The Long and Winding Road

The aviation business has some strange quirks about it but none stranger than the red tape involved when a maintenance problem crops up after push back but prior to takeoff. Now don't get me wrong, I would never dismiss the importance of safety. It is paramount. However, it's the common sense principle that takes a backseat when something small occurs. Take my flight from Chicago (ORD) to Los Angeles (LAX) today. On the taxi out we got a message on our monitor indicating that our satellite radio was inoperative. This is a communications device that is important on international flights but is never used on domestic flights. So let's go through the steps required to clear this problem and compare this to the common sense approach.

The above malfunction is the equivalent of losing a car radio as you back out of the driveway. Now common sense would say that if you are planning a long car trip you might want get it fixed prior to heading out but it certainly doesn't pose a threat to the safe operation of the car. In commercial aviation that option is not available. The litany of hoops starts with a txt message to the maintenance department indicating what the problem is. They in turn txt back a possible solution to the problem which usually requires resetting switches or circuit breakers (even though there are no plans to use the equipment on the flight). Once the reset procedure is attempted and the problem continues, a txt back to maintenance is required. They then will txt back to turn off the affected equipment. Maintenance then sends via data link a new release document with the item list as taken out of service. The pilots must then tag the equipment or associated switch with an orange decal and write the reference number on it that is listed on the new release document. The item is now "officially" deferred and we can legally takeoff without said item working. Remember- each one of these steps takes on average anywhere from 2-10 minutes. So you can see even the smallest problem can take easily a half hour or more to resolve. I've seen a delay of 45 minutes to defer a missing piece of trim from an overhead bin! So the next time you flight is delayed pushing off of the gate and the Capt says there waiting for some last minute paperwork, you can bet he's waiting for the new release from maintenance or dispatch to make the flight legal in the eyes of the FAA.

Common sense would dictate that if an item is not integral to the SAFE completion of a flight, the Captain should have the discretion to write the item up at the completion of the flight. But as I said common sense doesn't apply here. I could go on but the point has been made. The next time a flight is delayed for "last minute paperwork," don't jump to blame the airline or flight crew. It's just possible the FAA's long and winding road is the reason.