[Pilots] AMO Monthly Report

[Jerry Rosendahl]

*MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Officer Report:*

*1. Current aircraft discrepancies and short term maintenance due:*
Attached is the current list of discrepancies for the fleet. Nearly all of
the list is for normal maintenance that gets scheduled based on tach hours
or calendar dates such as 50 hour, 100 hour/annual, ELT battery, IFR certs,
mags overhaul and engine overhaul. There are a few other miscellaneous
items that will be taken care of when coming into the shop. Short term
items are 4 airplanes that have less than 10 hours to maintenance, 3 more
that are within 20 hours to maintenance, 4 that are due IFR certs by 11/30,
and N98424 which is less than 30 hours from engine overhaul. Suffice to
say, November will be a very busy month and everyone needs to realize the
magnitude of the work needed to get all of this done.

*2. "Baby it's cold outside!" - Winter operations have started:*
Wing DO Capt Bestul reviewed winter operations as part of his meeting with
squadron operations officers held this past week, along with many other
items. Squadron operations officers will be presenting the Winter
operations briefings in the coming weeks. It will cover the target
temperatures for installing blankets, bug eyes, plugging in the Tanis, cold
weather starting among other things. We've already had a couple dead
batteries from lack of use and starting procedures. These batteries cost
$750 and with contractor travel time, removal and installation labor, it
can easily cost $1,000 total to replace. As I've mentioned before, anything
over $750 requires NHQ approval so replacement can take longer than you'd
like it to. Plug the airplanes in, follow the procedures and run them at
least once per week and you shouldn't have any problems.

*3. Cowl plugs and tie-downs:*
Previously mentioned cowl plugs and tie-downs have started to arrive at
John's shop, so these will be put into the airplanes as they come through
maintenance. One size "does not fit all" unfortunately so this is a work in
progress. Cowl plugs are not necessary when the bug eyes and winter
blankets are on the aircraft and the Tanis is plugged in.
 [image: image.png]

*4. New Aircraft Status Report form is available on the Intranet:*
DO Bestul has added a couple items to the report based on additional items
we need to know for oversight of the fleet. Added items are cowl plugs,
tie-downs, "Date of last flight" and "Person responsible for updating the
nav database". The reason for adding the cowl plugs and tie-downs should be
obvious. The reason for the date of last flight is because of the dead
batteries and the fact that some squadrons don't fly for weeks. This will
be followed up now. The reason for adding the person responsible for
updating the nav database is so we can confirm that all flying squadrons
have someone (ideally 2 members) who can keep the database current. We've
been hitting on this issue for way too long without compliance. NHQ is
working on putting out a new list of "required loose equipment", so when we
get that we'll probably have to update the form again.
PS - the reason the normal and emergency procedures checklist dates are on
the report is so you can verify that they are current, not just record the
dates on the ones in the airplane. Go to Eservices, ORM, then search
checklists. Enter the N# and you'll get the current dates of each of those
checklists.

*5. Have you heard about WALDO yet?*
WALDO is a camera system that produces high definition pictures used in
aerial photography. In our case, it's added onto our existing photographic
capability to assist emergency management organizations with photographing
disaster sites. We have 1 WALDO, which is to be used on either N439CP or
N643CP as I understand it. Training on operating this new system is ongoing.
[image: image.png]

*6. Airplane swaps and maintenance during the Winter months:*
Similar to last year, we will generally avoid flying into Stanton Airfield
once we have snow/ice on the field. Swaps and maintenance will largely be
done at the Wing maintenance facility at So. St. Paul. As usual, either Tom
Fitzhenry or I will advise you on where the swap or drop off for
maintenance will occur.

*7. New fuel cards:*
I'm almost done getting the new fuel cards into the fleet. Only 3 more to
go. We have until 11/30 to get these in and activated so we should be able
to accomplish that as they come into maintenance. Remaining cards go into
N695CP, N853CP and N9834L.

*8. Where oh where do the tire pressure gauges go?*
More than anything else, we seem to lose the tire pressure gauges that
we've put into the airplanes! The Operations log requires the tire
pressures to be put down, so what is happening to them after that? I
replace them when one is discovered if I'm at the shop when they come in,
but that is a hit and miss deal. Any ideas?

*9. PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PERMITTED BY CAP PILOTS AND UNINSURED MECHANICS:*
*Per CAPP 130-2:*  All preventive maintenance must be recorded in the
aircraft and/or engine logbook showing the service/work performed, date it
was performed and name and certificate number of the person performing the
task whether it be a pilot or mechanic.
1. Replacing defective cotter pins only. A licensed and insured FAA
mechanic must perform any maintenance operation requiring replacement of
safety wire.
2. Lubrication not requiring removal of items such as cover plates, cowling
and fairings.
3. Replenishing hydraulic fluid in hydraulic reservoirs.
4. Repairing upholstery and decorative furnishings of the cabin or cockpit
interior when such repair does not require disassembly of any operating
system and does not interfere with an operating system or affect the
primary structure of the aircraft.
5. Replacement of bulbs, reflectors and lenses of position or landing
lights when removing the cowling is not required.
6. Servicing aircraft batteries when opening the cowling is not required.
7. Replacement/adjustment of nonstructural standard fasteners incidental to
operations.
8. Tire inflation.

Why is the above section included here? Because if it's not listed above -
you are not authorized to do it. Easy way to remember it - if you don't
know if you should, or how to do it - don't do it.

*10. Aircraft flight time log:*
Reminder - when swapping planes and/or dropping them at maintenance, please
remember to take the flight time log with you, AND put the Tach and Hobbs
times on the new sheet for the next flight. We have found logs with sortie
information in the AIF and even in the plane loose.

*11. Did your squadron fly at least 17 hours in October?*
17 hour per month is the target (required?) for each airplane to reach the
200 hours per year flight time. Of course we have our down times in the
winter months here in Minnesota, but keeping that number out in front of
you is a good reminder.

*12. Ideally each squadron should have an Operations Officer and 1
Assistant:*
Our maintenance scheduling is done whenever needed, nights and weekends and
holidays. If I only have one person to contact to schedule maintenance and
they're not available when I call, I have to go to Plan B, which might be
to another squadron. I would appreciate it if every squadron (DO or CC)
could check your staffing list and make sure you have a primary and
secondary operations officer. And I would say that having 4 or 5 is not
ideal either. I need to know that the person I'm talking to has the
authority needed. I have experienced it where I dealt with a person calling
for the squadron, only to find out later they had no authority to contact
me or schedule that maintenance.

*13. What we have here is a failure to communicate!*
A great line from a movie - but it sometimes applies to communication
within a squadron. Communicating with all the pilots within a squadron
about a different airplane in the hangar, some equipment malfunction,
scheduling that renders their airplane not usable, etc. is very important.
Again here, I've run into instances where the operations officer or a pilot
authorized to contact me, fails to let the rest of the pilots know what has
been arranged. It's all about communications

*14. Contact me:*

Jerry Rosendahl, Lt Col, CAP
MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Officer
651.785.8911
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