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UPS Airlines
Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a high school diploma to fix one; a reassurance for those of us who fly routinely in our jobs.

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a 'gripe sheet,' which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS ' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.


By the way, UPS is the only major airline that has never, ever, had an accident.


P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this air craft.

P: Something loose in cockpit
S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute Descent
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.< BR>
And the best one for last

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Those have been posted in pilots lounges for as long as I have been flying.

I remember back in the 80's when I first started flying Charter. One of my first flights was into Chicago O'Hare. Flew in during the day time, landed next to Buttler aviation, turned off right into the ramp.

Came back out at 8pm, raining, dark loaded up in a small twin. Got my clearance. With pen ready I called for taxi. The lady assumed I was a night cargo operator who had been out of there many times. At night in a small twin sitting low on the tarmac, the lights and taxi ways of the airport all seem to blend together.

Trying to listen in lousy headsets, understanding about 75% of what she said, she came back....real fast rattling something like:


November, XYZ....Delta-2, mike-5, Mike Tango, Alpha 10 Alpha, Bravo to Tango 6 Tango Tango Wiskey, Echo Hold short 4left........
........
I paused................
........
........
........
........
........
(ME) "Mam",...."Was that a right turn out of Buttler?......
........
........
she paused......"OK!"
.........
.........
Then she gave me directions I could understand.
There is a story that pilots used to talk about at O'Hare from years ago. Back when there was at one point a Curfew. The airline were trying to get clearances and the lady controller finally came on and said:

"You guys need to be patient. Ain't none of you getting out before 6am!" (or what ever the time was).

Some one came back and said "Bullshit!".

Controller: "WHO SAID THAT. I WAN'T TO KNOW RIGHT NOW WHO SAID THAT!!!"

One by one:

"Delta 231, negative on the Bullshit"
"American 324, Negative on the Bullshit"
"eastern 311, negative on the Bullshit"
....
....
Everyone checked in on that one!
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