How about instead of a temporary repair you just fix it.
Of course, this could be a last-minute problem that arose, but that also begs the question: how often do you test the parts? Did you make a safety check JUST before you took off?
The collective slang name for the tape they are using is “speed tape.” It’s used in racing and aerospace and is even used on combat aircraft. A single roll can start at several hundred dollars, and some rolls cost as much as minty, late model used car. A type and spec of a certain “speed tape” is certified by the manufacturer of an aircraft as is its uses.
The reason they don’t just “fix the plane right” is that speed tape isn’t used for any major repairs- it is used for superficial repairs- often something like a small ding or similar- which by itself doesn’t compromise the integrity of an aircraft- but can effect aerodynamics if not addressed, or if left alone and subject to the temperatures and forces of flight, could become a more severe issue or cause a safety concern.
Such minor repairs do not require immediate fixing beyond what speed tape can provide, and are usually deferred for a regular maintenance window- or the craft has its maintenance “bumped up” because it isn’t feasible to just take a plane from service and it isn’t as simple as just pulling into the nearest hanger and having crew slap on a new part.
Often the permanent repair will require steps that will need to be duplicated for other routine or planned maintenance as well. So long as the proper criteria and practices are observed there is no real draw back to using speed tape in an appropriate application. To put it in context- fixing most damage that speed tape is used for before every flight would be like if they passed a law that you had to check your car for rock chips and take it to get repainted every single time you wanted to drive it, or requiring that you couldn’t use putty to patch dray wall in your home- but had to effect a permanent repair by replacing the entire drywall sheet and not use your home until that is done.
Obviously and aircraft is a more critical application- but that being said- it’s the same idea: if the issue doesn’t effect safety, if engineers who built the craft and independent engineers agree that the fix doesn’t compromise the safety of the object in question- then there is no reason to require immediate and expensive action.
There is also a concept used even in extremely critical and high cost machine work such as aircraft- even when tested to aerospace specs- a new part that hasn’t been in service is an unknown part. Often times, it is better to go with a less than perfect but “in spec” known good part than it is to replace it with a brand new one. There are complexities like the fatigue characteristics of materials and surrounding structural stresses and all manner of things to consider- but sometimes, it would actually be safer to use the speed tape and delay a new part until you can do a proper repair and test cycle than to rush a new part onto a plane without the opportunity to test it- and leaving a craft grounded until you CAN do so
(Airspace and routes are controlled and there are all sorts of laws and factors around the whole thing) would be even WORSE as many machines- including aircraft- can develop additional problems just by sitting doing nothing- without regular use many seals and other things can have issues, critters can move in, blah blah. It’s a whole big thing, and decades plus of use and a world of engineers agree the speed tape is often the best solution for a given problem until it can be addressed properly.
Also a lot of repair work is only carried out at larger maintenance facilities.
So its perfectly in spec to say "hey, this crack is large enough that we need to tape it, but small enough that we can fly it to our maintenance hub, instead of bringing parts/techs out here"
Trust me, im an aero mechanical engineer, and went to school for 6 years for this stuff. This is completely fine, and the engineers that designed the plane and the tape have tested and approved its use
Also a lot of repair work is only carried out at larger maintenance facilities.
So its perfectly in spec to say "hey, this crack is large enough that we need to tape it, but small enough that we can fly it to our maintenance hub, instead of bringing parts/techs out here"
Trust me, im an aero mechanical engineer, and went to school for 6 years for this stuff. This is completely fine, and the engineers that designed the plane and the tape have tested and approved its use
Last thing I'll add is that any temporary repair is noted in the log book carried on the plane and may require an ongoing inspection, after each flight leg or designated time frame, to ensure the ongoing integrity of the temporary repair. In this case, given the location and extent of the taping, its probably erosion of the paint at the leading edge of the composite panels, so they're protecting the panels from water infiltration or possibly a loss of the aerodynamic and waterproof sealant that is normally found between the panels and the aluminum lip, in which case, they may have already reapplied it and are just protecting it during its cure cycle, with a note in the log to remove the tape and inspect the sealant after its had time to fully cure.
What do you want?
Reengineering the part with a six week lead time, testing by Quality control, fitting by engineers in 3 weeks, Cap testing for 24-48 hours, then have it finally approved?
I mean, you're already trusting two people to make over a million lbs go "nneeeoooww" for 5 hours. I think you can take it as read that these guys know what's up, you bitch.
What do you want?
Reengineering the part with a six week lead time, testing by Quality control, fitting by engineers in 3 weeks, Cap testing for 24-48 hours, then have it finally approved?
I mean, you're already trusting two people to make over a million lbs go "nneeeoooww" for 5 hours. I think you can take it as read that these guys know what's up, you bitch.
Of course, this could be a last-minute problem that arose, but that also begs the question: how often do you test the parts? Did you make a safety check JUST before you took off?
Image telling them they'd have to wait for 5 days working.
To avoid that... you check the plane when it lands and not when it takes off
So its perfectly in spec to say "hey, this crack is large enough that we need to tape it, but small enough that we can fly it to our maintenance hub, instead of bringing parts/techs out here"
Trust me, im an aero mechanical engineer, and went to school for 6 years for this stuff. This is completely fine, and the engineers that designed the plane and the tape have tested and approved its use
So its perfectly in spec to say "hey, this crack is large enough that we need to tape it, but small enough that we can fly it to our maintenance hub, instead of bringing parts/techs out here"
Trust me, im an aero mechanical engineer, and went to school for 6 years for this stuff. This is completely fine, and the engineers that designed the plane and the tape have tested and approved its use
Reengineering the part with a six week lead time, testing by Quality control, fitting by engineers in 3 weeks, Cap testing for 24-48 hours, then have it finally approved?
I mean, you're already trusting two people to make over a million lbs go "nneeeoooww" for 5 hours. I think you can take it as read that these guys know what's up, you bitch.
Reengineering the part with a six week lead time, testing by Quality control, fitting by engineers in 3 weeks, Cap testing for 24-48 hours, then have it finally approved?
I mean, you're already trusting two people to make over a million lbs go "nneeeoooww" for 5 hours. I think you can take it as read that these guys know what's up, you bitch.