4 x A400M's trashed at Brize.

A costly mistake? Or the result of constant downskilling of the aircraft trades?

Four of the RAF'S A400 fleet have suffered engine damage due to the lack of aircraft husbandry during a period of high winds.

The failure to apply prop blanks has resulted in totally avoidable and inexcusable damages to the fleet.

Well done to all involved.

 

[Tin basher]

Standard fall back position - It was the other shift. The answer my friend is blowing in the wind.

 

[Tin basher]

Wasn’t it ‘like that when we came on shift’?

Confirmation right there it was the other shift cos it was like that when we came on shift. Case closed other shift to blame some things never change.

 

[Rigga]

Are you saying that many replacement props are required?

 

[Barch]

Don't they face aircraft into wind, feather the props and use tie-downs nowadays ?

And it isn't as if the strong winds were unexpected !!

 

[norfolkred1]

Not me Chief, Airframes.

 

[metimmee]

Shit shift were on

 

[Talk Wrench]

Don't they face aircraft into wind, feather the props and use tie-downs nowadays ?

And it isn't as if the strong winds were unexpected !!

It's obvious that someone screwed up.

Even out here in the civ world, we prepared over 60 aircraft currently in storage using 2 ton concrete tie down blocks for the nose gear alone. Engines put into preservation and airframe storage procedures enacted.

The RAF seriously needs to get a grip with aircraft care.

 

[Rugby-Jock-Lad]

It's obvious that someone screwed up.

Even out here in the civ world, we prepared over 60 aircraft currently in storage using 2 ton concrete tie down blocks for the nose gear alone. Engines put into preservation and airframe storage procedures enacted.

The RAF seriously needs to get a grip with aircraft care.

TW: You're NOT seriously asking the RAF to drop the focus on secondary duties including charity work and mess committee stuff and for Engineering Officers to actually do engineering stuff now are you??????????

Please have a heart and think of all those self-serving and incompetent personnel this could affect at OJAR/SJAR time!!!

 

[Downsizer]

Have you got a link for this?

 

[Tin basher]

It's obvious that someone screwed up.

I can find no reference to A400M wind damage on any of the interweb I've looked at (Disclaimer I'm E-goats resident IT Biff) and I've even sullied myself by looking on Facebook.

Wasn’t there so it’s pure speculation on my part but we are the premier rumour site and if someone did screw up.

Who checked the met forecast?
Was it even checked?
If it was looked at who decided not to act on the Met forecast?
Was anyone switched on enough to be aware of wind limits for the platform?
Did anyone even read up on the wind limits?
Was advice/guidance proffered by others subsequently ignored by management?
Who decided that the best thing to do was nothing?
Who was in charge of the shift on paper and who ran it in actuality Jengo, FS, grumpy old CT?
If the decision was made to try and do something what kit, if any, was found to be lacking?
How many deflector umbrellas are going up?

 

[Allflapnofly]

Communication, responsibility and one would think just standard engineering common sense and practice. Refer and check the good book regarding wind-speed parameters and predicted 'iffy' weather conditions etc ....Liaise through the Met office, Engineering hierarchy, rects controller and required agencies etc. Then if exceptionally strong winds and severe weather is forecast and if unable to put aircraft into hangar or a HAS. It was usually refuel to aircraft to max (and maybe position bowsers as wind breaks). Then double chock and 'tie bars' fitted. If necessary turn aircraft into wind, all blanks & covers fitted, all ground equipment including access steps etc removed well clear of aircraft.....Send out some bods to check every 30 mins or so the ramp/pan/dispersal and security of aircraft, refit blanks, check chocks and covers that may have maybe gone walkabout.....If push came to shove and winds were to dangerously exceed certain knottage.....then if possible fly 'S' aircraft to a safe and unaffected by atrocious weather airfield.....It would be ignorant and irresponsible to blame 'in hindsight'......(Or t'other shift )......

 

[Max Reheat]

Do you actually know what happened? There have been engine issues this week but from what I know only 1 prop is wind related. The slings have been known to fail so it might not even have been someone’s fault.

 

[Max Reheat]

I can find no reference to A400M wind damage on any of the interweb I've looked at (Disclaimer I'm E-goats resident IT Biff) and I've even sullied myself by looking on Facebook.

Wasn’t there so it’s pure speculation on my part but we are the premier rumour site and if someone did screw up.

Who checked the met forecast?
Was it even checked?
If it was looked at who decided not to act on the Met forecast?
Was anyone switched on enough to be aware of wind limits for the platform?
Did anyone even read up on the wind limits?
Was advice/guidance proffered by others subsequently ignored by management?
Who decided that the best thing to do was nothing?
Who was in charge of the shift on paper and who ran it in actuality Jengo, FS, grumpy old CT?
If the decision was made to try and do something what kit, if any, was found to be lacking?
How many deflector umbrellas are going up?

In the event of high winds precautions are taken, extra fuel, turning into wind, bowsers. You can’t legislate for failure of a prop sling. Disclaimer for me, I know only what’s been said around the hangar but I’m pretty sure 4 trashed engines due to wind would have filtered to us. I’d be 95% certain that that story has been blown out of all proportion. No pun intended.