I finally heard a pilot say 'just get it done' to a new guy about a deferred write-up

It was for a minor avionics light, but the tone made my skin crawl. How do you handle that pressure when you know signing it off isn't right? I told the kid to grab the MEL manual and we'd do it by the book.

3 comments

3 Comments

lopez.karen10d agoTop Commenter

That exact "just get it done" pressure is why we have checklists and manuals. You did the right thing pulling out the MEL. I've seen new mechanics get bullied into signing off stuff they weren't sure about, and it always starts with that tone. It takes guts to stop the line and actually follow the book, but that's the job. Good on you for showing the kid how it's done right.

piperb9310d ago

Man, I used to hate that feeling of holding things up. I'd get so annoyed at the book guys slowing us down. But then I saw what happens when you don't check, just once. It wasn't worth it. Now I get why that pressure to rush is the real problem. It only takes one skip to cause a real mess.

nora_dixon2d ago

Ugh, that "just once" thing is a trap. My cousin worked in a parts warehouse and got yelled at for double checking a shipment. He caved, skipped it, and they sent out a whole pallet of wrong brake pads. Cost them more in overnight shipping than his whole hourly wage.