Maintenance Test Flights

[flyboy06]

Did my first one not too long ago at XJT out of SHV fresh out of C-check.


Nothing like asking the MX guy "Why do 2 of you have to come"

"well i'll be riding up front with you for the flight, and the other guy will be in the back to listen for strange noises"

what did I get myself into?

All and all it was mostly fly around at 12000 ft and time how long the gear and flaps go up and down and test the ICE system at 310 followed by a CAT II app.

 

[Thedude]

\
Basically, you take off and see if they fixed the stupid thing yet. No special training required.

I hope your company/ies dont do test flight like that. If I do a test flight it requires a min of 2 hrs flight time and most likely at least 2 hrs gnd time prior to thr flight to check was has been done. If an engine has been changed, that means a min of at least on engine shut down and relight in flight. I wont do a test flight unless it is day-vfr and the crew-members must have at lest 500hrs in type.
Its more than just a hop around the patch

 

[Lance Uppercut]

I did one or two at PCL, but I usually refused them unless it was something very benign. If anything was done to the primary flight control or engine, then I told them no way. On the couple that I did do, the mx guy did ride along on the jumpseat.

Pu$$ie.......

 

[yaya]

Pu$$ie.......

********************ing management puke. You know who the real *ussy is? YOU and your family.

 

[Lance Uppercut]

********************ing management puke. You know who the real *ussy is? YOU and your family.

What, the airplane is gonna test fly its self?
Think before you type moron. If your sissy a$$ won't do it someone else will.

 

[yaya]

What, the airplane is gonna test fly its self?
Think before you type moron. If your sissy a$$ won't do it someone else will.

Here's another litttle note for ya, grand pubah... No Pilot ever has done something that they did not want to do...

 

[PCL_128]

What, the airplane is gonna test fly its self?
Think before you type moron. If your sissy a$$ won't do it someone else will.

I'm not a test pilot. If some management puke wants to go be a "big man" and test fly airplanes, then he can have at it. Meanwhile, I'll fly my regular schedule and keep my certificate protected to the greatest extent possible.

 

[yaya]

I'm not a test pilot. If some management puke wants to go be a "big man" and test fly airplanes, then he can have at it. Meanwhile, I'll fly my regular schedule and keep my certificate protected to the greatest extent possible.

Thankyou. Any pilot will agree. No Wasty My ticket bubi! So, so sowwie! I go home and kiss my sweetie! Buh by, goodnight!

 

[RJP]

I always cringed when realizing that generally it's the two most junior people in their seats doing these test flights. Reserve CA and reserve FO. Just doesn't make much sense.

 

[Soverytired]

I always cringed when realizing that generally it's the two most junior people in their seats doing these test flights. Reserve CA and reserve FO. Just doesn't make much sense.

My experience as well. And they're usually done at night, without a filed flight plan and without VFR sectionals (company doesn't provide them)

That last is enough to refuse a flight right there. (Must have charts pertinent to flight even for Part 91). Which I have successfully done in the past.

 

[Thedude]

That last is enough to refuse a flight right there. (Must have charts pertinent to flight even for Part 91). Which I have successfully done in the past.

So file IFR, problem solved

 

[yaya]

Solved, do it day vfr unless the mx item does not require it.

 

[Soverytired]

So file IFR, problem solved

Great solution. I would NEVER have thought of that .. . . (sheesh)

You're assuming, of course, that I'd actually WANT to help Mesa. They don't exactly look out for you, so I'm not really interested in "creative solutions" to help them out.

=======================================================

For Example (test flight from 2 years ago):


Mesa: "Take the jet, go to a satellite airport, and do 3 touch and goes to test the landing gear"

Pilot: "Uh . . . I don't have Jepps for that airport"

Mesa: " But the airport is only 15 miles away. You can't miss it, and no one has asked for plates before."

Pilot: "I don't really care. I'm not flying without required charts."

Mesa: "Ok . . . we'll fax them to you. We never thought of that."

(3 hours later, fax arrives)

Pilot: "Say, I got those faxes finally. BTW, I'm not trained to do touch and goes in a jet, and the company is going to hang me out to dry if anything happens, so these will be to a full stop. 15 minutes min turn time on the CRJ2, so this will take an hour, minimum".

Mesa: "Oh. We never thought of that."


Moral of the story: Doing what you're told at Mesa w/o watching your arse will get your ticket in a sling so fast it will make your head swim.