Narrative:

I was handed work cards to install windshields. When I was trying to locate maintenance manual references on our new computer system (that I'm not sure how to operate because no training on it yet), my supervisor told me to torque and install this windshield without proper documentation of maintenance manuals. Since I'm a new hire and on probation, I had to install the windshields without my maintenance manuals. (I've never installed a windshield in my life.) this same supervisor has screamed at me and cussed, because he thinks I'm working too slow on the installation. I tried to tell him I need my maintenance manuals, but he said I didn't (it's an easy install). I installed it, but do not feel good about it, so I called the local FAA office here in ZZZ. The FAA is investigating my situation as of jul/xb/98. I feel the problem here is supervision and them using fear tactics and power over newly hired employees. However, I've noticed they also use these same tactics on older employees, too. The only difference is the older employees can go to the union about it, but a new hire has nowhere to go except FAA. The FAA is also investigating some other complaints on this same aircraft about new rudder pedal brackets being ground on with a grinder without proper documentation (order by same supervisor). The company has just changed their maintenance manuals to a new computer system and have not given any training on that system. Some of the employees do not know how to operate at all. I reported this to FAA also and was told the company will start training this week as a result of that complaint. Air carrier had a good training program when I was hired there in jan/98, but when you or I hit the floor it was a different story. (The supervisor did not like for you to spend time looking up maintenance manual reference.) there needs to be a check value system in place for mechanics so they don't do things out of fear because we all know it's the small things that can cause a crash.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A DC9-30 WAS DISPATCHED WITH COCKPIT WINDSHIELDS REPLACED WITHOUT REF TO THE MAINT MANUAL DUE TO LCL MGMNT MAINT POLICY.

Narrative: I WAS HANDED WORK CARDS TO INSTALL WINDSHIELDS. WHEN I WAS TRYING TO LOCATE MAINT MANUAL REFS ON OUR NEW COMPUTER SYS (THAT I'M NOT SURE HOW TO OPERATE BECAUSE NO TRAINING ON IT YET), MY SUPVR TOLD ME TO TORQUE AND INSTALL THIS WINDSHIELD WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION OF MAINT MANUALS. SINCE I'M A NEW HIRE AND ON PROBATION, I HAD TO INSTALL THE WINDSHIELDS WITHOUT MY MAINT MANUALS. (I'VE NEVER INSTALLED A WINDSHIELD IN MY LIFE.) THIS SAME SUPVR HAS SCREAMED AT ME AND CUSSED, BECAUSE HE THINKS I'M WORKING TOO SLOW ON THE INSTALLATION. I TRIED TO TELL HIM I NEED MY MAINT MANUALS, BUT HE SAID I DIDN'T (IT'S AN EASY INSTALL). I INSTALLED IT, BUT DO NOT FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT, SO I CALLED THE LCL FAA OFFICE HERE IN ZZZ. THE FAA IS INVESTIGATING MY SIT AS OF JUL/XB/98. I FEEL THE PROB HERE IS SUPERVISION AND THEM USING FEAR TACTICS AND PWR OVER NEWLY HIRED EMPLOYEES. HOWEVER, I'VE NOTICED THEY ALSO USE THESE SAME TACTICS ON OLDER EMPLOYEES, TOO. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE OLDER EMPLOYEES CAN GO TO THE UNION ABOUT IT, BUT A NEW HIRE HAS NOWHERE TO GO EXCEPT FAA. THE FAA IS ALSO INVESTIGATING SOME OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THIS SAME ACFT ABOUT NEW RUDDER PEDAL BRACKETS BEING GROUND ON WITH A GRINDER WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTATION (ORDER BY SAME SUPVR). THE COMPANY HAS JUST CHANGED THEIR MAINT MANUALS TO A NEW COMPUTER SYS AND HAVE NOT GIVEN ANY TRAINING ON THAT SYS. SOME OF THE EMPLOYEES DO NOT KNOW HOW TO OPERATE AT ALL. I RPTED THIS TO FAA ALSO AND WAS TOLD THE COMPANY WILL START TRAINING THIS WK AS A RESULT OF THAT COMPLAINT. ACR HAD A GOOD TRAINING PROGRAM WHEN I WAS HIRED THERE IN JAN/98, BUT WHEN YOU OR I HIT THE FLOOR IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY. (THE SUPVR DID NOT LIKE FOR YOU TO SPEND TIME LOOKING UP MAINT MANUAL REF.) THERE NEEDS TO BE A CHK VALUE SYS IN PLACE FOR MECHS SO THEY DON'T DO THINGS OUT OF FEAR BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW IT'S THE SMALL THINGS THAT CAN CAUSE A CRASH.

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.