Working with Jellyfish

Had a job to replace a heat exchanger on one of the aircraft. We had removed the old exchanger and were in the mists of giving the new heat exchanger the preinstall inspection. During the inspection we had found that the bolt holes through which the exchanger is bolted to the aircraft's airframe seemed too small to accept the bolts which the old exchanger used.

We highlighted he findings to the management. Whose answer was simple. Enlarge the hole with a drill till you could fit the bolt through it. My colleague (P) who had several years aircraft metal work experience disagreed with the manager saying that a component design drawing was needed before he would be willing to drill the larger hole. Explaining that the hole might be designed that way and if enlarged, the material that now exists around the hole might be too weak to carry the weight of the heavy exchanger. Since the thickness of metal that forms the hole is now thinner due to being drilled out. And in not checking the design drawing in essence you could be irreversibly damaging a multi thousand dollar heat exchanger.

By now 3 members of the management had gathered round as the 1st manager did not agree with our way of thinking. And as we were totally unwilling to give in to their "orders" to drill the hole "Mr Ugly" decided to call the big boss who runs the whole operation "The Nazi" and get him to change our minds. As he explained on the fone to "Mr Nazi" the problem, (P) said out loud again "you cant do it, you need a design drawing 1st"

To which you could hear "Mr Nazi" on the fone yell " Who said that!!!"

And then proceed to get (P) on the fone and try pressure him into just drilling the hole and do the job. And as (P) and the rest of us refused, till either a drawing or a heat exchanger with the correct diameter holes on it was provided, "Mr Nazi" got all the managers present to pressure us into giving in.

But (P) summed it up to all of them. " We aren't doing it, you could fire us for all we cared. "

Now for the amusing twist. As it got late and the managers slowly started to leave. Unknown to each other, as they exited one by one and passed (P) they spoke to him. All pretty much saying the same thing.

"You have got a good point. Really don't think its a good idea to just drill the holes without checking properly"

Now why couldn't they just voice their opinions when it mattered? Instead of just being a bunch of "yes men"