MAINTENANCE LOG
unsettled with the delays. I heard someone say, “Now where is he going?” and “He’s never going to get this thing fi xed!” I understood their frustration. Years ago, I was stuck on the ramp in Seattle in a broke DC10 coming back from a year overseas while in the military. That was before cell phones, so I couldn’t call my wife who was waiting for me on the other side of the country to give her an update. With my tools in hand and another quick glance at 12C I entered the work area and began to comply with the recommendation from maintenance control on the valve. Manually moving the valve didn’t reveal any problems. I cleaned the cannon plug even though there wasn’t any sign of a problem. I reinstalled the cannon plug and a soon as the electrical connection was made the valve moved all the way in one direction. I didn’t know if it was the right direction or what it really meant, but I decided to re-safety the cannon plug and go talk to the captain. The fl ight attendant had arranged for me to call the captain from their station in the back of the airplane. I called to the cockpit and asked them if the light was out. He said it was. While I was working on the valve, maintenance control had sent a check out procedure to the crew should my work prove the valve to start working. Within a short period of time the crew performed the specifi ed check out and reported that everything was fi ne. They would take the airplane and asked me to sign the logbook. It was then that I realized another problem — anything that is found wrong with an airplane is written up in a discrepancy block carried in the aircraft forms. It can’t be fl own until that discrepancy is fi xed or eligible for deferral. The corrective action to correct the discrepancy must shadow the write up. The problem was that
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the crew wrote down “Upon engine start…” in the discrepancy. To get a legal sign off , the engines needed to be started. With that in mind I told the captain that he needed to start the engines so I would have a good sign off . He didn’t feel it was necessary but did it anyway. With both engines running, everything checked out fi ne and he once again said, “We will take the airplane John.” I went back to the work area to do one last inspection. Satisfi ed that everything was in order I exited the work area. As I secured the access door the captain came on the passenger P.A. and said, “Well ladies and gentlemen, thanks to John, the airplane is fi xed and we will be on our way shortly.” A big roar went through the cabin, some passengers yelled “I knew you could do it John,” “You’re the greatest Johnny.” Now some may think that that cabin appreciation justifi es this story of my most gratifying moment in my career. While I certainly did enjoy it, I have had it happen a few times before, but it didn’t compare to what was about to happen. Some may be thinking that the young lady in 12C jumped up and showed me her personal appreciation for my work, but sadly she didn’t. As I was walking up the cabin aisle to the front of the airplane, I got to the very front seat in the cabin when I felt someone fi rmly grab my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. I looked down to see who had my wrist and there sat this… I have to add something to this
story unrelated to the airplane. My mother had passed away that year and even though it had been several months since her passing there were instances like a sight, a sound or a picture would trigger a moment of refl ection. I would usually pause for a few seconds or maybe a minute as I recalled a memory of mom. I assumed it to be part of the grieving
process and welcomed each one. Now back to the airplane. As you remember, I was walking up the aisle to the front of the airplane when at the very front seat I felt someone fi rmly grab my wrist, stopping me in my tracks. I looked around to see who had a hold of my wrist there sat a little senior lady. Her weathered face displayed a big smile, she had both hands on my wrist now and with a soft voice she said, “Thank you John!” Now I’m the youngest of seven kids and we live in seven diff erent states and it was not uncommon for mom to travel around the holidays to one of my siblings. Combining mom’s travel history and that lady’s uncanny resemblance to mom triggered a moment of memories. I don’t know how long I stood there in a trance as I stared at the senior traveler. I eventually felt someone tapping on my shoulder saying, “The captain is waiting for you John.” One of the fl ight attendants had noted my deviation from clearing the airplane for fl ight and felt it necessary to expedite the departure. I quickly replied to the traveler, “You’re welcome, and have a merry Christmas.” With that she released my wrist and I continued on to the cockpit still looking back at her. A quick call to maintenance control and a merry Christmas exchange in the cockpit, and I headed for the door. Before leaving I looked back at the senior traveler. She waved at me and I waved back. I jumped in the van and backed away from the jet bridge. I followed the airplane around the terminal and from a safe spot watched as the airplane took off . The crew was going to take this load of holiday travelers to their Christmas destinations and I gave them the airplane to do it with, but my joy for the night centered on just one passenger, and she wasn’t sitting in 12C.
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