Originally Posted by
crewdawg
Probably a controversial take. While I generally like getting outside, doesn't SWA just do a walkaround on the first flight of the day? Sounds like a reasonable way to do it. I can count on one hand the number of issues I've found on walkarounds in 20+ years of airline and military flying. None of them were anything of note save the one time i found a bottomed out nose strut after a seal blew out due to extreme cold (Baltic country in the winter...do not recommend). Standing by for the anecdotal stories of finding things that saved a hull loss.
Hydraulic leaks.
Bird strikes.
Cut tires.
Missing fairings.
Flap damage.
Wing leading edge damage.
Gap between engine mount, engine (could see daylight thru it).
Missing screws from the engine cowl.
oil residue in the exhaust nozzle where it should not be.
belly scrapes.
leaking fuel.
smoking brakes with associated glow.
Stabs misaligned
Flat tires.
Compressed/flat/bottomed out struts.
Weird electrical odor emanating from the E/E
Many more as well, all in the course of my career. None of these were on FFOD. Would they take the jet out? Who knows. We never got that far.