Maintenance Improvement Team (MIT)

This page is an ongoing effort to facilitate an "Immediate Action" identified recently during the MIT out brief and accompanying white paper. It will be handled in phases.

We are currently in Phase 1 of this process. We will enact other phases at a later date TBD.

What you see on this page is additional information to support or further describe the actions requested of the AMOs in the Survey Project Initiation email dated 26 Nov 2024.

Additionally, please review these videos. It is a pilot conducting his review of the POH to determine what he is missing. It is in four segments. Please watch all four:

Reviewing POH (1 of 4): https://vimeo.com/1002980286/93fd2bb4f3

Reviewing POH (2 of 4): https://vimeo.com/1002980320/061354b341

Reviewing POH (3 of 4): https://vimeo.com/1002980353/265aefbeb4

Reviewing POH (4 of 4): https://vimeo.com/1002980365/fb935a8508

Note: the kickoff email noted above mentions the use of a CAP website that requires the use of a password. We are intentionally not providing that password because we've found that the listing found there is both incomplete and inaccurate. This survey will be used to correct the deficiencies found and we will release this listing at a later date as a means for any member to quickly determine the required documents necessary for each aircraft. We ask your patience with us as we get that fixed/published.

OK, ready to conduct the survey? Let's clarify a few things, give you some notes, and provide a couple of reminders first.

Intent, Roles, Sources and Expected Outcome

The intent of the survey is only to gather information about the aircraft fleet from members in the field. It is a one-time survey that will be used to discover issues and problems with aircraft documentation and configuration. Our goal is to collect and retain information to improve visibility of resources. The Wing's role is to ensure accurate data collection and reporting, using the survey to upload and safeguard this information.

ABOVE ALL understand this – we expect you to find discrepancies while you complete this survey. We need the unvarnished truth. We will not make grounding determinations based solely on the results of these surveys.

INFORMATION SOURCE – CRITICAL! The source of the information you gather CANNOT BE from ORMS or any prior CAPF71. It has been determined these sources are inaccurate and incomplete. The CAP LG group must have answers to the survey that you can either see or touch IN THE AIRCRAFT!

Finally, beyond the collection and retention of this information, CAP is committed to using this information to ASSURE that your aircraft have all the required documentation to remain airworthy assets for your missions. We do not expect you to try to “fix” any discrepancies for the survey. CAP will work with your AMO to make appropriate AMRAD discrepancy entries and order replacements and/or updates for the aircraft documentation per survey.

Preparation for the Survey

Read all provided information.

Select volunteers likely to complete the surveys effectively and invite them to the in-brief.

Consider participants' attention to detail and familiarity with required components and documents.

Use PDF attachments for notes; complete the survey on a mobile device, preferably an iPad or laptop.

The PDF attachments in the survey were sent to “familiarize” the participants to the kind of question the survey will propose. They could be used for making notes while performing the surveys. These are NOT meant to be used to complete the survey. The actual survey is completed using a mobile device. We highly recommend an iPad or Laptop with internet connectivity. The URL links in the email are provided for the actual completion of survey.

Support During Surveys

We understand that you are busy and that this is an imposition to your regular routine. Please use the contacts listed here – we are available 24/7 to you to support your efforts.

Darrel Larson (334-953-9135, dlarson@capnhq.gov),

Robert Griffith (678-322-0720, robert.griffith.15@us.af.mil or griffcapusaf@gmail.com )

Chris Nester (502-551-7256, christopher.nester.4@us.af.mil).

Conducting the Surveys

Preparation is key. Allocate 4-5 hours per aircraft. Follow these best practices:

Work with a partner.
Complete one survey fully before starting another. There is no “save” function in the middle. If you exit before completing one of the surveys, your information will be lost.
Suggested order: CAP Mission Survey, Avionics Survey, Documentation Survey.
Use a comfortable workspace, like a table in an FBO pilot lounge or hangar.
Bring repair items (clear tape, binder reinforcements) for documents.
Ensure all documents are returned to the aircraft.
Once you start, each survey must be completed. There is no available "save" function in the middle that would allow you to come back later. If you leave without submitting, it will all have to be done again.
If you enter a date, please use the MM/DD/YY format.
The surveys must be conducted for each glider as well. As you are working through the surveys for the gliders, most of the information requirements are not applicable and can be left blank or select "Not in Aircraft".
Please review the PDF about manuals vs AAFM manual for clarification on how to tell the difference and answer those questions correctly.
We've also attached a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document and a listing of the survey item descriptions to help you during this survey process.

Suggested Order to Conduct Survey

Suggest the order to complete them in as follows:

1.CAP MISSION SURVEY: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/23062d01bf8b4baab380c93abba81318

2.AVIONICS SURVEY: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/a515c192bdd24d21a8caedb53edba216

3.DOCUMENTATION SURVEY: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/8a734a30ee894f38b7c705cf1c9c418c

4. To submit corrections, do not try to resend one of the above surveys. It will require you to submit all information again. Instead, use this form to do so: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/8d93f2bcbe3440ecbca77b7b061c5a80

5. To add more pictures, use this link: MIT Survey 5 (Pictures). Please submit this as many times as necessary to send all the pictures you have.

6. We've added a mechanism for you to follow your progress in completing the surveys for each aircraft. Start here and navigate to your unit. You can even see the information that you submitted for each aircraft. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/publish?EQBCT=f87cdde893f14ca2bb69ded3974b0e40

The Documentation Survey – Special Effort

The documentation survey also will require some space to adequately do this work. We suggest you prepare to do this on a table or work area outside of the airplane. Examples: In the FBO pilot lounge, on a table in the hanger, etc. Find a spot where you have some comfort. Bring all the documentation to this worksite.

Spread it out.

We have found it may be a good practice to bring some paper repair items with you to help make your aircraft more professional. Clear tape and 3 ring binder reinforcing rings or strips have been commonly used when doing these surveys to “repair” the torn pages, etc.

Then COMPLETE the DOCUMENTATION survey!

**BE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN all docs get back in AIRPLANE. **

Communication – Effective Information & Feedback

PICTURES, PICTURES, PICTURES – we all know the power of a good photograph. The survey has capability of uploading numerous pictures. Good pictures are framed up well and have good resolution. We strongly recommend that as you answer each question, snap a picture of what is in question and load these pictures at the end of each survey. They will help us clarify any questions that may arise about the data you submit.

We learned from members who have already taken this survey that there is a limit of 10 pictures that can be uploaded to each survey. Many of you are wanting to send in many more than that. To facilitate this, we've created a 5th Survey specifically to upload the pictures. Please send in this survey as many times as necessary (submitting 10 each time) to upload all you have. Use this link to do so: MIT Survey 5 (Pictures) . There is also more space in there to add notes if needed.

A note about the pictures: the file size of a media file you wish to upload is restricted to 30 MB. It won't take anything larger (so, no videos).

A final foot stomp – we are here to support you – don’t hesitate to reach us for support

WE THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!