Ask an Aircraft Mechanic anything

155 Questions

Last Answer on July 09, 2022

Why do so many people have a fear of flying. I mean it’s the safest mode of transportation even more so then a school bus. As well as you can die from anything.

Asked by Summer over 5 years ago

It’s psychological, of course. There are whole studies based on that question.

Fear of heights + fear of what we don’t fully understand + not having any control + media highlighting every passenger plane crash or incident.

Not really the focus of this Q&A though.

649 Votes

Another question is what is the most difficult aircraft to work on?

Asked by Daniel over 5 years ago

When you ask me " what is the most difficult aircraft to work on?" I"m taking that as: "What is the most difficult aircraft that I have ever worked on". Because that is a very subjective question.

I guess the aircraft that consistently gave a pretty high difficulty level to us, has been the DC-10's. They are overbuilt tanks in the sky; with a lot of unusual structure to them we need to work around and with.

I had a friend who said that F-4's were pretty hard to work with. He did fuel cell work on them in the Air Force.

It's all based pretty much on personal experience. Ask ten different mechanics that same question, and you may very well get ten different answers.

648 Votes

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Please help How do I get broken off screw heads on the fuel panel of my Cessna 172?

Asked by Kirk A&P over 5 years ago

I recommend that you find some local help with your issue. I do not offer technical help in this forum.

643 Votes

Do you get buddy passes what are they?

Asked by Jacobi over 5 years ago

I do not, and never have, gotten buddy passes; or had employee flight benefits of any kind. If you want those kinds of things, you would have to work for a passenger airline.

Buddy passes are basically stand-by/space available tickets that an airline employee can give to family or friends. Certain taxes and fees would still need to be paid.

Using those passes, puts you at the lowest priority of stand-by. So there is zero guarantees of you actually getting on a given flight.

642 Votes

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What happened to prop jets and planes? Also, why are large and small passenger aircraft being done away with for more medium sized planes?

Asked by Daniel over 5 years ago

I'm not sure what you mean by "What happened to prop jets and planes"? From where I sit, they are where they've always been: a more economical choice for short and medium length flights than a turbine aircraft. I certainly don't see any less of them around here.

As for the "why are large and small passenger aircraft being done away with for more medium sized planes?"

This is really outside of my wheelhouse, as well as the intention of this Q&A. I'm not an aviation industry trends expert.

I'll give you the answer I give everyone else when they ask such a question of me: Money, economics, and customer trends.

Why does any type of aircraft go "out of fashion"? It always, always, has to do with money.

If you can't fill your large aircraft up all the way with passengers, then your profit margins are down. Compound that with not being able to operate them in and out of all the airports in the world due to their size; and there's another reason. Do four engines burn more fuel than two? There's another reason.

As far as small passenger aircraft going away for medium size ones..... not as far as I can see. If it makes economic sense to fly a small passenger plane on a given route, and it makes money for the company, they'll still be using that plane.

Why does Buffalo Air still use DC-3 aircraft for passengers and cargo up in Northern Canada? Since that would be crazy, right? Old, radial engined aircraft.

They do it because it makes economic sense for them to do so. It's all a money game.

642 Votes

Good evening, what do you think about mandatory masks on aircraft?!

Asked by Martha about 5 years ago

Mandatory masks on passenger planes are a GOOD thing.

Even when there is no scary pandemic, passenger planes are a good place to get sick.

So yeah. Wear a mask, people. Wash your hands. Don’t touch your face.

640 Votes

Okay. Then why don’t they fly anymore

Asked by Mikey over 5 years ago

Look. I’m not going to get into an argument with you. You could very easily educate yourself about the aircraft type if you wish.

They don’t use DC-10s for passenger use much anymore for the same reason you don’t see 747-100’s and -200’s out there flying passengers much.

Economics.

Newer aircraft can fly the same amount of people for less money in operating and maintenance costs. That’s all aviation is really. It’s a money game.

Why don’t they fly 707s or DC-8s anymore in passenger mode? Money.

Why are they parking so many of the much newer A380 aircraft? Money.

If you ever see an older aircraft out there flying revenue flights; it’s because someone figured out a niche market where it makes financial sense to do it. Like Buffalo Air and their DC-3s.

640 Votes