Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Respect Your Elders

When I first got hired at SWA we were flying 737-200s and -300s. The 200s were old and they had a lot of issues. I for one was simply excited to work on ANY airliner at the time. Within 3 years time we had started to phase out the 200s so I did not really get a chance to get tired of working on them.

These days at SWA we fly 737-300s, -700s, and -800s. The 300s are getting old. Maybe old is the wrong term, more like worn out. We have the highest aircraft utilization, in terms of hours/day, of any airline out there. The planes are mostly 80s and 90s vintage 737s and they are simply used up.

When a typical mechanic shows up at work we look at the job board and sometimes when we find out we are working one of these older planes we cringe. "Not another old beast." I admit that I myself have had those days when I get assigned a 300 and I think "this thing is going to be falling apart."

My buddy SkyWalker is the exact opposite-he gets a 700 and he thinks, "what a bunch of relays and circuits." SkyWalker likes the older mechanical jets. Planes like 727s and the older 737s are just his cup of tea.

I have been looking at the older planes, recently, as older friends or older family members. These old warriors deserve our respect. There have been times when we have had battles and cursed them and even hit them with hammers in frustration. These planes have made us lay down in puddles in the rain, burned our arms while trying to pry out their PRSOVs, cut us, and even knocked some of us out cold. The leaks that only show up during high power runs, the L1 and L2 windows that would not see themselfs removed, the Rudder PCUs that needed to be RR'd in ALL types of weather and any times of the day.

The one thing that I try to remember is that the 300s have done all those things to me and those working with me BUT they also kept me and my family feed and clothed, they put money in my pocket and for many of us have provided the ONLY stable job we have had in the airline business.

These planes deserve a little respect from us. They are worn out that much is true,but day in and day out they go out and do their thing. They may be old and worn but I still feel bad when they are cut up and scrapped.

Check out these links regarding some of my old friends who will not be taking to the skies any more.

Aircraft 504
Not AC 504 but a pic of AC 501

Aircraft 351
Pic: ITSParts

Aircraft 692
Pic: ITSParts
And the list goes on.....

9 comments:

  1. God bless the -200 & -300's! Mechanical masterpieces!

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  2. Oh WOW...........I Love hearing how you.....respect the the Older Jets....and in many ways, they're like a family member or a dear friend!!!!!!!!!....It just F*ucking Kills me to see those videos or pics of the 'bone yard'.....and Jets just rotting....there!!!!!
    Of course, the battle continues between the "old School mechanics" and the "Just change the circuit board out".......school.......!!!!!

    I have to ask........when you fix a problem..........do you wonder......about what else might be going wrong with that particular plane...to yourself.......based on your experience...????

    and the MD-11's and A-340's will be joining their brethren......there in the desert in the years to come.......!!!

    Being the "Sickening" Aviation Geek I am......I look up 'tail #'s....and read up on history of these "Gems"....who take us all over the world......!!
    Thanks so much....for the links.......and the pictures......
    MissTWA

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  3. Yeah ya know my buddy Cricket pointed out that 504 was incorrect! I will try to replace with the correct plane.

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  4. Ya better cause the Super across the way is MAD and he's gonna come over there after you!

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  5. I like the old school lav leak!

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  6. To fix a lav leak on an old plane you had to be brave! You knew that bloated diaper was in the chute and had to be pulled out! What was behind it? That was why you had to be brave!!

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  7. Indeed new aircrafts are more electronics that anything else. From a certain point of view sometimes is easier to find the problem on an old aircraft than on a new one full of computers.

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