MT FIRST LINE SERVICING [Main Title]
Log in to create clips, download free screeners and save clips/films in Collections.
Click here to find out more.
- Title: MT FIRST LINE SERVICING [Main Title]
- Film Number: AMY 270
- Other titles:
- Summary: An instructional technical film for RAF mechanical transport (MT) personnel. Film emphasises the use of written documentation for every service item carried out. Many forms are necessary including ‘tick off as completed’. A highly organised process which works well if the drivers are careful and conscientious.
- Description: Reel one: INTRODUCTION TO FIRST LINE SERVICING: Film opens with fuel bowser driving out to refuel Meteor aircraft. Mechanical transport (MT) has always played an important part in maintaining the high standards demanded by the RAF. Many types of MT vehicles are required. Standard vehicles: cars, lorries, coaches, motor bikes, and specialist vehicles: fuel and ammunition carriers, cranes, fire/crash tenders, mobile generators, ambulances etc. Film cuts to a classroom for the training of new recruits in first line service training, service that is necessary to keep the aircraft ready for instant use. They watch a film entitled “The organisation of an MT section”. The importance of carefully kept records for each vehicle is vital for the provision of first line servicing, organisation is paramount and starts in the MT office. A board is seen on which each item of MT equipment is listed together with a series of metal tags hanging on a hook unique to that item. Each tag represents a specific task, and accompanies the tradesman when completing the task, thus a track is kept of the vehicle at all times. This is supplemented by a Cardex system which shows the servicing plan for every item of MT . Other records provide a complete history of both vehicles and drivers. Technical documentation is equally important: the Manual of Mechanical Transport Servicing and the Manual Mechanical Transport Regulations are paramount, supplemented with educational manuals and vehicle handbooks. Stores of spare components to be kept fully stocked, thus avoiding unnecessary delays. Preventive maintenance is completed once a month by a senior NCO, and a daily service by the driver taking over the vehicle to perform his task. When returning the vehicle the driver indicates any faults discovered, or returns a ‘nil’ form. First line servicing has four components: 1, daily service. 2, condition of vehicle report. 3, drivers daily servicing tasks. 4, intermediate servicing (lubrication). The classroom film ends and the lecturer explains the procedures seen apply to all RAF stations big or small, and it is all in the manual of mechanical transport servicing. Reel two: DAILY SERVICING AND DAILY TASKS: All drivers, apart from a daily check of the vehicle they are taking out, are required once a month to act as a mechanic for the day, providing a pool of mechanics for daily tasks. After reporting to the senior NCO in the MT office, the driver collects the documentation for his allocated task and proceeds to the vehicle. Tyres, water, oil, air pressure, coolant levels are checked. Film shows the location of these items on a variety of vehicles. Engine started and gauges monitored, fuel supply, brakes, handbrake and engine controls. When satisfied reports back to his NCO, having completed form 656. Some additional daily tasks are now shown on the film: battery connections, wheel alignment, fan belt, transmission to complete components one to three of the first line servicing. The forth and final item, intermediate servicing is entirely devoted to lubrication. Reel three: INTERMEDIATE SERVICING: Intermediate servicing is entirely devoted to lubrication and is undertaken by the same drivers allocated to daily tasks. Film cuts to a variety of grease guns and oil cans seen in use on a variety of vehicles from a Leyland Standard ten car to the Thorneycroft Mighty Antar, the largest vehicle in the RAF. Virtually any component that moves or rotates require lubrication, reference to the user handbook ensures nothing is omitted. Film shows a long sequence of greasing and oiling points on a large variety of vehicles. Duly completed form 656 is signed and returned to the NCO. Once a month, each vehicle on the station receives an independent functional test by the senior NCO, and signs form 656 when satisfied. Film cuts to a BER (beyond economical repair) park at an RAF maintenance unit, known as the graveyard. Some vehicles can be repaired, others cannot, and a large percentage of these wrecks are caused by insufficient servicing. Examples are shown of component failure due to a lack of lubrication: worn teeth on the winding drum of a Coles crane, a fractured steering ball & socket and several others. Another frequent cause of component failure is the over-tightening of nuts causing components to crack. In the MT office the senior NCO is showing the MT Officer other examples of failed components and ways in which they could be minimised. Film cuts to the Workshop Repair Organisation maintained by the RAF to re-condition MT vehicles. Tradesmen are seen working on a variety vehicles, restoring them to as new condition before dispatch to RAF stations. The squadrons of the RAF rely greatly on M T services, the men on the ground keep the men in the air flying. Film closes with an aircraft towed by a tractor passing a fuel bowser and other airfield specific items of MT hardware, as a Vulcan flies by at low altitude, watched by tradesmen of the MT section.
- Alternative Title:
- Colour: B&W
- Digitised:
- Object_Number: AMY 270
- Sound: Sound
- Access Conditions: Attribution: © IWM
- Featured Period: 1946-1975
- Production Date: 1954
- Production Country: GB
- Production Details: Royal Air Force (Production sponsor) CAS Productions (Production company) Collyer, Geoffrey (Production individual) Gould, Terry (Production individual) Broadway, Marc (Production individual) Selley, Donald (Production individual) STEWART, IAN (Production individual) Hopkins, Michael (Production individual) Paley, Frank (Production individual)
- Personalities, Units and Organisations:
- Keywords:
- Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W Sound format: Sound
- Technical Details: Format: 16mm Number of items/reels/tapes: 3 Length: 2770ft
- HD Media:
- Link to IWM Collections page:
- Related IWM Collections Objects: