junglebob

Hey all,

I'm just wondering if someone could answer a question for me.

If a commercial jet is grounded by the pilots for a flight for technical reasons, what is this recorded in?

I was told that the pilots go through a checklist at the start and fill in a challenge and response log if there is any problems. Could anyone tell me if this is right and if not could you tell me what the pilots use?

Thanks

Roll Inverted and Pull

About 30 or so minutes before flight the copilot preflights the aircraft. He may catch a problem at that time (such as a fuel or hydraulic leak, a bad slat, etc.). About 10 minutes prior to push back the pilots run the check lists(challenge and response), then the before start check list. Anywhere along the line a problem might occur. Depending on the seriousness of the problem, a delay might occur, or possibly cancelling the flight. The problem is written into the ships log book. Then it`s up to the mantainence department to correct the problem and enter a write up in the same log book as to what corrective action was taken.
Some items are minor, and can be corrected at a later time. These are "MCOed"(Maintainence Carry Overs), a small sticker is placed on the affected item and another is placed inside the aircraft log book. Pilots are not allowed to fix anything, even change a light bulb. Hope this answers your question.

junglebob

Ok, thanks for that. Em, another question: If there is a problem (engine, structural etc,) where does the pilot log it? Are there separate logs for engines and also are the logs carried on the aircraft or kept with maintenance or where?

robthree

There is a MX log on board the AC.
The Captain notes any discrepancies and makes a logbook entry.
MX is then required to correct any problem before the AC can be dispatched.

I don't know of anyone using a challenge-response methodology of entering MX items into logbooks. I suppose they could. But that seems like CRM carried a bit too far.

Roll Inverted and Pull

Yes there is a seperate engine log book. It`s just for engine readings during cruise. Maintainence keeps a record of all of the readings for each engine. They can take a look and see if say, for instance, oil pressure is declining over time, or say, at a certain cruise EPR, the EGT is slowly increasing over time. These write ups can usually show a trend, even if the readings are in the acceptable range. They (maintainence) know what all of this means. Possibly changing an oil pump is in order, or even an engine change is needed. This book isn`t for real problems, those go in the aircraft log book that I mentioned in a previous post. There isn`t any challenge and response for any of this, that is reserved for the check lists.
Yes, these books are kept in the cockpit. All of the write ups are done in duplicate (carbon paper between the top and bottom sheet). Maintainance pulls the bottom sheet and keeps it where ever their records are kept, after the problem is corrected and a write up is entered in the book stating what has been done to correct the problem. I`ve been retired for 10 years now, I`m guessing a lot of this stuff is being done electronically now with ACARS, etc.