If anyone doubts the extent to which fag packet reporting has been taken in UK scheduled service in the recent past this is the fleet defect list that I gave to our chief engineer after months of scribbled notes on the back of the previous crew's met-brief . News of the serious accident (with pax on board) that prompted this action, and the resulting accident report never made it to the CAA's safety executive, and incredibly no official record of it exists that I can find today. The Flt Ops inspector was totally dismissive and uninterested, (He was approaching retirement and I suspect he knew full well but didn't want the ruckus to hazard his index linked pension)
I've never seen anything like it since, though whispers suggest this was not the end of such behaviour in this particular company.
I was made redundant days after submitting the list, despite a shortage of pilots.
Didn't have the right attitude, thank God!
Best chuck-up I ever got!
G-XXXX
Radar U/S...Tests OK but onWx displays “FAULT” and shows no returns.
Overhead c/b panel illumination u/s
P1 AI moves in 1-3deg jerks in roll, 1-2deg jerks in pitch, eyebrow roll indicator moves (jerks) independant of AI.
PA inaudible in flight
Chimes u/s
LH engine will not start first on batt, no light-off
No wing de ice light
G-YYYY
De ice boots, no indication tail & outers
Radar u/s
Compass systems up tp 10’ out of sync
P1 AI moves in 2’ increments, pitch & roll, skypointer out of sync w. horizon tape
Chime inaudible at rear of cabin
PA inaudible in flight
Hdg bug couples up to 3’rt of rh edge of bug
Tech log entry ’tail de ice boots’ no other info given
no wing de ice light
G-ZZZZ
Radarperformance poor
Placarded ‘No 136.0 both radios
Unable contact 134.6/136.4
ADF may indicate 180’ out. Cycling invertor may cure.
no wing de ice light
No 1 eng performance; 80% Tq on t/o, ITT limited, better when airborne
G-AAAA
P1 AI moves in 2drg increments (jerks) in pitch and roll. Skypointer out of sync with horizon
P2 Masrer Warn u/s
Outer de ice boot cycle u/s indication
P1 screen heat u/s
no wing de ice light
P1 RMI no.1 switch u/s, VOR selection very difficult to sustain
Heater u/s Auto, over sensitive in man.
Flap not to be used, posible Assy or stuck if retracted (note in tech log)
Severe nosewheel shimmy (reported to ch. eng)
P1 VOR/ILS indications severely inaccurate, see ILS incident (date). A/C signed u/s in tech log (same date). no change/ADD (later date)
Nb. Pilot was summoned to HQ for an interview without coffee for writing up this defect, and his Professionalism severely questioned by Ch Exec.
Radar u/s
No 1 glideslope sticks up
G-BBBB
Radar u/s
Screen de-ice causes unacceptable & loud heterodyne whine in intercom
PA works, but bleeds over onto other station box obliterating RT traffic
VHF, not equipped for 136+ Mhz
Both clocks u/s
No 1 Glideslope sticks up
No reading lamps in cabin
No wing de-ice light
Picture flying these heaps of junk in icing conditions, and on instruments. Scary, isn't it?
And all from a culture that had captains in fear of their jobs if they wrote an aircraft u/s.
so, WRITE IT IN THE TECH LOG!
Last edited by Agaricus bisporus; 27th Aug 2008 at 13:28.