question for marine aviators

[danthaman]

for all you marine pilots out there...i have heard that marine pilots do a lot of maintenance themselves on their aircraft? is this true? if so how much maintenance and how complicated the tasks do you end up doing?

 

[gaijin6423]

Uh... Speaking as a former maintainer and a current Marine SNA, "Nope." Enlisted flightline/maintenance personnel attend lengthy schools in order to learn how to maintain their respective aircraft. If I remember correctly (and I probably don't--it's been a while), there's actually a paragraph in OPNAVINST 4790 specifically forbids such things. The only incident of this was something that I heard second-hand involving a Harrier, duct tape, and corn cobs.

In all seriousness, though, we stick monkeys are best served by just letting the enlisted folks do their jobs. Granted, we can help by having solid systems knowledge and correctly reporting gripes/malfunctions to maintenance personnel, but that's about it.

 

[HueyCobra8151]

The 4790 specifically forbids pilots from having dirty flightsuits

 

[gaijin6423]

The 4790 specifically forbids pilots from having dirty flightsuits

So THAT'S what I've been doing wrong! Dude, thanks!

 

[danthaman]

ok, thanks. i am an f-15 crewchief and the air force is the same way...pilots don't touch the aircraft. and i know that the marines have trained maintenance crews for their aircraft (no disrespect was intended by the question), but one of my supervisors told me that marine pilots do some maintenance on their aircraft. i wasn't sure whether or not to believe it, that is why i wanted to check here from people who actually know. by the way, what did you work on?

 

[Crowbar]

The only time I ever saw a pilot do any sort of manual labor on or around an aircraft was during a washdown coming back from a Med cruise. And it wasn't necessarily maintenance, just cleaning.

 

[skidkid]

I help the plane captain with the securing gear when I land late does that count?

 

[Gatordev]

The one caveat to all this is if on a cross country, and you need to fix something. The PIC can choose to fix something that normally needs someone who is qualified to inpsect it. If you have a co-pilot or crewman, then you can direct him to do the maintenance, and then the PIC can inspect it and then sign for the aircraft. This is a bit simplified, but you get the basic idea. Also, understand this is all theory. If there's a wire harness that popped off or some popped fasteners, then whoever sees it fixes it and you move on. You get the idea.

So does a B&B or waterwash count as maintenance? If so I am one qualified maintainer.

 

[SemperGumbi]

I put an Ace of Spades on my wheel so it made a cool sound when I took-off and landed. Does that count?

 

[Brett327]

The one caveat to all this is if on a cross country, and you need to fix something. The PIC can choose to fix something that normally needs someone who is qualified to inpsect it. If you have a co-pilot or crewman, then you can direct him to do the maintenance, and then the PIC can inspect it and then sign for the aircraft. This is a bit simplified, but you get the basic idea. Also, understand this is all theory. If there's a wire harness that popped off or some popped fasteners, then whoever sees it fixes it and you move on. You get the idea.

So does a B&B or waterwash count as maintenance? If so I am one qualified maintainer.

Concur w/ the X-C caveat (emptor?) I have changed starters, indicators, and many a flight instrument as well as just about every kind of servicing on the road - goes with the territory. Being a prior QAR doesn't hurt either. It's fun to show up the other 90% of the aircrew who have no maint. background.

Brett

 

[gaijin6423]

Being a prior QAR doesn't hurt either.

Daaaaaaaaa-yum... You must be nearly as old as A4s then, huh? And here I was thinking that as a prior CDQAR I was long in the tooth...

 

[Brett327]

Daaaaaaaaa-yum... You must be nearly as old as A4s then, huh? And here I was thinking that as a prior CDQAR I was long in the tooth...

34 is still early thirties, right?

Brett

 

[jai5w4]

34 is still early thirties, right?

Brett

Technically. But 22 is with out a doubt, early 20's! :icon_smil

 

[johnritenour@co]

Acronyms

NAVY = Never Again Volunteer Yourself

MARINE = Muscles Are Required Intelligence Not Expected

ARMY = Ain't Ready for Marines Yet

AIR FORCE = ?

 

[gaijin6423]

Damn, Brett... Hope I didn't send you into an early midlife crisis or anything. hahaha I'd say 34 was still early 30s (but barely). Our QARs in my enlisted days were always SSGT/GYSGT and had generally been in for at least 10-12 years.