Articles for category Maintenance Minute
|
May
05
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
I love a good catchphrase. Much like the marketing ads that tell us to “Just Do It” or “Have It Your Way,” in the helicopter world, Bell Helicopter brought us some classics in the 1990s, including “Ask Any Pilot” and my personal favorite, “It Better Be Bell.”
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Mar
28
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
It would be interesting to know how many of you have heard of or know someone who has been awarded The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award…or maybe have earned one yourself. The Federal Aviation Administration presents this award to honor a very elite group of aviation mechanics. To qualify for consideration requires at least 50 years of documented work experience in aviation maintenance, to hold an Airframe and Powerplant Certificate or Repairman Certificate in good standing and to demonstrate professionalism and dedication to aviation safety. The award is named for Charles Taylor who was the first aviation mechanic. He collaborated with the Wright brothers and played a pivotal role in developing the engine for their first powered flight.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Feb
28
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
It would be interesting to know how many of you have heard of or know someone who has been awarded The Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award…or maybe have earned one yourself. The Federal Aviation Administration presents this award to honor a very elite group of aviation mechanics. To qualify for consideration requires at least 50 years of documented work experience in aviation maintenance, to hold an Airframe and Powerplant Certificate or Repairman Certificate in good standing and to demonstrate professionalism and dedication to aviation safety. The award is named for Charles Taylor who was the first aviation mechanic. He collaborated with the Wright brothers and played a pivotal role in developing the engine for their first powered flight.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Jan
23
2025
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
If we’ve ever met in person my accent will probably make it evident that I grew up in the deep south. Most families in my hometown worked either in the cotton mill, paper mill or the marble quarry. My family was cotton mill people, so I became a cotton mill person at the age of sixteen. Looking back on it, I am incredibly grateful for that experience. People that worked in the cotton mill and, I’m sure, the other industries, developed a strong work ethic and a deep respect for one another. One of things I noticed as a young man working in the mill was that when someone retired after forty or fifty years of working, they received a special gift to commemorate the day. For the men that retired that gift was almost always a fishing rod and reel. After witnessing this many times, I though…is this what I have to look forward to, working fifty years and getting a Zebco? I have come to realize that a rod and reel would be the perfect gift and hopefully one day I will get mine.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Dec
23
2024
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
In late September 2024, Hurricane Helene was beginning to churn and stir in the Gulf of Mexico. Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region near Perry, Florida, as a powerful Category 4 hurricane with 140 mph winds and 15-foot storm surge. Over the next couple of days, she made her way through Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and into the mountains of western North Carolina (WNC) where extensive rains caused massive flooding.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Nov
18
2024
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
It never ceases to amaze me how humanity will step up and do what’s right when urgent need arises. Once again, this was the case in late September 2024 when Hurricane Helene rolled in to the mountains of western North Carolina via Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Helene brought torrential rainfall which caused massive flooding and landslides that decimated highways, bridges, homes, and entire towns leaving death and destruction in her path. In short order, civilian helicopter owners and pilots had their machines on site delivering supplies and rescuing people. At one time during the first couple of weeks of rescue I was following over thirty helicopters on Flight Radar online. The unpaid team of civilians and veterans assembled, organized, and began a targeted action for rescue including flight plans and communication that would ensure everyone’s safety.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Oct
25
2024
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
As I sat at my desk on 27 August contemplating what to write for this month’s article, I received news that two Delta Airline mechanics had died, and one mechanic was severely injured in the shop when a tire exploded. What a tragic accident and my heart goes out to their families and to the Delta family. This accident hit close to home and it got me thinking about how dangerous the career field we have chosen can be at times.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Sep
23
2024
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
The responsibility for staying safe in the workplace rests with each individual…especially those who work in a dangerous environment. Yes, the company has rules and regulations, policies and procedures but if we don’t adhere to them what good are they? If we choose not to wear hearing protection, should we complain when our hearing suffers? Should someone be required to tell us to wear PPE when it’s provided, and the expectation is for us to wear it? Why do we put off required safety training until the last minute? Why is safety training treated like just something we must comply with year after year?
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Aug
29
2024
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
When I was growing up it was common for people to work for the same company for an entire career. Today people seem to come and go from jobs as fast as a spinning tail rotor. The decision to invest in young inexperienced mechanics is sometimes met with opposition when history shows they will not hesitate to move on to the next shiny thing.
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute
|
Jul
22
2024
|
|
Posted by Admin
|
|
In this crazy world many people believe that it is acceptaåble to have low expectations and operate with low standards. I’m not one of those people. Helicopter mechanics must choose to step up to a higher level of service. Ziz Zigler said “ability is important in our quest for success, but dependability was critical.” I maintain that ability and skill and knowledge are imperative but what good are those if one is not dependable? How effective is an EMS helicopter mechanic who chooses to ignore the phone when a pilot calls; leaving the crew and aircraft stranded in a field or on a highway? Who does it serve if we don’t require our mechanics to be a cut above? Does it really matter if we have mechanics that will install bolts but only start the nuts without any torque or cotter pins?
[Read More...]
Tags:
Maintenance Minute
Mark Tyler
Categories:
Maintenance Minute