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Rant: Got pressured to approve a nav system with a known fault
Working on a corporate jet last Friday, the crew chief told me to green-light the GPS unit even though the error log showed a past glitch. He said the client needed the plane ready for a morning flight and we had no time for a deep dive. I felt stuck because skipping the fix could mean trouble if the system dropped out during cruise. I checked the wiring myself and spotted a corroded pin that wasn't caught in the quick look. It took an extra hour to clean and secure it, but I knew it had to be done right. My advice is to always trust your gut and the data, not just the schedule. Letting a plane go with a maybe-okay system is a gamble no one should take. Stand firm on your checks, even if it means some unhappy faces around the hangar.
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nora106mo ago
I caught a segment on the radio about an FAA audit last year. They found pressured sign-offs were a common factor in minor incidents. Good on you for not adding to that list.
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grant_palmer6mo ago
The FAA audit last year linked pressured sign-offs to dozens of minor incidents. In my experience, that pressure is a real problem, but your mileage may vary.
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jesseb206mo ago
Stood my ground when my boss pushed for a quick sign-off last month. Just kept repeating "not safe yet" until they backed off. Felt rough in the moment but saved my butt later.
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