Qantas Airlines: Repair Division

Qantas Airlines: Repair DivisionRemember, it takes a college degree to fly a plane but only a high school diploma to fix one.

After every flight Qantas pilots fill out a form called a ‘Gripe Sheet’ which alerts the maintenance engineers to any problems with the aircraft. The engineers then correct the problems and record their repairs on the form. The pilots review the Gripe Sheets before their next flight.

Here are some actual maintenance requests submitted by Qantas’ pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by the maintenance engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That’s what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you’re right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

And last but not least:

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.

Thanks to Donna H!