All
← Back to Squawk list
US air safety panel recommends flight hour increase among other findings.
The Commission found that aviation and maintenance experience, the key to doing a job safely and efficiently, is declining. Newly trained pilots and maintainers are reporting to operational units without basic skills. Flight hours are being replaced with simulator hours, yet the simulators are often outdated, out of service, or unavailable. Aircrews and maintainers are saddled with additional nonaviation duties that are more valued than their primary duties for purposes of promotion. (www.defense.gov) More...
Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
This article deals solely with U.S. military aviation. It has nothing to do with our commercial or general aviation communities. It should be titled, "US MILITARY AIR SAFETY PANEL...."
Wow, they're just now figuring this out? When I was in the Air Force this was why a lot of people either got out or changed career fields after reenlistment.
Agreed, even when I was in, in the early '70s. Because of funding problems, we were sometimes limited to 4 hrs/90 days when stateside. Aviating is a perishable skill and needs regular reinforcement.
And they want to cut T-1 time and sub it with Simulators!
I'm not sure how we balance what seem like ever increasing needs and budgets with oversight and overrun issues that seem perpetual in nature. The myth of infinite economic growth being used to support these allocations seems foolhardy at best. I am all for a viable, sustainable, and effective military, I just wonder if anyone involved knows how to achieve that without printing money to throw into the military industrial complex black hole.
I was a USAF C-130H3 maintainer...we were constantly without parts. We actually had a bird dedicated to stripping of parts. After 4 years of doing my job, I found out that not a single thing I did actually converted to an A&P license. I actually wound up leaving aviation when I left the AF.
"I found out that not a single thing I did actually converted to an A&P license."
I find that hard to believe. As an A&P myself and having administered, as an inspector, dozens of A&P Written, Oral and Practical tests to applicants (with military experience) for the FAA Mechanic certificate (A and/or P).
Did you, for example, graduate from 67 or 68 series MOS training and had you received 18 months of Airframe experience, 18 months of Powerplant experience or 30 months of both Airframe and Powerplant?
Usually military mechanics did powerplant or airframe work, not both. What did you do?
While there are strict standards in place for the military folks I didn't know of anyone who couldn't qualify for at least the A or P rating.
More info here: https://www.transportation.gov/careers/veterans/aviation-maintenance-technician
Best
Capt J Buck
ATP DC-9 B757 B767
Flight Instructor
Ground Instructor
Aircraft Dispatcher
A&P Mechanic
Air Traffic Controller
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Ret.)
FAA certified accident investigator (Ret.)
ICAO Panel Member
I find that hard to believe. As an A&P myself and having administered, as an inspector, dozens of A&P Written, Oral and Practical tests to applicants (with military experience) for the FAA Mechanic certificate (A and/or P).
Did you, for example, graduate from 67 or 68 series MOS training and had you received 18 months of Airframe experience, 18 months of Powerplant experience or 30 months of both Airframe and Powerplant?
Usually military mechanics did powerplant or airframe work, not both. What did you do?
While there are strict standards in place for the military folks I didn't know of anyone who couldn't qualify for at least the A or P rating.
More info here: https://www.transportation.gov/careers/veterans/aviation-maintenance-technician
Best
Capt J Buck
ATP DC-9 B757 B767
Flight Instructor
Ground Instructor
Aircraft Dispatcher
A&P Mechanic
Air Traffic Controller
FAA Aviation Safety Inspector (Ret.)
FAA certified accident investigator (Ret.)
ICAO Panel Member
Wondered about that myself. My 67N20 made me eligible to take the civilian A&P exam the day I applied and a $200 "refresher" course netted me the "fabric" endorsement for the "A" part. Though I have heard horror stories about certain examiners...
