c/avionics-technicians

PSA: My whole approach to coax pin crimping was backwards for a year

I only figured it out when a new guy in Anchorage asked why my crimps looked 'upside down' compared to the manual. Anyone else have a simple task they were overcomplicating?

Veteran techs who hate digital testers are causing real problems

I've seen it too often. A senior technician will mock the new screen-based systems and stick to his old meters. This attitude trickles down to the newer guys, who then avoid using the best tools we have. Just last month, a plane was delayed because a manual check overlooked a fault that the digital unit would have caught. It's not about experience, it's about refusing to adapt. Management lets this slide because they don't want to upset the old guard. But in our field, that's how mistakes happen. We need to push for everyone to get on board with new tech, or we'll keep wasting time and money.

Shoutout to a buddy for the insight on flickering displays

I had this King Air with instrument panels that would dim and brighten randomly, especially during turns. Spent a whole day checking the dimmer controls and wiring harnesses, but no luck. Another tech from across the hangar saw me struggling and asked if I'd looked at the canopy seal. Turns out, a small gap was letting in sunlight that messed with the ambient light sensors. Taped it up temporarily, and the flickering stopped immediately. Ordered a new seal the next day. It's crazy how something so simple can cause such a headache. Really made me remember to think about the whole environment, not just the electronics. Saved me from pulling apart the entire panel for nothing.

My attempt at green avionics recycling almost set off the hangar alarms

Recycling avionics wire can get fiery if you're not careful, lol.

Management pushing for faster turnarounds made me compromise, but not anymore.

Safety over speed is my new rule after a close call.

From my freelance gigs, I've seen avionics go all digital. I think we're losing the hands-on feel that made fixing things straightforward.

Just found a cold solder joint that caused weeks of headaches

I spent ages chasing a ghost in the nav system. Turns out it was a single bad solder joint on a board. How do you guys check for these?