Reader Feedback

Focusing on Mechanics

Thank you for mentioning www.faasafety.gov (see Go FAASTeam Go, Aviation Maintenance, Feb. 2009, page 6). Recently, I’ve been taking recurrent training to maintain my Inspection Authorization (IA). One of the places I would highly recommend for all aviation maintenance professionals is faasafety.gov. FAA offers a lot of courses, ranging in topics from aeronautical decision-making to runway safety to positive aircraft control. All of the above topics are excellent items to cover. Unfortunately, most of the courses are concentrated toward pilots.

As a mechanic, I would like to see these very topics emphasized for mechanics and how they correlate to aviation maintenance, as well as how the mechanic can incorporate these into their everyday career practices. I believe this can be done very easily. For example, aeronautical decision-making could include a mechanic in the copilot seat.

How many times have we replaced an engine or a component and had to go on a maintenance test flight? Have you ever replaced a fuel control or had to track and balance a rotor system, or performed a high-power ground run after a C-check?

This course can show what to look for in a maintenance test flight, including traffic avoidance and crew resource management. The subject of density altitude could be covered in the areas of engine and aircraft performance and testing, such as installing a new engine and checking its performance compared to the factory. One of my first civilian jobs out of the Army was overhauling turbine engines. We computed the power output of the overhauled engine on the test cell and provided the customer with test cell printouts, compensated for density altitude. Icing can break down the de-icing system of an aircraft (Cessna 340, Beech King Air) and show typical troubleshooting areas with emphasis on the relationship of a pilot and mechanic working through the problem together.

I have worked in GA and helicopter maintenance, and have had the opportunity to learn about several different pilot challenges. I know many mechanics that attain their pilot license, and pilots that want to learn all about the aircraft maintenance as they can.

There are many websites out there that offer recurrent training, for a fee. However, I believe a mechanic should have a resource, within the governmental regulating agency, to find information and direction, geared toward safety, to enhance their learning and training.

The course most geared toward the mechanic on the FAA website is "Failure to Follow Procedures — Inspection." I would definitely recommend that aircraft mechanics take the course. The FAA is working on this website. It’s a great start. The more we use these resources, the better they get. Send them your suggestions. I did.

Rena H. Smith, A&P, IA

DynCorp Intl