Personally, I have a very simple answer when the Flight Engineer mentions that a particular system has a fault...'put it in the tech log, now.'
If he, for some reason declines, I take the tech log and write it in, myself.
End of story.
It is then up to the company (or contract) maintenence engineers to either fix the defect -or- sign off the aircraft, in accordance with the MEL/CDL.
Ah ha, I can hear you say, 411A is a hard-nosed SOB.
Yep, sure am, where maintenance is concerned.
However, as we carry our own maintenence engineers, this seldom becomes a problem.
Yes, the company has to make a profit, but it will absolutely not do so at my (maintenance) expense.
Case closed.
OTOH, 411A has been known to be of great assistance to ground engineers.
Example.
No oil pressure light on the CAWP for engine number one.
No light test either.
GE goes out to have a look at the Cannon plug on the oil pressure transmitter.
I tell him not to bother, first go down in the FESC, pull out the relavant ILCB and use a soft pencil eraser to clean the contacts.
He does so, problem solved.
Make no mistake, pilots should (need) to get somewhat involved with the maintenance folks, at least to report defects properly, and lets face facts...it takes two to tango.
In short, give the guys a break, they work hard.
Last edited by 411A; 20th Jul 2008 at 07:24.