u/Typical_Bowler_3557 — reddlx

Good evening yall. I have a question if yall don't mind; It's about the Flightline, but I wholeheartedly welcome anyone and everyone to offer input. (Esp Mental Health/Chaplain types) My question is kind of long so I'm going to apologize in advance.

I am a maintainer. I've worked in the military on Freighters and Fighters, and on the outside I've worked Fire Service, Civie Aviation, Commercial Fishing, and a few other things. I enlisted into REGAF in 2010, and tbh the culture shock was traumatic but I learned a lot of life lessons along the way.

I recently discovered my passion when I evesdropped on a cop and rudely inserted myself into his conversation. He was talking about Industrial Psychology. His passion was on how to reduce first responder burnout. He info dumped on the subject and I realized that they have a bit in common with our breed. I also realized that we tend to think that our problems are unique and no one understands us, but I know this to be a myth. The infantry thinks this, the firemen think this, the dentists and the pilots think the same thing. We don't talk about our problems much, except to another maintainer/firemen/whatever at the bar. And even then, we kind of just complain about our problems and don't know how to articulate them.

So this brings me to my question; What makes the Line difficult? I'm going to answer this with a list of rules:

-The Flightline must be precise down to 1/1000 of an inch. And total anarchy the next. And you'd best figure out exactly when to switch from one to the other, because no one is going to tell you, but if you're caught acting like you're in the wrong one, man, you're up the creek and in for a world of pain.

-Here are the rules for the flightline: They must be followed to a T. You must never break the rules. Except when I imply that you break the rules. If you break a rule, you are in a world of s***. If I imply that you maybe should break a rule and you do not break that rule, you are in a world of s***. All of the rules must be followed to a T. Except for half of them; They are only followed when the boss implies that you follow them. Good luck figuring out which is which. And there are a bunch of rules that must be followed to a T and never broken, except when the unwritten rules imply that you should break them, depending on who is looking. If you at all appear confused at these ridiculous contradictions you are an idiot in the eyes of the flightline. If you are a sane intelligent human being you are rightfully confused.

-Do not cut corners. Except when it inconveniences your boss. Or when it impacts the mission. (The airplane is technically not airworthy, but it's got medevac patients on board, so what do you do?) You must NEVER break the rules no matter what the mission dictates. Except when the mission dictates. But if you get burned for cutting corners like you were ordered to/pressured into, it's your fault.

-Your bosses are more than happy to answer any questions you have. All of your questions will be answered with another question or ruthlessly mocking you ignorance.

-There are a million written rules that are law. They must be followed. Except for half of them. There are a million unwritten rules. They are law, but you only follow half of them.

-Do not rush. Except when I tell you not to rush but imply that you need to rush. Don't rush but you're in for a world of hurt if the job takes too long.

These are the rules of the flightline. You are in for it if you break them. And you are in for it if you do not break them in certain conditions.