Flight Safety Foundation Aviation Mechanics Bulletin 1989

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November–December 1989

Proper (Stressed) Skin Care Is Basic to Aviation Safety 16 pages. [PDF 82K]

Recent incidents,and current recommendations in the form of warnings from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), have brought to light that maintenance of the skin on pressurized aircraft requires constant vigil and careful techniques.

September–October 1989

‘I Wish I Had 100 More’ 16 pages. [PDF 342K]

Available graduating aviation technology students, that is. This lament came from the placement office of the College of Aeronautics. The school, located at La Guardia Airport in Flushing, N.Y., U.S., was founded in 1937 to train maintenance personnel for the aviation industry. Its recent first-hand experience in technician supply and demand paints an encouraging picture for those considering a career in aviation maintenance and for others who may be reflecting on the advisability of continuing their present employment in the field.

July–August 1989

Do You Want to Be an FAA Safety Inspector? 20 pages. [PDF 80K]

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration finally has convinced the U.S. Congress that there is a need for additional experienced aviation safety inspectors (maintenance) in the FAA field offices to closely monitor maintenance concerns of both aging and newer aircraft. This action is in response to the strong concerns expressed by the public and the media related to the safety of public transport aircraft after recent incidents of apparent structural failures caused by corrosion and metal fatigue.

May–June 1989

‘Smart Fluids’ Could Revolutionize Aviation Hydraulics Technology
16 pages. [PDF 52]

Electrorheological (ER) fluids are expected by the prognosticators at Technical Insights to bring about the redesign of up to 50 percent of all hydraulic systems and devices. Among the areas most likely to be affected are aerospace hydraulics, a $600 million a year market.

What’s so great, or smart, about these new fluids? ER fluids are suspensions of fine particles, mostly polymers (Neoprene also is a polymer) in nonconducting oils and other fluids. These “smart fluids” are unique in that when an electric current is passed through them, they instantly turn into a gel-like solid.

March–April 1989

Aircraft Aging is a Growing Maintenance Concern 16 pages. [PDF 47K]

We have yet to believe that the solution is to junk whole fleets of older-category aircraft, but we now recognize that it could become an alternative if the current awareness campaign fails to spread to all operators of older aircraft, and those who maintain them.

January–February 1989

It’s That Time of Year Again 16 pages. [PDF 42K]

Each year the changing colors of the leaves remind homeowners to do the pre-winter patching around the house and car owner’s to change the antifreeze and check the heater hoses.

And each year around the same time pilots and mechanics are reminded to readjust their approach to flying and maintaining aircraft. The season is here when fluids flow slower, breakable things get brittle, metal corrodes — and cold hands fumble worse.