Grey Maintenance
Stuck out on the ramp having just changed a widget,airplane ready to go,flight crew bitching about on time departure, cabin crew desperate to close the last remaining door - one last job to do before you get off - Fill in the Tech Log !
Bugger, you cant remember the maintenance manual reference. You have a dilemma. Do you hold up a plane full of punters for an insignificant widget, get back in the van, drive back to the office and dig out the mm ref only to pick up a tech delay for your troubles, or do you say Sod it and fill in the tech log "Widget replaced and functioned Satis " ?
The current trend requiring a maintenace Manual ref for everything including the sink can be a tad troublesome at times. I know according to the letter of the law its required, but not everything has a reference. Welcome to the area of maintenace where there are no definitive rights or wrongs. The area of Grey Maintenace !!
Have you ever tried to get a mm ref for fitting a bev maker of for adjusting a pax seat hydrolock ? No - because they are'nt listed. Does that mean you can't change them ? Ballcocks !
Its even worse in the hangar - a whole shed load of dubious goings on that have no right and wrong. Take for example rotopeening - allowable or not ? Fabricating your own brackets/angles, allowable or not ?. According the the airworthiness notice #3 you cant disassemble a complete riveted joint in a primary structure, but how many of us have had complete lap joints apart ? Special Bolted joints - now there's a laugh. Some would say once you've done one they're not special any more ? What does quality dept do if you quiz them on such aspects - yep turn and run the other way!
Thoughts/Comments on the subject
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Happiness is a corroded shear deck