There are people with very special gifts when it comes to airplanes. They can not help it, it is part of their nature, to treat these wonderful machines with the most imaginable love and care. In deep respect for the marvelous engineering, as well as for the high financial sacrifices of the owners and operators, the airplane mechanics go out of their way to repair, improve or at least thoroughly clean every part their gifted hands can get a hold on. 

Every part???

Well, there is one exception:

ENGINE COWLINGS!

When your precious flying machine turns up in the workshop for a fifty hour inspection, the mechanic usually does not care a bit about how much time you or anyone else may have spent designing, building, painting, cleaning and polishing these aerodynamic masterpieces of engineering, commonly referred to as engine cowlings. Since they are in between his eager tools and your hot engine, not before long they will land somewhere on the hangar floor. More often than not, they will find their way into the dirtiest corner of the workshop by either being kicked or dragged there, sliding effortlessly on the shiny extra fancy three colour paintjob. But please, even if this upsets you, don‘t get mad at him! 

He is just following his instincts. 

And who are you to blame anyone for something of which you are guilty of, yourself?

Let me give you an example:

Imagine you have not seen your girlfriend for quite a while. When she finally turns up, no matter how much time and money she has invested in the art of carefully fine tuning her outfit to perfection – you probably wouldn’t waste any more attention than what you absolutely need to quickly remove anything between you and her in a matter of seconds, carelessly throwing it wherever it may land… 

See, that is pretty much the same with an aircraft mechanic who is eager to find (and treat with all his skill and love) whatever cracks, holes and wet spots can be found underneath the covers.

What really counts in the end is the quality of the work you have done with your tools, right?

Cut the guys in the workshop some slack and be grateful for their excellent work to keep your airplane happy instead of getting all wound up about some scratches.

If your baby is happy and running smoothly again, isn’t that what matters most?