Nuts and Bolts - Dec. 2009 Nuts and Bolts
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION SAFETY TEAM
December 31, 2009 Issue: 09-04
Nuts And Bolts - A Newsletter Written By Mechanics For Mechanics
Another Year Gone And I Still Have I’ma Gonnas
Inside this issue:
Another Year Gone And I Still Have I”ma Gonnas Burned by Fatigue? Case Study Consumable Material New AC 23-27 The FAA Wants You What Is It? ISDR’s Newsletter Article Submissions 12 1
2 3- 9 10 11
It seams like the older I get time passes by faster and faster. In my mind I just wrote this holiday season article a few months ago. That was issue 08-04 titled “Do You Believe in Santa Claus”. In reality, that was a year ago. In my mind I am still learning how to be an FAA Inspector but in reality I’m turning the corner on 20 years and starting to think about retirement. I’m pretty sure that the stars have gotten into some kind of weird alignment that has made the calendar run faster, because it’s almost the end of the year again and I still have a lot to do that I thought would have been completed by now. Am I a victim of some of the Dirty Dozen? Perhaps, stress, pressure, complacency, distraction, resources, or lack of assertiveness. Or am I just a poor manager of my time? Probably some of all of those and a big dose of procrastination. Mr. Webster defines procrastinate as “to put off doing something unpleasant or burdensome until a future time” I define it as I’ma Gonna, it means the same thing. The point is that another year has come and gone, and in spite of all of the things that were accomplished this year, there is still work to be done. Some of my I’ma Gonna tasks are: build a new really cool power point presentation on human factors using all the new neat stuff available and show it to everyone in my area, take a technical course or two on state of the art aircraft and/or avionics, attend a training course on light sport aircraft and earn my Light Sport Repairman certificate with a maintenance rating. (that would be sweet), build that storage building in the back yard for my wife, take better care of myself (this means lose some of my bad habits, another wife thing). Wow, I’ve got a lot to do, one of these days. Now do you guys see my problem? Unfortunately, I don’t think I’m the only mechanic out there with a case of the “I’ma Gonna’s” You know what I’m talking about, one of these days I’ma Gonna do this and
I’ma Gonna do that. Well. I have a plan. Why don’t we set a dead line for our I’ma Gonnas and quit procrastinating. This could be the year to get it done. I'm not much on New Years resolutions so I’m going to commit to it now before the new year. Here we go: I’ma Gonna learn all that there is to learn about Light Sport aircraft maintenance and then share it and best practices with mechanics and EAA members in my area of responsibility. I’m doing this because our data shows accidents in light sport and amateur built aircraft are on the rise nationally and reducing accidents is what the FAASTeam is all about. This does not mean that you have heard the last of “Failure to Follow Procedures”, that subject is still an issue. Wow, I feel better already. OK you’re turn. I’m sure there are some I’ma Gonnas in your life but if your in denial, let me help. Based on the fact that our technology is constantly changing how about getting yourself up to speed. How long has it been since you had formal technical training? Why don’t you get enrolled in a course on composite repairs, or a particular airframe that you maintain, or light sport aircraft, or human factors, or any management and/or professionalism courses. You could sign up for a professional magazine or newsletter. You can take courses on line such as on faasafety.gov. Why don’t you get some training that would benefit your career and then take advantage of the Bill O’Brien AMT awards program on faasafety.gov. Make this the year that you are going to obtain that additional mechanic rating or an Inspection Authorization. The most valuable tool in the box is a well informed, trained, and current Mechanic. The Airworthiness FAASTeam is proud of each and every one of you guys for supporting safety and professionalism in aviation maintenance. We hope you and your families enjoyed a wonderful holiday season and a safe and profitable new year. Now quit procrastinating, This is the year, Grab a pen and get your I’ma Gonna list done. Author: Mike Jordan - Editor
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LET’S NOT MEET BY ACCIDENT
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