I performed aircraft maintenance in the Air Force. During training we were told to always remember that when you are working on an aircraft you have the lives of everyone who will ride on the plane in your hands. I never forgot that.
“How do you say that? You use words every single day, how can you use words, to ruin someone’s life” hit me so hard
The maintenance guy that did the work and then skipped the instructions while signing off on it should be charged with 21 counts of manslaughter and spend some time in prison.
I was a Captain that day flying a 727-200 to the West coast.
The fact that the mechanics didn't test the movement of the elevators for full range of motion is unconscionable. I wouldn't have been able to sleep. I am an automotive technician and we test drive every vehicle after every brake job as well as other services.
I was a maintenance tech in the Navy. We were told that to remember that you someday may have to ride in the birds you work on. Worked on transport aircraft I took that to heart. As I logged over 1000 hours in the back of the birds. I pray for those who lost their lives.
My son works as a senior crew chief and used to be a quality assurance officer on the F-35A. In his training, the first lesson is “never skip any step, no matter how small.”
When I served in the Air Force as a mechanic, if an aircraft needed a functional test flight after repairs, we had to ride along.
I’ve been an aircraft mechanic for 32 years, 21 of those in the Air Force. Every step in the technical data exists for a reason and should never be skipped.
In my shop, I don’t allow skipping any maintenance manual steps. The relevant page for the job must be printed and followed exactly.
My cousin was a firefighter who responded to a crash at Little Rock airport, and the event left him with PTSD.