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PSA: I came around on doing walk-arounds after every job
I always thought a quick visual check was enough after finishing up, especially on routine stuff. That changed when I was wrapping up a brake line swap and almost missed a loose access panel on the opposite side. It was just hanging there, and if it had come off in flight, well, that wouldn't have been good. Now I do a proper slow walk around the whole aircraft, no exceptions. It takes an extra minute or two, but I've found things like a worn static wick and a chafed wire bundle since I started. It's not glamorous, but it beats the alternative. My old boss used to call it pointless busywork, but he's not the one who would have to fill out the paperwork. Guess I'm a convert now.
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lewis.barbara7d ago
Funny how the easiest stuff to miss is right in front of you, in the places you look at every day. Reminds me of painting my own house last fall, where I did three coats on the main walls but completely missed a patch behind the door. You get so used to the routine view that your brain just fills in the blanks. A slow, fresh look at anything can save you a real headache later.
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knight.derek7d agoMost Upvoted
Hey @lewis.barbara, that painting story is CLASSIC. Our brains are just lazy like that, filling in gaps so we don't have to actually look. I bet that patch behind the door is now a permanent feature, like a modern art installation you didn't plan. It's amazing how we can do a whole job and still leave a glaring mistake right there. Maybe we need to hire someone ELSE to point out our blind spots, because clearly we can't trust ourselves.
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