Weather Radar Not Working - No response from Weather Radar system on both sides

Today I had a call for a faulty weather radar system.

The weather was bad. There were a lot of clouds and rained heavily. The Captain reported that the two weather radar systems didn't give any response on the display panels.

This was a No-Go situation. Since both systems were inoperative. 

When I performed the operational test I noticed that weather radar antenna motor was moving. That was confirmed by the normal sound of motor in action.

The systems didn't has near failures at the time and has no related faults in PFR Post Flight Report.


The problem was that the pilot closed the Avionics cooling system ventilation valves due to the heavy rain. This action did not comply with operation procedure in such weather.

Due to its large power consumption, the weather radar transceiver does not operate when Avionics system ventilation is inoperative.

That's why the antenna motor moved normally while there were no transmitted or received weather radar signal.

That's also why there were no recorded failures in PRF nor Ground Scanning reports.

The captain were informed by this fact and Avionics Ventilation put to ON again. Then the weather radar systems both worked normally.

REF.: GCD

Display Unit Replacement on A320 - First Officer Navigation Display Replacement on Airbus 320 Aircraft

Today I replaced the First Officer Navigation Display Unit due to Display Unit failure.

The Display Unit fault has been considered as a differed defect.


First, I checked the new Display Unit condition and Part Number.

Then I pulled the First Officer Navigation Display Circuit breaker.

I removed the decoration around the Display Unit.

I pulled the handle that was securing the Display Unit.

Then I removed the old Display Unit from its place.

And then the new Display Unit is placed in its place.

Secured the handle in the correct position.

The new Display Unit takes about 20 seconds to load its software from the DMC (Display Management Computer)

The it's working normally.

The decoration is fixed.

I pushed the circuit breaker in its closed position.

And then checked the new Display Unit operation.

And finally I made an entry in the aircraft technical log book.


AMM: 31-63



REF: CA

Weekly Check and Charging Batteries of a grounded Aircraft

Today I carried out a weekly check on a grounded aircraft.

Usually, normal aircrafts must undergo a weekly check that is due every seven calendar days.

Although this aircraft is grounded due to a structural damage that is being repaired, but this aircraft must also undergo weekly and daily checks also.

And this is also important to keep the batteries live and working.

As a normal weekly check item, I have checked the main batteries voltage and found it about 24 Volts.

This is still within normal operating limits but needs to be fully charged.


So I pushed in the two main batteries switches to operate the Battery Charge Limiter BCL of each one.

This enables them to be fully charged on board the aircraft during normal operation procedure.

At the beginning of the charging process there appears that the batteries are charged with relatively higher currents.

And then as the batteries voltages gets near the nominal 28 Voltages it gradually drops decreases.

And finally when it reaches 28 Voltages it means that the batteries are fully charged and no current is being drawn from them.

And then I put the batteries switches to the OFF position.

REF BSM

Replacing FMGC on A320 Aircraft - Auto Pilot Computer Replacement

Today I've replaced the FMGC Flight Management and Guidance Computer on the A320 Aircraft.

This was due to the differed defect of the FMGC#2.

I started by opening the 824 door which contains most Avionics Computers.

And then I brought the new FMGC computer which will replaced the defected computer.

And then I started to loosen the screws to get the defected unit out.

And then I got it out and recorded its Part and Serial Numbers.

And then I started to cross load the software from the FMGC #1 into FMGC #2 to keep the software in the two computers identical.

And here is after the process has finished and the two computers were identical and worked normally in conjunction with each other.

 The FMGC is the computer that includes the Autopilot functions. It also includes the Flight Guidance and Management Functions.

REF SU-BPV

A320 Pack 1 Regulation Fault

And now I've been called for the fault of 
PACK 1 REGULATION FAULT.

So I started the Cabin Temperature Control Test. The test takes about 240 seconds and showed that the fault was in the PACK 1 Ram Air Actuator.

I recorded the fault and performed system reset for PACK 1 Controller.

System returned normal.

REF SU-BPV

A320 CIDS Reset

Today I had this task to solve. I faced the passenger call lights in the cabin incorrectly flashing.

They normally flash when there is a passenger call for the cabin attendant so the cabin attendant can locate the calling passenger.

But when there is a fault in the CIDS Director, the passenger call lights may flash incorrectly without a passenger call.

So I reset the CIDS Director according to the AMM from the CIDS Director Circuit Breakers on the overhead panel and then it performed the six minutes BITE test.

And the cabin passenger call lights went normal.

REF. SU-GCA

NAV DATABASE UPLOADING on A320

NAV Database Uploading is a normal Aviation Maintenance procedure that is done each 28 days.

This updates the Navigation Database of the Manager Computer of the Aircraft with the newly updated information.

Those information include NAV Aids locations and frequencies, Airport names, Way point and other information.

For the A320-200, there are about four disks of NAV Database.

And for the A320-214, there are another set of disks to upload.


Ref. SU-BTM

ISIS Indicator test - Integrated Standby Instrument System

On board the A320 I got to test the ISIS Integrated Standby Instrument System.

I wanted to reset it due to its fault as SPD flag appeared on it.

Its reset is very simple.

On the overhead circuit breaker panel you pull the CB Circuit Breaker F12 for 5 Seconds and then push it in.

This is the standard reset for the ISIS. But this was no use as the ISIS had an internal failure in the SPD Speed function. So I had to raise it as Deffered item according to the MEL Minimum Equipment List.

Also, I wanted to perform its internal test. So I pressed the upper two buttons together.

This brought the test menu into display.

There were two options:

Operational Test 

Display Test


So I've chosen the operational test. But also the SPD function appeared to having internal failure.



Ref. HZ-AS54

A320 landing light Replacement

There are two landing lights under the wing of the A320.

On one night, the RHS wing landing light lamp has failed. So I had to replace it with a new one.

The wind landing light is retractable. This means that it extends when operated and retracts when off.

I replaced the lamp and then tested the light and it worked correctly.

Ref. SU-BTM

Hello World

Here is my Aviation Maintenance Log.

It's my new blogging project.
I've been in this field from 2007(ie. now for about 12 years) and this is the first time that I decide to blog about my profession regularly.

It's said that better late than never. You should start blogging your profession as soon as possible.

You must start logging all your activities as quickly as possible.

Days past, weeks, months, years and you'll be surprised of how you forget how you were doing just two years ago.

And also you would be surprised if you started blogging about what you do regularly.

You must make time your ally. Make time your true friend by keeping logging your days and what you do by default.

You may say that I might be doing something that doesn't worth logging.

But after you blog only couple of weeks and then stop to see what you have logged you will be impressed.


So I've decided to start logging all my activities I do during my daily work.

I hope to continue and I hope you all enjoy it.