Narrative:

We were given a memo from our quality assurance station manager to do the FAA airworthiness directive on B777 leading edge slat inspection. We did not go to the B777 general familiarization course. Our gpm (general procedures manual) states you must go to a general familiarization course to be qualified for that fleet. Gpm page 5 of 26 B777 quotes: gpm xyz is the training policy as to gpm xxz is for qualifications for all mechanics. I feel that we are put in an unsafe operating doctrine and are in violation of FARS. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: the reporter stated 1 inspector was sent to general familiarization training and no other inspectors were given this training. The reporter said he was assigned an airworthiness directive to inspect the leading edge devices on a B-777 for cracks. The reporter stated it was pointed out to the supervisor and manager of quality control of the qualification requirements in the company general procedures manual of familiarization training. The reporter said not having the training made him unqualified and untrained on the B-777. The reporter stated the manager came out with a memo that justified performing the airworthiness directive by unqualified inspectors. The reporter said the inspections were performed under management pressure per the airworthiness directive, but the perception among the inspectors is it's not legal. The reporter said the situation has been reported on the FAA hotline.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN INSPECTOR RPTS B-777 ACFT BEING DISPATCHED IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIRED AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE INSPECTIONS BEING DONE BY UNQUALIFIED AND UNTRAINED INSPECTORS.

Narrative: WE WERE GIVEN A MEMO FROM OUR QUALITY ASSURANCE STATION MGR TO DO THE FAA AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE ON B777 LEADING EDGE SLAT INSPECTION. WE DID NOT GO TO THE B777 GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE. OUR GPM (GENERAL PROCS MANUAL) STATES YOU MUST GO TO A GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION COURSE TO BE QUALIFIED FOR THAT FLEET. GPM PAGE 5 OF 26 B777 QUOTES: GPM XYZ IS THE TRAINING POLICY AS TO GPM XXZ IS FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR ALL MECHS. I FEEL THAT WE ARE PUT IN AN UNSAFE OPERATING DOCTRINE AND ARE IN VIOLATION OF FARS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: THE RPTR STATED 1 INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO GENERAL FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING AND NO OTHER INSPECTORS WERE GIVEN THIS TRAINING. THE RPTR SAID HE WAS ASSIGNED AN AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE TO INSPECT THE LEADING EDGE DEVICES ON A B-777 FOR CRACKS. THE RPTR STATED IT WAS POINTED OUT TO THE SUPVR AND MGR OF QUALITY CTL OF THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE COMPANY GENERAL PROCS MANUAL OF FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING. THE RPTR SAID NOT HAVING THE TRAINING MADE HIM UNQUALIFIED AND UNTRAINED ON THE B-777. THE RPTR STATED THE MGR CAME OUT WITH A MEMO THAT JUSTIFIED PERFORMING THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE BY UNQUALIFIED INSPECTORS. THE RPTR SAID THE INSPECTIONS WERE PERFORMED UNDER MGMNT PRESSURE PER THE AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE, BUT THE PERCEPTION AMONG THE INSPECTORS IS IT'S NOT LEGAL. THE RPTR SAID THE SIT HAS BEEN RPTED ON THE FAA HOTLINE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.