[Pilots] AMO Report

[Jerry Rosendahl]

*MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Officer Report - 11/5/23*

1.  *There are currently 20 open discrepancies in AMRAD*, however, several
of them are related to updating the GPS units and getting the required
database loader for N9834L, N50935 and N97465. These N#s have or will have
the Garmin 400 installed. N98824 will get the update once these are done.
Currently we don't have the database card loader for the 400s but the first
one is due to arrive this week. The 400 uses a completely different card.
N98424 is currently down for maintenance for a  failed compass, waiting for
parts. N643CP is currently down for a voltage issue, waiting for parts. The
complete list of discrepancies is attached.

2.  *"Fat-fingering" and transposing numbers in WMIRS* is causing a number
of issues for us. One pilot reported he couldn't fly his plane because it
was 9,000 hours overdue for an inspection! WMIRS doesn't like it when
2321.5 is entered when it should have been 5321.5. Switching Hobbs time and
Tach time when you close your sortie is another issue. All of these cause
potential problems for maintenance because AMRAD uses these numbers as
fact. Please check your entries after you make them and make sure they are
correct.

3. * Shutdown procedures and p**ost-flight inspections are not being done
when bringing your aircraft to maintenance.* We are finding fuel selectors
still on both, no gust lock in place, switches still on, seat belts
dangling, food and personal items forgotten, tires low on pressure, and no
debugging or exterior inspection. We've also seen missing and duplicate
loose equipment. The list on the back outside cover of the AIF lists what
should be in the plane. Cleaning up these issues is not my job and it's not
the maintenance contractors job. It's the PICs job. Are these same issues
happening at the squadron level?

4.  *Winter kits are going into the fleet.* *MN Wing CAPR 70-1 Supplement:
9.11.7.7.1. Added. During cold weather, i.e. ambient temperature less than
40° F, aircraft engines will be pre-heated using the installed Tanis heater
prior to flight if the aircraft is NOT in a heated hanger.* Cowl and prop
blankets and bug eyes are to be put on by pilots while the oil cooler
plates will only be installed by our maintenance contractor. See additional
guidance on cold weather ops in the supplement mentioned above. Winter
safety briefings will be completed at the squadron level.

5.  *Out of date normal and emergency checklists in the airplanes.* I've
found missing checklists, wrong checklists, and both wrong and correct
checklists in the airplane. Verifying you have the correct checklist is
easy - go to Eservices, then to ORMS, then to Search Checklists.

6.  *How do you get to 200 flying hours?*  It takes 16.67 flying hours per
month to get to 200. That's easy to plan for and monitor. I know, it's not
always easy to do. But if you don't plan for it and monitor it, it
definitely won't be done.

7.  *Glider Operations still going on.* Even though the weather turned
colder, the glider operations staff (which is growing) is still flying. Two
additional glider instructors have recently been added. Contact Tom
Fitzhenry to inquire and schedule.

8.  *Wing hangar in-floor heat.* If you're moving an airplane into and/or
out of the Wing hangar now during the colder weather, please "make it
quick". The heat in the hangar dissipates quickly when that huge hangar
door is open. The in-floor heating system takes time to bring the
temperature back up.

9.  *Tired of hearing me complain about ATD and ATA yet?* I just went
through AMRAD and counted 159 sorties that are dated 1/1/1900. You already
know why that is - so why does it continue? If you close your sortie and
don't put in actual departure and arrival time it goes into AMRAD as
1/1/1900. The problem is that AMRAD has bad data then if one or more of
those sorties are the last ones flown. Their correct tach time will not be
shown in AMRAD and we could miss a required inspection.

Jerry Rosendahl, Lt Col, CAP
MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Officer
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