maintenance peeve

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Geez.

The Cherokee 180 that I fly just came out of a 100 hr inspection today, and she's covered in greasy hand prints.
All over the cowling, the wheel pants, and just about everywhere else our mechanics worked.

When I was working at a larger FBO as a mechanic, that was a big no-no. ANY time a smudge or any sort of mark
was left on a surface in the course of my work, it was removed immediately (not later, when it had baked in). Company
policy, no questions... just keep that airplane clean. I was happy with this rule, as it was just another way to show the
customer that we were careful with their plane, and paid attention to details.

At the current airport, I'm sure our guys are decent mechanics, but they've gotten lazy in that they'll leave a customer's
airplane all smudged and greasy with the idea that the line guys will eventually get to washing it before it's returned to the
customer. Our own planes don't even get that much respect... though I try to keep 'em clean when I get the time.

Maybe it's just me, but if a mechanic isn't going to bother washing his hands before putting the cowl back on, or won't bother
cleaning up his greasy paw-prints... I have to wonder what *other* shortcuts he's taking.

[Mike]

You're absoultely right. It's a huge red flag for me every time I see stuff like that....
Julio doesn't leave handprints in the aircraft!
(he wipes his hands into Chucks shirt,  )

[Oddball]

Good tip I'll remember that.If I get a job that is.

[BrianGMFS]

When I worked for Heritage, the techs all had a pile of clean rags and various cleaners on their tool boxes. Company policy was a wipe down of any area they worked on. Many times the Customer got a complete airplane wash grattis (For the regular customers) and I can remember once grabbing the metal polish and the buffer to spiff up a regular's prop spinner due to the many unsightly water spots.

(The owner/pilot was a striking blonde woman who to this day, I can't figure out how she used the rudders on her Saratoga wearing high heeled cowboy boots)

Brian

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When I worked for Heritage, the techs all had a pile of clean rags and various cleaners on their tool boxes. Company policy was a wipe down of any area they worked on. Many times the Customer got a complete airplane wash grattis (For the regular customers) and I can remember once grabbing the metal polish and the buffer to spiff up a regular's prop spinner due to the many unsightly water spots.

(The owner/pilot was a striking blonde woman who to this day, I can't figure out how she used the rudders on her Saratoga wearing high heeled cowboy boots)

Brian

Pretty blonde... who flies an airplane... high-heeled cowboy boots... egads!

(I'm a happily married man... I'm a happily married man... I'm a happily married man...)

[Chopper Doc]

A clean aircraft flies better. 

Clean engine and transmission decks and driveline cowls will show the first evidence of oil or grease leaks.  If you don't start out clean you can't tell when the machine is dropping hints about pending troubles. 

It's like the basis of first aid: air goes in and out, blood goes round and round - any variation on this theme is cause for alarm.

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Here's another one. It's 0300 Central time, and I just got back home from wrestling our 172 back into its parking spot.
Yeah, very frequently our renters (and even our instructors) will slap on the tiedown ropes with little apparent concern
for the airplane's positional security. I don't know whether they used a slipknot on the last flight, but the only line still attached
was the tail tiedown, and it was tenuous at best. The airplane had swiveled around and was tugging at that last rope in a
40kt wind when I arrived (the storm was keeping me awake anyway, so I figured I'd go check the birds).

*sigh*

That, the aforementioned handprints, folks tossing garbage out of their cars, driving like they're the only ones on the road (sometimes, in the pattern too)...
Sometimes I wonder how I manage to remain somewhat of an optimist... and that's just the minor stuff. I won't go into the real criminal crap.

[Baradium]

So you going to find out who handled it last from the logs and have some words?

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So you going to find out who handled it last from the logs and have some words?

I'm gonna have a look when I get back over there, but I already told the owner what happened.
If he wants to say something, that'd please me. Otherwise, I'm not gonna worry about it.