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Passenger prevents lengthy delay - fixes faulty plane
A passenger on a Thomas Cook flight became the hero of the day when he was able to fix a fault on the plane that was scheduled to bring him and his fellow passengers back home from Menorca.The plane had developed a fault and was destined to be stuck at the airport for 8 hours awaiting the arrival of a UK based mechanic.
Instead of waiting for this, the passenger identified himself as a licensed mechanic with an affiliate of the airline, and was cleared to perform the maintenance work.
After a brief repair, the plane was on its way back home with just a 35 minute delay, instead of the 10 or 11 hours it would have taken if the plane was made to wait on the UK mechanic.
From now on, I'd like the airlines to load a mechanic on any of my flights, along with a doctor and a decent chef. The airline announced that they were "very grateful he was on the flight that day". I'm sure the passengers share that sentiment.
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Keith J. Mohrhoff Jul 7th 2009 11:27AM
nyelec:
Scotty (with a drunken, slurred Scottisk brogue): "This is a bottle I've been savin' for a special occasion!"
Kelvin (also drunk): "What is it?"
Scotty: "Well...its...its...its green!"
bub Jul 7th 2009 11:39AM
I guess there was a roll of doct tape handy ---
Bub Jul 7th 2009 11:42AM
There must have been a roll of duct tap handy----------------
Angiebaby Jul 7th 2009 11:55AM
So he wants a mechanic, a doctor and a decent chef onboard during his flights? Ha! You can be traveling with a plane load of mechanics, but Union rules prevent them from working on the plane. You can't even get a good doctor on the ground, and how great does a chef have to be to hand out pretzels and Dixie cup of water?
Larry Jul 7th 2009 12:28PM
Dave - only partially true. I work for a top A & P college - it takes 17 1/2 months and certification for the A & P is included and can be performed within that timeframe, here at the school. Many major employers consider this training to be "work experience". And the employment market is excellent for graduates, although major airlines have not been in the game sine 9/11/01. www.redstone.edu
Ruthsgardens Jul 7th 2009 12:27PM
When interviewed by reporters today, this man said he simply told the airlines that he stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.
Greg Jul 7th 2009 12:38PM
I heard he didn't have an A & P but he did stay at a Holiday Inn Exress the night before!
edgar Jul 7th 2009 12:37PM
ok... Hear this. While traveling from LA to DCA, we made a scheduled stop in a city in the mid west. We had a delay of almost two hrs because a defective module in the navigational system of the aircraft. We were ordered to take a walk and during this time I had the opportunity to watch, thru the window, the technicians troubleshoot the problem. It seems like they were reading wiring continuity with a multi-meter and advised the Captain that was not the right approch and that you either have the module replaced or we spend the night here.
Within 15 min we were called to board another plane. The captain shook me hand.
stew Jul 7th 2009 12:38PM
big deal. all you need are 2 things to fix anything. if it moves and it shouldn't.....duct tape. if it doesn't move and it should.....wd40.
chk6 Jul 7th 2009 12:39PM
No A & P but he did stay at a Holiday Inn Express!
Buddy Jul 7th 2009 12:40PM
My first thought was..obviously not a member of a US union as he would not have been able to do that repair.
I can't believe some of the clever(?) remarks posted here. I guess that some people don't understand that there are people that do things just to do things to help out and without thought of gain. I also wonder that in this day and age there are people that don't understand that there is a difference in American English and British English in some terms. I guess that some still see a mechanic as a grease monkey, dirty with a rag hanging from his pocket. Oh well, guess that is to be expected so many that don't havae a clue other then their own narrow frame of mind.
Cheryl Jul 7th 2009 3:47PM
Hey
It is nice that we have free choice which job that we want. If you want to be a mechanic..... you have to pay to go to school and get the job.
If you don't like the pay..... go get another
Any job that you want to bitch about...... the pay, the hours, the location.
GET ANOTHER JOB. Ohhh wait, you don't want to do that you just want to complain...... gotcha
anthony Jul 11th 2009 10:10AM
To all you peeps out there that replyed to my comment if you read what i said as opposed to statting your nasty comment are you sane??? I did work for the GOVERNMENT and i was trying to state how we need to focus on real news big dam deal he was a Mech. and was around he was with the airlines stupid do you think they would let just any Mech. work on a Passenger Air Liner. Now who is sane about that. get over yourselves and stop thinking your better off oh wow he should get some free something from the company and you think thats news big Fin Dam. How about out troups over there so you & I can even be able to post a blog thats all it is and if you think I am sane try joining the Armed Services sounds like your about that age of a thug all of you so don't bother replying your blocked
Dan Jul 7th 2009 10:30PM
Imagine if he had not been on that flight.
DaGimp Jul 7th 2009 2:02PM
I hope they at least upgraded him to first class for this trip, and gave him a few flight voucher's for later vacations. I know I'd have asked for that, or sent them one helluva bill later on...
Pilot DJ Frost Jul 7th 2009 4:28PM
My hat's off to this mechanic for stepping forward and taking action even though he was on vacation. The airline I work for usually has a mechanic along just in case something unusual happens. Aviation is still the safest and most efficient way to travel and see the world.
Pilot DJ Frost
www.PilotDJFrost.com
George Jul 7th 2009 4:19PM
Heck I could have fixed it myself, I always carry some duct tape and bailing wire, I'm from West By God Virginia
Ken Jul 7th 2009 6:01PM
Good Question, but the answer offers very little merit.
I was an A&P (Airframe & Power Plant Mechanic) for American Airlines for almost 15 years, and fell under the Union that represented the baggage handlers. Don’t get me wrong, every job is important; it’s just the liability exposure that coincides with the task being conducted. If your bag is damaged or missing you can relate, but mistakes on part of an A&P could result in loss of aircraft not to mention the most important precious payload, LOSS OF LIFE. The A&P Mechanic’s Title of Mechanic was reduced to Technician due to de-rating the profession from skilled to semi-skilled (pay-related), Very Sad but true. If you are a Plumber or an Electrician, you would be considered a skilled laborer, something the Airlines were trying to avoid. It’s really something for EVERYONE Think about in the future when the time, money, and sacrifice is invested and required from an individual, (who we put our lives in their hands) that are held to a Very High Standard, is equally yoked to an individual that can be trained to perform a job in just days. I left maintenance since then, and perused a flying career. Currently a Captain in the corporate sector, but never forgot the true passion of being an A&P.