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On 9/4/2002 8:55:16 AM
Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a couple years on P.B. and USAVIATION. I've been a line mech in PHL for 18 yrs and decided to add my opinion to this post. With the cutbacks to mtc stations of the past and those still to come our a/c see mtc less and less. For this reason and the fact that flight crews are inclined to carry mtc. issues when available there seems to be great benefit from having mechs meet every a/c when arriving in a mtc city. It usually means that a problem is able to be addressed right away instead of waiting for the flight crew to contact the tower, then in turn the tower to the lead mech', then the mech. Also the company's policies manual stipulates that the a/c receive a walk around inspection with in 10 mins. of gate arrival to inspect for damage etc. Who more qualified than an experienced line mech? I know the flight crew does a walk around on each flight and the sometimes find something over looked. All the more reason for two inspections when in a mtc. city. In PHL, at least on day shift one out of three flights require a mtc Daily Check so a mech will have to be there anyway. So why should Usairway or anyone be so ready to elliminate mechanics on R/D in mtc cities? Also, how many problems will occur when an a/c is pushed by an empoyee driving a pushback tractor who is not completely comfortable during nonstandard ops such as cramped ramp areas in the rain or snow with engines running and the possibility of a jack knife or towbar shear pin breaking etc...?[:blackeye:]
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