Avionics News January 2022 - 34

series
BY THOMAS INMAN
Avionics Writing
M
y students at Pennsylvania College of
Technology study and discuss a case where
the tag on a propeller reads, " no visible
faults. " The technician filling out the tag meant the faults
within the propeller were not visible to the naked eye.
The next technician to handle the propeller interpreted
the tag to mean nothing was found to be wrong. The
propeller ended up back in service. It failed
catastrophically, damaging the airframe, which
left the aircraft uncontrollable at approach
airspeed. All on board perished. Although
the case above was not avionics related, it
does help make a point. This case illustrates
the importance of using writing precisely.
Writing ability is important for
technicians, and it's important for
precise communication. Anyone performing
maintenance, repairs or alterations on an aircraft must
make a logbook entry. The Code of Federal Regulations
section 43.9 requires the maintainer to enter a description
of work performed, the date the work was completed, the
name of the person doing the work, along with a signature
and certificate number of the person doing the signing.
The work description should be concise and precise. I have
read logbook entries that read like a journal, including a
description of pulling the aircraft into the hangar.
In addition to logbook entries, we use tags. Most readers
of this magazine are familiar with the tagging system. The
tagging system is defined in the repair station manual. The
majority of repair stations use yellow tags to represent
34 avionics news * january 2022
airworthy components. Green tags represent components
that are not currently airworthy but can be made so with
a repair, which is why they are referred to as repairable
tags. Red tags represent components deemed to be not
airworthy and not repairable. In addition, most shops use a
neutral-colored tag that can be attached to parts which have
not been evaluated as repairable or airworthy. These
tags require precise language as well. Technicians
should not hesitate to write a sentence or two,
especially when there is a possibility a phrase
can be misinterpreted.
Some workplaces will go so far as to
require standard phrasing, which reduces the
chance a tag can be misinterpreted. Standard
phrasing works well and has been used by
pilots and air traffic controllers for decades.
When filling out return to service data sheets, I
require students to use values instead of check marks.
A check mark merely indicates a technician read the phrase
and put in a check mark, which, of course, implies the piece
of equipment passed the test. A value tells the reader much
more. For example, the specification for a communication
radio my be for at least 10 watts output at 118 megahertz. A
check mark would imply the radio passed the test; writing
11 watts tells the reader the radio not only passed but also
exceeded specifications on the frequency.
Writing is also important for learning, which is
something easy to forget in this age of clicking and reading.
Our language skills and dexterity set us apart from the
animal kingdom. Compared to many animals, our sight and
Avionics News January 2022

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