Boeing Damages Air Force One
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Boeing Damages Air Force One
Maintenance crew did something wrong, maintenance contractor self-reported the error and fixed it at their own expense. I'm guessing there were also internal actions to identify how it came to happen, and a few heads have probably rolled while other culprits have been ripped new excretory orifaces.
That all sounds like a safety culture operating as it should. What's the story here?
That all sounds like a safety culture operating as it should. What's the story here?
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Air force 1? That's like saying AC824, or UA952, or JL001 was damaged. IIRC there are a number of different Air Force aircraft that carry the Air Force 1 designation, when the president is aboard.
Is that true? I've heard that it is the case with "Air Force 2" (what ever aeroplane the VP is on at the time), but I was under the impression that Air Force 1 only ever refered to whichever of the VC25s was on duty at the time.
Anyway, the actual article makes it clear they're talkingf about a VC-25.
Anyway, the actual article makes it clear they're talkingf about a VC-25.
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Technically, any FW aircraft carrying POTUS is identified as Air Force One - smaller aircraft are used occasionally. However, the planes most commonly used are the two specialized 747s (VC-25As) carrying the tail numbers 28000 and 29000.
When the President isn't on board their callsigns are SAM 28000 and
SAM 29000.
Special Air Mission.
The VC-25A has also been used to transport deceased former presidents. The guest area aft of "the White House" has chairs and tables that can be removed and the casket laid in their place.[5] The remains of both Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford were transported by SAM 28000 and 29000 respectively to Washington for their state funerals, and then on to their final resting places. Colonel Mark Tillman, pilot for President George W. Bush, said, "We'll take care of the president from basically when he's in office to when he lays [sic] in state."[5] For the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004, Tillman said that the crew converted the front of the aircraft to look the way it would have appeared when Reagan was president; President and Nancy Reagan's Air Force One jackets were placed on the chairs to "make them feel at home".[5] A specially designed hydraulic lifter (similar to the type used by airline catering) with the presidential seal affixed to the sides lifts the casket up to the portside aft door to enter the VC-25A. The tradition of placing the caskets in the passenger cabin dates back to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, when the crew did not want the president's body placed in the cargo hold,[10] and again during the state funeral of Lyndon B. Johnson.[11]
SAM 29000.
Special Air Mission.
The VC-25A has also been used to transport deceased former presidents. The guest area aft of "the White House" has chairs and tables that can be removed and the casket laid in their place.[5] The remains of both Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford were transported by SAM 28000 and 29000 respectively to Washington for their state funerals, and then on to their final resting places. Colonel Mark Tillman, pilot for President George W. Bush, said, "We'll take care of the president from basically when he's in office to when he lays [sic] in state."[5] For the funeral of President Ronald Reagan in 2004, Tillman said that the crew converted the front of the aircraft to look the way it would have appeared when Reagan was president; President and Nancy Reagan's Air Force One jackets were placed on the chairs to "make them feel at home".[5] A specially designed hydraulic lifter (similar to the type used by airline catering) with the presidential seal affixed to the sides lifts the casket up to the portside aft door to enter the VC-25A. The tradition of placing the caskets in the passenger cabin dates back to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, when the crew did not want the president's body placed in the cargo hold,[10] and again during the state funeral of Lyndon B. Johnson.[11]
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I believe when he is on the Marine helicopter it is "Marine One."
any FW aircraft carrying POTUS is identified as Air Force One
BTW Does President Trump still use his own aircraft or he is obliged to use one military ones?
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Carting the president around is not easy, he must be accompanied at all times with a whole slew of specialist secure communications kit for assorted "hot lines" etc so I doubt if his private aircraft is suitable.
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When a member of the President's immediate family is onboard an aircraft, the callsign becomes Executive One Foxtrot. The First Lady rode C-32A 09-0016, a military B-752, from Andrews to La Guardia last week under this callsign. This plane has the extra comm gear that someone mentioned above (not all of the C-32A's have it) and was in place as a backup for Air Force One's arrival at JFK a few hours later. After dropping off the President for a brief meeting with some world leader, the VC-25A ferried back to ADW using the callsign SAM 28. In recent years the callsign would be usually SAM 28000 for this aircraft when empty in my experience.
The other presidential 747, 29000, has been doing training recently as Venus 02 using the squadron callsign.
So far, I've only seen aircraft 28000 with the current President onboard.
Last edited by Airbubba; 12th May 2017 at 19:46.
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Maintenance crew did something wrong, maintenance contractor self-reported the error and fixed it at their own expense. I'm guessing there were also internal actions to identify how it came to happen, and a few heads have probably rolled while other culprits have been ripped new excretory orifaces.
That all sounds like a safety culture operating as it should. What's the story here?
That all sounds like a safety culture operating as it should. What's the story here?
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Here is the Executive Summary of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board's report:
https://media.defense.gov/2017/May/0...09-335-001.PDF
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION
VC-25A, TN 92-9000 BOEING GLOBAL SUPPORT SERVICES, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 1-10 APRIL 2016
Between 1 and 10 April 2016, at the Boeing plant located in Port San Antonio, Texas, three Boeing mechanics supplied and used contaminated tools, parts, components, a regulator, and an unauthorized cleaning procedure while performing oxygen system leak checks on the mishap aircraft (MA), a VC-25A, Tail Number (TN) 92-9000, assigned to the Presidential Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The three Boeing mechanics were supporting the heavy maintenance contract between the United States Air Force and Boeing.
To prevent a fire hazard, the VC-25A Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) requires all tools and components used on the MA’s oxygen systems to be “oxygen clean” so contaminants do not exceed specified levels prior to oxygen system maintenance.
In preparing to conduct oxygen system leak checks, a Boeing mechanic, Mishap Mechanic 1 (MM1), supplied non-oxygen clean parts, components, and a cleaning solution to another Boeing mechanic, Mishap Mechanic 2 (MM2), for use on the MA’s oxygen system. Another Boeing mechanic, Mishap Mechanic 3 (MM3), assisted MM2 in locating contaminated parts and components, then assisted MM2 by using the cleaning solution in an unauthorized procedure in an attempt to sanitize these parts, components, and a regulator MM2 assembled. MM2 then connected these parts, components, and the regulator to the MA’s oxygen system.
Upon finding a non-oxygen clean regulator connected to the MA, Boeing tested the regulator and contamination was found. To date, the cost to remediate the known contamination of the oxygen system is over $4 million, which was paid for by Boeing. There were no injuries as a result of the mishap.
The Board President found by a preponderance of evidence MM1, MM2, and MM3 caused the mishap by supplying and using non-oxygen clean tools, parts, components, a regulator, and an unauthorized cleaning procedure while performing oxygen system leak checks on the MA in violation of required procedures.
The Board President found by a preponderance of evidence three factors substantially contributed to the mishap. First, MM2 failed to observe explicit warnings concerning cleanliness while performing tasks on the MA’s oxygen system. Second, Boeing failed to exercise adequate oversight over the timeliness and quality of maintenance being performed on the MA. Lastly, MM1, MM2, and MM3 failed to absorb or retain oxygen system training and failed to apply cleanliness procedures while performing oxygen system maintenance.
VC-25A, TN 92-9000 BOEING GLOBAL SUPPORT SERVICES, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 1-10 APRIL 2016
Between 1 and 10 April 2016, at the Boeing plant located in Port San Antonio, Texas, three Boeing mechanics supplied and used contaminated tools, parts, components, a regulator, and an unauthorized cleaning procedure while performing oxygen system leak checks on the mishap aircraft (MA), a VC-25A, Tail Number (TN) 92-9000, assigned to the Presidential Airlift Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The three Boeing mechanics were supporting the heavy maintenance contract between the United States Air Force and Boeing.
To prevent a fire hazard, the VC-25A Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) requires all tools and components used on the MA’s oxygen systems to be “oxygen clean” so contaminants do not exceed specified levels prior to oxygen system maintenance.
In preparing to conduct oxygen system leak checks, a Boeing mechanic, Mishap Mechanic 1 (MM1), supplied non-oxygen clean parts, components, and a cleaning solution to another Boeing mechanic, Mishap Mechanic 2 (MM2), for use on the MA’s oxygen system. Another Boeing mechanic, Mishap Mechanic 3 (MM3), assisted MM2 in locating contaminated parts and components, then assisted MM2 by using the cleaning solution in an unauthorized procedure in an attempt to sanitize these parts, components, and a regulator MM2 assembled. MM2 then connected these parts, components, and the regulator to the MA’s oxygen system.
Upon finding a non-oxygen clean regulator connected to the MA, Boeing tested the regulator and contamination was found. To date, the cost to remediate the known contamination of the oxygen system is over $4 million, which was paid for by Boeing. There were no injuries as a result of the mishap.
The Board President found by a preponderance of evidence MM1, MM2, and MM3 caused the mishap by supplying and using non-oxygen clean tools, parts, components, a regulator, and an unauthorized cleaning procedure while performing oxygen system leak checks on the MA in violation of required procedures.
The Board President found by a preponderance of evidence three factors substantially contributed to the mishap. First, MM2 failed to observe explicit warnings concerning cleanliness while performing tasks on the MA’s oxygen system. Second, Boeing failed to exercise adequate oversight over the timeliness and quality of maintenance being performed on the MA. Lastly, MM1, MM2, and MM3 failed to absorb or retain oxygen system training and failed to apply cleanliness procedures while performing oxygen system maintenance.
Here is the Executive Summary of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Board's report:
.........MM2 then connected these parts, components, and the regulator to the MA’s oxygen system.
Upon finding a non-oxygen clean regulator connected to the MA.........
https://media.defense.gov/2017/May/0...09-335-001.PDF
.........MM2 then connected these parts, components, and the regulator to the MA’s oxygen system.
Upon finding a non-oxygen clean regulator connected to the MA.........
https://media.defense.gov/2017/May/0...09-335-001.PDF
I wonder what happened in that interval. How did Boeing "find" a non-oxygen clean regulator"? Was there some kind of test? Hard to imagine what and anyway, there would have to be a post-test test. Or did one of the MM's report that they had screwed-up?
(love the term MM. I can think of several M's worthy of that epithet)
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https://www.aecinc.com/assets/pdf/AMM_sample.pdf
NOTE:
Oxygen clean fittings come from a sealed package labeled for oxygen sys-
tem installation. Make sure that you use only oxygen clean fittings. Some
fittings used in the oxygen system are the same as fittings used in other
systems that are not oxygen clean. If it is necessary to clean parts, use the
applicable oxygen procedures to clean the parts. This also applies to tube
caps and plugs, which must be as clean as the installation connections.
WARNING:
USE ONLY OXYGEN CLEAN COMPONENTS IN THE OXYGEN SYS-
TEM. IF YOU DO NOT USE OXYGEN CLEAN COMPONENTS, A FIRE
OR AN EXPLOSION CAN OCCUR. THIS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO
EQUIPMENT OR INJURIES TO PERSONS.
Oxygen clean fittings come from a sealed package labeled for oxygen sys-
tem installation. Make sure that you use only oxygen clean fittings. Some
fittings used in the oxygen system are the same as fittings used in other
systems that are not oxygen clean. If it is necessary to clean parts, use the
applicable oxygen procedures to clean the parts. This also applies to tube
caps and plugs, which must be as clean as the installation connections.
WARNING:
USE ONLY OXYGEN CLEAN COMPONENTS IN THE OXYGEN SYS-
TEM. IF YOU DO NOT USE OXYGEN CLEAN COMPONENTS, A FIRE
OR AN EXPLOSION CAN OCCUR. THIS CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO
EQUIPMENT OR INJURIES TO PERSONS.
It's the tools and equipment used to work on an oxygen system that require to be clean and free from contamination by oil, grease, etc.
Every mechanic learns that as part of their training.
Every mechanic learns that as part of their training.
this was the first time any of these 3 had ever worked on an oxygen system
... or ...
These guys had previously worked on other oxygen systems, using similar procedures, and there's a bunch of other boeings flying about in a similar condition but meh, no one is keen enough to sort out that mess.