responsibilities much like a Professional Engineer
with Practicing Certificate (PEPC) in Malaysia. Not
many people outside the industry understand the
details of the role of LAMEs in general. An aircraft
operates within complex integrated mechanical
and avionics systems, which are definitely not
routine.
Professionalism of CAAM Category B1/
B2 Type Rated LAME
Quite a few years ago, there was a team of
pilots, a license aircraft maintenance engineer
(LAME) and flight crews, that needed to ferry
a new aircraft from the manufacturing plant in
the USA. They decided to ferry the aircraft back
through the West Coast of USA, the Pacific Ocean
and then into the Malaysian airspace. While
cruising at an altitude of 43,000 feet, the cabin
pressurisation systems failed suddenly. The risk
of cabin occupants to experience hypoxia and
anoxia that could lead to fatality was high. The
back-up system kicked in, tapping the pneumatic
source directly from the engine compressor
stages to maintain cabin pressurisation. That
was the first time the LAME saw how stress
levels rose among the flight crews in such
emergency situations. He immediately assessed
the situation and analysed all available system
parameters to define the systems problems. To
mitigate the anoxia risk, the aircraft needed to
descend to a lower altitude. However, that would
mean more fuel will be burnt to overcome the
higher drag at the lower altitude. As a result,
there may not be enough fuel to reach the safe
destination where they could ground the aircraft
to solve this pressurisation system problem.
Eventually, they landed on a small island called
Majuro Island, which was part of the Marshall
Atolls, in the middle of Pacific Ocean.
In general, B1/B2 type rated LAME perform
their duties within the scope of aircraft
maintenance manuals, service bulletin,
airworthiness directives, etc. However, more
often than not, a B1/B2 type rated LAME also
needs to perform tasks beyond normal routine.
In this ferry flight, who would have expected
a brand new aircraft, just out of production,
ground tested, flight tested with all recorded
data within acceptable limits, would have a
critical pressurisation system failure? The LAME
who had reached professional level understood
that given the complexities of the mechanical
and avionics of an aircraft, there is always
possibility for failure for reasons such as design,
workmanship and reliability. This is based on
his education and training on the ability to
define aircraft problems, conduct research,
narrow down the research, analyse systems and
parameters criteria, design/develop alternative
solutions, make decisions and implement
solutions. A solution was developed by the
LAME with the manufacturer’s specialist team’s
consent. The aircraft engineer verified the
systems integrity with solutions. It was only then
the LAME proceeded to carry out the certification
that the aircraft and system is within its design
and operational specifications as spelled out
in the aircraft maintenance manuals and other
documents. The team proceeded with the ferry
flight with the solutions developed.
It is a norm for B1/B2 LAMEs to carry
systems deficiency research on many complex
aircraft systems (especially intermittent system
failure with the inability to duplicate the system
faults on ground), locating the right information,
applying theoretical knowledge and converting
them into a solution. In this episode, the
pressurisation problem was solved and the
team continued on to Malaysia without further
issues. They landed back in Subang Airport three
days behind schedule but the designed and
developed solution was safe and proven. The
LAME’s subsequent recommendation included
the design of a temporary solution which was
forwarded to the aircraft manufacturer which
made improvements to the systems. The inputs
from this incident resulted in Cessna redesigning
an improved air cycle machine systems overheat
sensor with a new dash part number.
Just recently, an aircraft landing gear system
failed to retract and did an air turn back. After
posing several questions to the pilot, the
LAME defined the problem clearer, conducted
research, narrowed down the research,
analysed the criteria, found solutions, analysed
solutions, made decisions and implemented
corrective actions before carrying out the
certification that the aircraft and systems is
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