Dealing with Maintenance

[Typhoon1244]

Okay, maybe it shouldn't bother me...but the more I think about it, the more irritated I get.

We brought a CRJ into DFW last night around 7pm. We had a lot of issues with the flight director (altitude selector was erratic, command bars didn't match side-to-side, speed mode didn't work, etc.). In addition, while we were taxiing in, the nosewheel steering crapped out on us twice. I know it's inconvenient for the nap crew taking the airplane out, but I felt like this was stuff that needed to be written up (particularly since the altitude selector problem was a repeat write-up)...and I hoped maintenance would try to actually fix it instead of just defer the autopilot and flight director.

So when maintenance shows up, the first mechanic we meet says--in an exasperated tone--"so I guess this is f*ck-your-buddy night, huh?"

What do y'all think? Should I (A) ignore it like usual, or (B) write this mechanic's comments up as a couple of people have recommended to me? Would any of you take issue with a remark like that?

 

[Diesel]

Just get in the plane and fix it monkey wrench boy.

I'll be inside relaxing in the crew room.

Oh and your not my buddy. Your the mechanic

 

[chperplt]

The last company I worked for had mechanics with similar attitudes. Two pilots are dead because of it.

Do your fellow pilots and the traveling public a favor and write this guy up. That attitude is not needed in this industry.

 

[Typhoon1244]

Just get in the plane and fix it monkey wrench boy. Oh and your not my buddy...

Well, I think he was referring to the next crew...whom I spoke to about these write-ups, by the way. (They seemed to agree that perhaps, at least, the nosewheel steering should be fixed!)

 

[fasteddy69]

Please refer to FAR 91.3 and 91.7.....Thank you. Now you tell me who tells who what to do. I would talk to your chief pilot and take it right up the chain of command. I babysit mechanics for a living, hopefully not for much longer, and it is like pulling teeth at some of our stations to get the mechanics to do their jobs. At other stations we have excellent mechanics that do preventive maintenance or who monitor the aircraft closely and have good communication with the pilots. This is supposed to be a team effort, but it usually turns out to be an us/them game. Have the guy fired.

 

[Borat Sagdiyev]

Thank you

Write that guy up.

I get a bit tired of other pilots not writing squawks up, but maybe that's just me. I am glad you wrote them up, and I hope you do so in the future, even if it's at an outstation before my freedom leg. In spite of a nap crew's desire to not be delayed by maintenance, you did them a huge favor. What if that nosewheel problem gets more serious? What if the AFCS malfunctions and causes a loss of separation between you and another aircraft? If a mechanical problem crops up on your watch, it's your problem until you write it in the can.

This mechanic may have been having a bad night, but let him explain that to his boss. Do you want this mechanic intimidating a weaker captain when he says he intends to write something up?

Knowing the professionalism of most of our mechanics, I'd bet his supervisors will deal with him if you write him up.

 

[Weasel Keeper]

If the mechanic was just having a bad day but he fixed the write ups then I might let it slide...or let MOC or someone know about his attitude. It'll get back to him big time. He might be a great mechanic, but just has a bad attitude (I know some like this).

If he pissed and moaned and still didn't fix them then I'd press the issue more.

Most importantly, if you have a gripe with your aircraft...write it up. You're the pilot/FO who's safety might be in question. If you ignore the gripes, they won't get fixed, or they'll fail for the next crew and then it will be on your conscience. If something you wrote up gets MEL'd then you have to deal with it...but at least you brought it to their attention. I know there are times when I'd rather have an easy night, but if the crew comes in and writes up the aircraft then we do what we can to fix it...because that's our job.

Unfortunately there are some mechanics out there who have bad attitudes and it gives those of us who actually like our jobs a bad name.

 

[tradersltd]

Write him up because he's got a bad attitude, the kind that will say screw it and send the bird right back out for the next crew. Don't tolerate it one bit! my $.02

 

[xjavro85]

I can't beleive everyone is getting down on this guy for a bad attitude. What a bunch of hypocrites...as far as getting mad over a deferred A/P, let me see what is it we are paid for..thats right flying the airplane. Back in the metro days hell they didn't even have a/p's. And in the DASH-8 the nosewheel steering was deferrable. I think we should give the mechanics a little respect. They keep the things flying just as much if not more than we do.

 

[Tim47SIP]

How Long?

Well, if the problems were there for the last four legs, then he has a point. If they all materialized on that last leg, then you have a point. Writing up problems when they occur is correct, waiting until the last leg is another thing, not that that's what happened.

 

[TonyC]

I can't beleive everyone is getting down on this guy for a bad attitude. What a bunch of hypocrites...as far as getting mad over a deferred A/P, let me see what is it we are paid for..thats right flying the airplane.

I can't believe anyone would DEFEND the mechanic's attitude.

Who got mad over a deferred A/P? He objects to the attitude displayed by the machanic - - the 6th word out of his mouth was a vulgar expletive - - defend THAT!

What are we paid for? Flying the airplane AND documenting mechanical discrepancies. Any mechanic who intimidates pilots into failing to document discrepancies that subsequently hurt people should be held criminally liable, in my opinion.

If it's broke, it gets written up. IF it's deferrable, and that's what the mechanic chooses to do, so be it. If it's not deferrable, it's gotta be fixed. Ignoring it will not make it go away. Do what you're supposed to do, and sign your certificate number to it. If you've got a problem with that arrangement, you need to find another vocation.

 

[248to2.8]

I can't beleive everyone is getting down on this guy for a bad attitude. What a bunch of hypocrites...as far as getting mad over a deferred A/P, let me see what is it we are paid for..thats right flying the airplane. Back in the metro days hell they didn't even have a/p's. And in the DASH-8 the nosewheel steering was deferrable. I think we should give the mechanics a little respect. They keep the things flying just as much if not more than we do.

No, we aren't paid to fly airplanes anymore. Now we monitor systems.

 

[Ted Striker]

What drives me nuts is not so much being delayed for maintenance, but when I get a jet that has issues and NO ONE has written them up all day. If the plane needs work, get it fixed. As far as the mechanic's attitude, I wouldn't let it go. If one of us spoke to him like that, we'd be called on the carpet. I have had a couple of times where they gave me grief for writing something up, or had comments like "well, how do you think we are supposed to fix THIS?" I really don't care how you fix it, but it needs fixed. I am not an A & P. Most of the guys are ok, but like anything a couple of bad apples can ruin it.

 

[TonyC]

What drives me nuts is not so much being delayed for maintenance, but when I get a jet that has issues and NO ONE has written them up all day. If the plane needs work, get it fixed.

My experience with maintenance has been overwhelmingly positive, but there have been a few bad incidents that stand out in my mind still.

One particular early morning during pre-flight I found a main gear strut underserviced and brought it to the attention of the mechanic warming himself in the front seat of a van parked nearby. He responded with a sad story about how difficult it would be to service the strut, how he'd have to go get some kind of specialized equipment, how long it would take, blah blah, blah, he already noticed the strut and thought it would be good to go. I told him that my book says the strut has to be serviced, so I'll go ahead and write it up and if it was good to go, he could just sign it off. In light of the fact that the very same airplane had a landing incident involving the landing gear just a few days earlier, I thought it would be prudent to document any deficiencies.

15 minutes later the strut was serviced. Amazing.


If anything, I'd prefer to err on the side of writing up any time there's a doubt. If it's good to go, and the mechanic says so, he affixes his certificate number and we're on our way. Works great, lasts long time.

 

[trip]

You all are sounding like a bunch of girls- let me rephrase that WIMPS because some mechanic was gruff with you? Tell him its in the can (written-up) and go have your coffee or latte whatever. sheese get over it.

 

[Typhoon1244]

You all are sounding like a bunch of girls...because some mechanic was gruff with you? Sheese get over it.

He wasn't gruff, he was downright rude.

And I ignored it.*

How is that girl-like?







*Although I wish I hadn't...

 

[Rook]

Just think how you'd feel if you didn't write it up and the next crew had something happen (minor or major). Then you'd feel like a tool. Screw that mechanic's attitude. He's on duty for a reason and has a responsibility to fulfill. Let him/her earn their money. If it's something that is deferrable, then you've already taken care of the matter on your part. Ink to paper isn't that big of a deal. If you feel that the guy's attitude needs adjustment then bring it up to a MX super or your CP. Be diplomatic about it of course.

Rook

 

[citdrver]

As a former airline line mechanic and regional FO, I would say that the guy was being sarcastic, as many mechanics can be. What you have is an attitude problem directed to you, just aeasily could be from a ramper, a gate agent, etc. One mechanic I worked with had a good saying: "The Book Shall Set You Free!" If you have a discrepency Write it up!! Every instance of a captain trying to be a good guy or company guy and not wanting to write something up, usually screwed more than just his buddy.

You have a maintenance issue, put it in the book. You have a personal issue, follow your company protocol. Also be advised your dealing with maintenace in a closing maintenace base, dont ask for high morale when the dude's job is going away.

As far as the negative Mechanic comments, remeber those wrench monkies etc, are most likely making more than you, work in the elements more then you, deal with rather complex problems more than you, know the airplane better than you, and you depend on them to keep you making more than gaurantee. I will say at Comair there were a few attitudes, but the vast majority were very proffesional and quite good.

 

[xjavro85]

As a former airline line mechanic and regional FO, I would say that the guy was being sarcastic, as many mechanics can be. What you have is an attitude problem directed to you, just aeasily could be from a ramper, a gate agent, etc. One mechanic I worked with had a good saying: "The Book Shall Set You Free!" If you have a discrepency Write it up!! Every instance of a captain trying to be a good guy or company guy and not wanting to write something up, usually screwed more than just his buddy.

You have a maintenance issue, put it in the book. You have a personal issue, follow your company protocol. Also be advised your dealing with maintenace in a closing maintenace base, dont ask for high morale when the dude's job is going away.

As far as the negative Mechanic comments, remeber those wrench monkies etc, are most likely making more than you, work in the elements more then you, deal with rather complex problems more than you, know the airplane better than you, and you depend on them to keep you making more than gaurantee. I will say at Comair there were a few attitudes, but the vast majority were very proffesional and quite good.

AMEN BROTHA!!!!

 

[CandlerWun]

As far as the negative Mechanic comments, remeber those wrench monkies etc, are most likely making more than you, work in the elements more then you, deal with rather complex problems more than you, know the airplane better than you, and you depend on them to keep you making more than gaurantee. I will say at Comair there were a few attitudes, but the vast majority were very proffesional and quite good.

I must say that I was rather disappointed to see so many derogatory comments directed toward mechanics in general (this specific instance notwithstanding). I think it reveals an elitist attitude, as though operating the aircraft is somehow better than keeping it in good working order. Both are skilled, demanding occupations, and both deserve respect. It is surprising that many pilots do not understand this.

Josh M.