One Airline's Magic

[BillLumbergh]

[DIV][FONT face=Verdana size=2][SPAN class=250163017-23102002][A href=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101021028-366310,00.html]http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101021028-366310,00.html[/A][/SPAN][/FONT][/DIV]

 

[Steiner]

Operating like a nascar pit crew, Southwest's mechanics pride themselves on changing airplane tires faster than their counterparts at other airlines. And mechanics at Southwest don't use the standard $500 tool to remove the magnetic device that detects metal chips in engine oil, as other mechanics do; they simply and quickly use their hand to pop it out. Those tools are a waste, says a mechanic.

Is this an approved procedure per the maintenance manual?

 

[wnbubbleboy]

WN pays only $295.00 for a chip detector tool for our mechanics to use. Maybe you ought to ask why your company is paying $500.00?

 

[KCFlyer]

[P]Isn't a chip detector tool just a magnet? My kid gets those for free from her dentist. And everybody give us goverment folk a hard time about $500 toilet seats.[/P]

 

[lstwhknight]

Are we talking about a 737?300?400?500?700?800?900?If so the master chip detector screens on a cfm?or?We use a tool to remove them as it doesn't detroy the chip detector in the process of removing it.saving 4 or 5 hundred dollars on a tool when the end result is having to buy a new part at thousands of dollars to save a few minutes doesn't make sense.In the end you'll pay more.Also hopefully it wont fail inflight causing emergency landing or worst.Then we are talking millions and lives.So that minute you saved may land your butt in jail.The airline will be the frist to say we didnt know he/she did that.they never told us they needed that tool.

 

[lstwhknight]

A chip detector has a magnet in it,but it is housed in an alumimum casting.Which can be damaged if you use the incorrect tool.(that is on a CFM engine)thier are some hand removal chip detectors on apu's and starters etc.Most engine main engine chip detectors(these are the heart of the engine detectors) are not removal by hand.Rolls Royce you need a wrench or socket to remove it.CFM uses a nylon tool to remove them.