekamp]

dam', you beat me to it.

From the last time: a certain female ATR captain wrote up the left engine for taking too long to come out of feather after start. Mx tried it and signed it off as normal. So she wrote up the other one for coming out too quickly. Who was it? Joe M's girlfriend, believe it or not....


Here's my contribution: frayed seat belts in the cabin. Good luck guys.

Joe M's "older girlfriend" (LJ) used to actually be a trade unionist and "one of us". She turned against the ASA pilot group when her failed coup attempt against Bob Arnold got her kicked out of the union. Now she and "Joe" will do anything and say anything to make the union look bad. And the ASA pilots have suffered because of it. I honestly believe that JB and LJ running around telling everyone we should cave in and settle has encouraged management to continue stalling and pushing concessions. They have caused management so see a crack in the pilot group's resolve to exploit!

 

[John Pennekamp]

Believe it or not the magnetic compass can be deferred, but I don't think the compass card can......it would be a shame if you noticed it missing at an outstation.

The card missing only causes you to defer the compass, SP 450. Done it.

 

[crjskipper]

just sucks for you guys to do this. all this does is screw some poor mechanic who has to stop changing a tire to come over and waste 15 minutes writing up something. where does the poh say to open any door on the plane to check hydraulic fluid or else. let the operation ruin itself as it normally does. it doesnt need our help. our mechanics are about the only group i have complete faith in. i hate seeing them and the pax get screwed so someone can take a 10 minute delay.

show the company that we are the professionals.

 

[katanabob]

just sucks for you guys to do this. all this does is screw some poor mechanic who has to stop changing a tire to come over and waste 15 minutes writing up something. where does the poh say to open any door on the plane to check hydraulic fluid or else. let the operation ruin itself as it normally does. it doesnt need our help. our mechanics are about the only group i have complete faith in. i hate seeing them and the pax get screwed so someone can take a 10 minute delay.

show the company that we are the professionals.

All of the aforementioned items are part of the service/daily checks that the mechanics run on every airplane at least every three days. If there are obvious problems on a preflight, you're probably not the first to notice it--just the first to write it up. Have you never written anything up? I didn't realize part 121 granted the PIC had any authority whatsoever in determining whether discrepancies were worthy of a writeup or not.

 

[No Delay]

Originally Posted by FishandFly
What if she was crying because our flight was now so delayed that she was going to miss her connection and in turn miss seeing her dying mother that night? Or what if I delay a flight that has a serviceman back from Iraq who is not going to get home until the next day.

Originally Posted by crjskipper
i hate seeing them and the pax get screwed so someone can take a 10 minute delay.

Be careful not to place blame on the wrong group. All of this is just the unintended consequences of greedy managers trying to rap labor in an effort to line their own pockets.

War is always bad. Innocient people always get caught in the middle. However, war is still sometimes nessecary.

If a passenger misses a wedding, funeral, vacation, homecoming, whatever...it is not because I wrote something up. It is because management is trying to find a quick and easy way to save money.

 

[Palerider957]

just sucks for you guys to do this. all this does is screw some poor mechanic who has to stop changing a tire to come over and waste 15 minutes writing up something. where does the poh say to open any door on the plane to check hydraulic fluid or else. let the operation ruin itself as it normally does. it doesnt need our help. our mechanics are about the only group i have complete faith in. i hate seeing them and the pax get screwed so someone can take a 10 minute delay.

show the company that we are the professionals.

Poor mechanics? These guys are paid by the hour and get to go home every night. What do they care how they spend 8 hours? If anything it lets them lobby for more mechanics.

 

[outtahere]

just sucks for you guys to do this. all this does is screw some poor mechanic who has to stop changing a tire to come over and waste 15 minutes writing up something. where does the poh say to open any door on the plane to check hydraulic fluid or else. let the operation ruin itself as it normally does. it doesnt need our help. our mechanics are about the only group i have complete faith in. i hate seeing them and the pax get screwed so someone can take a 10 minute delay.

show the company that we are the professionals.

Yeah because being professional has worked so well for us so far. Personally I am not feeling very professional since the company I work for has chosen to lie and stall every attempt at a better contract for four years. Yes, I do feel for our passengers, but they are the only reason we will get a contract. When Delta takes notice of the dismal performance of ASA and starts to fine Skywest, then we may actually see some movement. Or they may cancel our contract, chance we have to take.