Problem 1: At this airport mud wasps can apparently put mud into a PITOT tube within 30 mins of an aircraft arrival. So PITOT covers need to be fitted and left ON during and after the pilot's walk-around.
Problem 2: To fit and remove the covers, (on many airliners) mobile steps are required, making it therefore an operation undertaken by engineers, who need to go and find and bring a set of steps to the stand.
Problem 3: Apparently engineers are few and far between at this airport or with some operators, so tech log completion can be hectic, by harassed single engineers, and double checks not carried out.
Problem 4: Looking to see if covers are on the flight deck is bad practice. The actual external airframe needs to be checked for covers and pins removed, because ground staff and engineers might use their own covers and pins to save time.
Potential solutions?:
1: Ground crew holds up the three PITOT covers and the steering pin to PIC during the wave-off before taxi.
2: Sew long strings to the PITOT covers to enable the velcro to be unpeeled and the covers pulled off from the ground, without needing to use steps.
Or, fit the covers to fishing rod type arrangements so they can be fitted and removed without steps.
3: Both pilots open their DVs and lean out to check that covers have been removed just before push-back. (A real pain to have to move EFB / plates from window, then unstrap and take headset off etc).(On some aircraft, not all the PITOT probes can be seen that way).
4: Come in 10 mins early to read all the NOTAMS, and/or read them again - more thoroughly - during the cruise to the destination airport.
5: Stop airlines offering ever-lower seat prices, necessitating ever more corners to be cut. Make them compete instead on service, punctuality, baggage allowance, comfort, food, etc etc, but not below a defined minimum seat cost. ( Ha ha ha, good luck with that one !).
6: At least do something to mitigate the mud wasp problem. Whatever procedures are currently in place are not working safely enough.
