[Pilots] MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Report

[Jerry Rosendahl]

*1.  33 days with NO aircraft maintenance:*
As you know we have not been able to do any maintenance work on CAP
airplanes since the government shutdown. The lack of federal funding has
not stopped our airplanes from flying as many of our pilots have been
flying using the C missions. In fact approximately 100 hours (Hobbs time)
have been flown since October 1. That is good for the airplanes to keep
batteries charged etc. It's also good for the pilots to maintain their
currency and efficiency.

However, maintenance inspection requirements on both tach time hours and
calendar dates are in place and cannot be overflown. So this has and will
continue to shut down airplanes when they reach their specified maintenance
time and/or date. We currently have 10 of our airplanes DOWN for
maintenance either at Stanton, Fleming or at their squadron. Of the
remaining 8 airplanes that are available for NHQ approved emergency
missions, 2 of them are within 6 hours of being shut down. The remaining 6
have between 10 and 48 hours remaining before maintenance. This list of
DOWN airplanes will continue to grow as time goes on. Obviously this same
scenario is playing out in every Wing.

*2.  Breakdown of current discrepancies, list attached:*
In addition to the "normal" discrepancies of 50 hour and 100 hour/annual
inspections, we have had many discrepancies added to our list by NHQ for
new requirements either by NHQ themselves or by manufacturers. Here's the
current summary:
15 - new weight and balance document required by NHQ to get ready for entry
into the new data system that will replace AMRAD
11 - 50 hour or 100 hour/annual inspections
4 - inspections to verify that CO detection system in turned on in certain
airplanes (G1000)
3 - new and break-in requirements for setting up our new C182T
1 - exhaust valve guide measured and reamed (if I recall this was
originally required for 3 of our airplanes)
1 - an AD on one of our airplanes requiring oil inspection due to a problem
found in the connecting rod bushings
1 - elevator damage that occurred while pushing the airplane back into the
hangar
Several more - miscellaneous routine minor items
Once again, this list will continue to grow as hours are flown and
inspection dates arrived at.

*Maintenance contractor John Quilling, as well as Wipaire (avionics vendor)
are aware of this heavy load of maintenance items and have a plan to cycle
the fleet through repairs as quickly as possible once the funding is
released. John's plan is updated daily as we watch the tach times increase
on the fleet. Everyone needs to realize these 50-some discrepancy repairs
cannot all happen at once. We need patience to get through this.*

*3.  Replacement system for AMRAD will be rolled out in 2026:*
Plane Logix is the name of the system that will become the new AMRAD next
year sometime. They have a timeline established for implementation that
will obviously take time for every Wing to get on the system. A huge amount
of data will need to be uploaded from AMRAD and from airplane logbooks. I'm
trying to be optimistic about the data loading and to believe that this
system will fix many holes in the current system - so we will see!

*4.  Winter kits will be going into the airplanes:*
When we get back to funding and start to bring in the airplanes, we'll be
adding the prop and cowling blankets and bug eyes. Later on as the
temperatures drop and level out we'll be adding the oil cooler plates and
updating the CO detectors. We're already into at or near freezing
temperatures, so be aware of the regulation requirements for cold
weather operations.

*5.  Flying hours for FY 2025:*
According to a WMIRS report MN Wing flew an average of 190.27 hours per
aircraft. This puts us in 20th place in the country and 1st place in the
region. According to our MN Wing intranet the top flying squadrons were
Mankato 498.6, MN Wing 466.2, 130th 441.5, St Croix 420.0, Viking 395.3,
North Hennepin 258.6, Anoka 257.9, St. Cloud 225.5, Crow Wing 185.1,
Hutchinson 115.1, Duluth 107.8, and Pipestone 13.7.

*6. Contact me or Tom Fitzhenry:*
As always, if you have comments, questions or issues regarding maintenance
of our fleet, please let us know.

Lt Col Jerry Rosendahl
MN Wing Aircraft Maintenance Officer
651.785.8911
Lt Col Tom Fitzhenry
MN Wing Ass't Aircraft Maintenance Officer
612.685.2639
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