I dug up this video I shot back in December ‘04 when I was aboard an Air Deccan flight from Bangalore to Mumbai. Looked out my window and what did I see, A group of guys repairing the wing with some sort of muthafcukin’ duct tape. There’s some more repairs to the left of the one they are working on with what seems to be the same technique. Crossed my fingers, tossed back a shot of Black Label, and stayed on the flight.
Tags: 85 Comments
85 responses so far ↓
Arreglando el ala de un avión con cinta adhesiva…
El autor de este video cuenta que lo grabó en Diciembre de 2004, en un aparato de Air Deccan antes de salir de Bangalore con destino a Bombay. Estaban ya a bordo, cuando de pronto giró la cabeza, y vió por la ventanilla que estaban haciendo una chap…
Using tape to repair plane wing — video…
Moustache writes about the time he saw some men repair a plane he was sitting in with some kind of tape. I dug up this video I shot back in December ‘04 when I was aboard an Air Deccan flight from Bangalore to Mumbai. Looked out my window and wha…
This is JUST what I needed to see, as I’m leaving for Goa from SF in a few weeks. Sigh.
Better pack extra Ambien.
At least they are using a ladder-thing, and not standing in the bucket of a front-end loader !
Gdamn these banana countries, these guys look like they should be working in an IT department, not fixing aircraft ! No ID tags, no serious tools, no safety chain on the ladder-thing.
This is why planes crash !
Amazing. You are way braver than I!
The stuff is called speed tape; is far stonger than your garden variety duct tape; and is FAA-approved for all manner of common temporary repairs (some surprisingly large).
It’s quite common in the industry, but still unsettling when you see them putting it on or - as once happened to me, also in a developing country - see it peeling off a wing on take off.
One place that you often see the stuff is atop the flaps on Airbus aircraft, where there are a couple of overlapping parts that move together.
In the military and up in the Alaskan wilderness duct tape is often referred to 100mph tape due to the fact that it serves as an excellent wing patching material for speeds of up to 100mph. It is quite common practice to make wing repairs with duct tape. Granted, this plane was most likely flying faster than 100mph. But still, don’t underestimate duct tape!
This is more common then you might think. Also, I believe the version used for aircraft repairs is usually called 100 or 1000 mph tape.
“it was also used to quickly repair military equipment, including jeeps, guns, and aircraft”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duct_tape
It was probably 200 mile an hour tape. That stuff looks like duct tape, but you’re more likely to loose wing material than any of this once it’s on.
Had an acquaintance who was in the Israeli Air Force ground crew during the Seven Day War. He told me that they gaffer taped the bullet holes in their aircraft and sent ‘em straight back up. Couldn’t afford to have them grounded for long. So the taping scenario has a long and distinguised pedigree it would seem.
OMG…why did you stay on the flight? Do you have a death wish?
Using tape to repair plane wing — video…
Mark Frauenfelder : Moustache writes about the time he saw some men repair a plane he was sitting in…
From “Ask the Pilot” on Salon.com:
“What you see is the perfectly safe and legal application of some heavy-duty aluminum bonding tape, called “speed tape” in the mechanic’s lexicon. Depending on what a plane’s maintenance manual stipulates — according to the dictates of the FAA — certain noncritical components can be temporarily patched with this material, embarrassing as it sometimes looks. It’s extremely strong, durable, and able to expand and contract through an extreme range of temperatures.”
Wow. Either you’re really brave or really…. whatever.
I would’ve panicked and left the plane.
[...] Link: Duct Tape On A MuthaFcukin’ Plane! [...]
Like some people already said, it’s speed tape. I work for a US Airline doing structrual repairs and speed tape is perfectly fine for a temporary repair. We do it!
[...] (source link, via) « Reader mail: Can I upgrade flights purchased on Expedia? [...]
I´m going to Goa on friday and just saw this video!!!! ohhhhh my god! hope indian airlines will be better…
have to thank my brother for showing me this!!
According to NASCAR that tape is only rated up to 200mph. Hence the name 200 mph tape.
I’ve heard of this tape as well.
What’s disturbing about this video is the three guys pointing and gesticulating to the guy about the placement of the tape.
Not a particularly confidence inspiring performance.
A shop I worked at was given a sample roll of this tape from our 3M rep. Incredibly strong and stuck to anything it touched. We loved it, but, unfortunately, it cost about $80.00 per roll. The rep told us it was used for airplane repairs.
As someone who has never been on a plane but is going to HAVE to get on one, I totally didn’t need to see this video. But thank you for posting it.
not so worried about the tape… but what’s that ominous SAWING sound going on in the background the whole time?
Duct Tape On A Plane…
Now this is something you don’t want to see when looking out of a window on a plane. [via]…
Would have taken more than one shot of Black Label to keep my ass on that plane!
This is the repairs you can see. I bet there was tons of the tape under the engine cowl.
Rapair Plane with Duct Tape - Only in India!…
Rapair Plane with Duct Tape - Only in India! posted at IndianPad.com…
Nothing like some good ol 200mph tape on a 500mph flight. That name is worse that calling it ’scotch’.
“banana countries”
Nice.
Dickhead.
I’ve already worked at aircraft maintenance, and that kind of tape is used with regularity in temporary repairs.
But at least the surface must be degreased before with some solvent, and it seems it doesn’t happened.
In other way, the surface of the temporary repair where the tapes was applied seems to me a little bit larger than the regular dimensions.
Air Deccan has a long and distinguished safety record, which started with its maiden flight…
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2003/09/25/stories/2003092502040500.htm
@jimbo:
They’re motioning to the applicator that if there are any problems with his patch whatsoever, he will be castrated on the spot. He proceeds to secure the tape with confidence. I wouldn’t worry.
Banana countries? Airlines operating in India have an excellent safety record, and airlines like Jet Airways and Kingfisher are recognised as better than ANY US carrier. Also, that Scotch bit seems exaggerated–no alcohol is served on any domestic flight in India; and Air Deccan is a budget carrier–does not even serve water unless you pay for it. This is just some attention seeker trying to get a bit of extra publicity, and with stupid Americans running scared of everything, they just fall for it!
“tossed back a shot of Black Label…”
On Air Deccan???
[...] Link (Thanks, Phil!) [...]
That’s very typical in Spain too: one guy working, and other three guys watching and directing him… ; D
Jonk K - you are a ‘gdamn’ retard.
mad monk,
the ’sawing noise’ you hear inside the cabin is the pulsing opening and closing of the hydraulic system pressure regulating valve.
[qoute]
Gdamn these banana countries, these guys look like they should be working in an IT department, not fixing aircraft ! No ID tags, no serious tools, no safety chain on the ladder-thing.
[/qoute]
this is why American are stupid;
like ID tags saves the world.
“look mam, there is a man waving with a gun in front of that school!!”
“that’s ok son, he is wearing an ID tag…”
“ok, than we are save”
these panels are takeoff and landing flaps by the way,
most of the force during take off and landing is up from below,
during flight these panels are in the wing
and the black lines are preventing damage from shaking those panels to the inside
of the wings during flight.
so an extra line of duct-tape saves the life of the wing,
were there is probably 20.000 gallon of fuel on the inside,
combined with a lot of electricity and air pressure..
so the last thing you have to worry about,
is the max speed of the duct tape; the duct tape will be fine if it blows off…
Lo Tek or High Tech?…
Chiraag from Pardon My Hindi recently posted a video onto YouTube of his harrowing experience flying Air Deccan (via BoingBoing). Says Chiraag: I dug up this video I shot back in December ‘04 when I was aboard an Air Deccan flight from Bangalore …
So if you can duck tape an airplane, who is gonna be the first to make an aiplane completely out of duck tape?
[...] Moustache posts a video he shot during one of his flight experiences in India I dug up this video I shot back in December ‘04 when I was aboard an Air Deccan flight from Bangalore to Mumbai. Looked out my window and what did I see, A group of guys repairing the wing with some sort of muthafcukin’ duct tape. There’s some more repairs to the left of the one they are working on with what seems to be the same technique. Crossed my fingers, tossed back a shot of Black Label, and stayed on the flight. [...]
That’s just a quick fix, it’s standard procedure.
You can buy rolls and rolls of this stuff at the Boeing Store in Kent, Washington USA. $5.00 / roll and man is it strong stuff. Now a company sells this super-strong “‘hunderd mile uhn ahr” tape under the name “Gorilla Tape”. We used it to patch rock dings in our Windsurfing Boards in the Columbia River Gorge.
It’s “speed tape” is what we call it, and for a minor ding/dent or tear in the aluminum that isn’t considered a problem, they just tape over it with special tape until it can be fixed or repaired later. Of course There’s a # of names, but it’s not just Duct tape. Well not the kind we use in the US anyway.. *chuckle*
Ther’es no telling there… Glad to hear you made it to your destination, and were able to share the vid.
[...] Is that what I think it is? Fixing a plane with duct tape? [...]
you get what you pay for lol. who in the hell flies deccan! those are like cargo planes! next time spend a lil bit more and fly a proper airline lol
What is this a quick-fix for? I don’t understand the problem that they are trying to address.
Holy S**t. I would have gotten off the plane.
If you can’t duck it, fuck it.
Maybe this is what AMERICANS need to use and their planes will no longer crash into buildings !!!! lol !
This stuff is used in Touring Car racing to hold things like bumpers, bonnets, etc on at race pace.
I’ve used it on my bike as well and I even use it in my job to thread cables through holes. It’s amazingly strong but can also be pulled off easily when required.
I think I’ll cross Air Deccan off of my “to fly” list. You’re a braver man than I!
Hehe yea, it looks odd by it’s called structural tape. It’s used more commonly than you think, and is perfectly safe to use on very minor repairs or adjustments. Nothing major at all; if there was a catastrophic problem, chances are the aircraft wouldn’t be able to fly. But nothing abnormal; a lot of US carriers use the tape on engine covers of their aircraft after light maintenance. More of like a temporary patch up until mechanics at the home base can look over the issue. But overall, it’s not a catastrophic problem; if it was, then the aircraft wouldn’t be allowed to take off, period.
What they are doing looks normal to me, I’ve seen in done before here in the US. The video is a bit suspect, it’s not from a seat in the plane, the voices and sounds are too clear and crisp. This was either shot outside of the plane or in an open doorwary(both seem unlikely of a passenger).
Pete
Yeah, like this kind of repair doesn’t happen in the so called “most advanced country”? Ask ANY airline technician! Sure, they guy who puts the tape in may not have brown skin or a different accent. That is all the difference.
Three guys standing and pointing with one guy working…
Good to see there are consistent things across all cultures…
How not to fix an airplane…
What would you do if you saw someone outside in a tie fixing the airplane wing with a roll of duct tape? I’d be wishing I was old enough to drink!
Link - Courtesy of Turbanhead.com
……
Is this plane powered by a steam engine?
Or is there an autistic dog on board that barks at even intervals?
Tape That Wing…
This video of some Air Deccan workers taping up a wing before takeoff has been making the rounds, starting with Turbanhead, BoingBoing, and now the Mutiny. As Turbanhead commenters point out and Sepia Mutiny’s Ennis reiterates, speed tape is actually….
wow those 3rd world countries are CRAZY!!
I’d gotten outta there!
Red Green would love this
“Lier, Lier”. You could not have had a Black Label on that plane. Because it is illegal to serve it.
Duct tapes can hold that, i heared its a common thing to do. These aircrafts are mostly ATR’s which were obtained at cheaper rates by Air Deccan which is the cheapest airlines in India (This i dont know if its a ATR, can someone tell with the visual). You pay for what you get thats all.
By the way Sir NO AIRLINES WITHIN INDIA IS ALLOWED TO SERVE ALCOHOL AND NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TAKE ALCOHOL INTO THE AIRPLANE, I guess you over did your blog by telling you were sipping Black Label.
whocareswhatmynameis
Fuck you ass hole
and itch
learn to spell moron and try not stereotyping an entire country, i think you’ve shown that your the true idiot.
[...] This is nuts! I would definitely have exited the plane and demanded a new ticket on a different airline free of charge. [...]
That’s why it is called DHAKKAN “Lid” airlines ..
Dude you uploaded this video it means the duck tape worked
so take it easy ….
Ya!! You ‘We Save the world’ 1st world country fellas!! Get some education. Even after hearing from aircraft experts thats its fairly fine to use the speed tapes for some quick maintaince work - Airlines are not like Tuk-Tuk service of Thailand. There are far many manitaince checks after each flights before letting the bird fly - This quick repair was out come of such drill with an appropriate fix for the time.
If you 1st world fellas be that attentive of whats going around you in your own country to capture these sundry details, catastrphy like WTC wouldn’t have ever happened.
Stop cursing the 3rd country people who are smaking your ASS already in your own countries in ALL walks of social-economical-professional life.
You Wear made in “Bangladesh-Srilanka-India” clothes, use Made in China-Tiwan-Malasia Electronics and need help from Indian-Chinese call center guys to use your own TV, Washing Machine, microwave and use Software made by companies having 50% employees from 3rd world countries.
Think before Calling countries who make YOUR country tick “Banana Nations” - leave this word for countries where you can’t find any modern ameneties.
My favorite part is that, halfway through, the lead taper somehow does something wrong in the complex art of duct taping. The other three throw their hands up and yell something, and he stops and has to refine his technique. Priceless.
I love this video in the sense that I would’ve peed myself in terror if I were in your position. Brave, brave person.
First of all, I don’t give a flying f*ck what anyone who works for any airline has to say about 100-200 mph tape. I almost died on a big name airline’s airplane once at thirteen and god knows how much tape they used. It doesn’t matter. Humans everywhere are capable of making mistakes and it is unsettling to see people (obviously debating regarding where to place the tape and no not degreasing any area they set it before hand) teetering on the top of a ladder dealing with ‘minor repairs’ before take off. Airlines cut corners just like every other corporate company and you best believe it isn’t the big bosses that get their pay checks cut in half. Once food service has been cut and flight attendants have been shafted, what is left? If someone knows please do tell me. Flying needs to be as safe as possible. Don’t let the airplane take off if it needs ‘minor repairs’ that require this special type of tape. Use another plane or simply forsake the money. I already know the statistics regarding how safe flying is. I know physics works. That still doesn’t erase the fact that one is hurtling through the atmosphere in a metal tube at hundreds of mph. I’ll tell you if I looked out the window be it lufthansa or onur air, I certainly would have marched off of that plane regardless of what any pilot/maintenance employee said. almost croaking once is proof enough for me that sh*t does happen, and doing everything possible to prevent these unfortunate events is urgently necessary. And I don’t mean by using tape–no matter how durable it is.
[...] Duct Tape On A MuthaFcukin’ Plane! (from Digg) - I dug up this video I shot back in December ‘04 when I was aboard an Air Deccan flight from Bangalore to Mumbai. Looked out my window and what did I see, A group of guys repairing the wing with some sort of muthafcukin’ duct tape. There’s some more repairs to the left of the one they are working on with what seems to be the same technique. Crossed my fingers, tossed back a shot of Black Label, and stayed on the flight. [...]
That crap is speedtape. It runs about $260 US and isnt found at Earl’s hardware. Where that patched is was on an exteded flap that would only be exposed under 167 knots. Maybe not that fast. I would have been more worried about what caused the problem than the quick solution.
[...] Als ik dit filmpje zo bekijk ben ik blij dat we met KLM heen en weer vlogen naar Toronto… [...]
Shows how much you western white/redneck jackasses are literate (esp. Jonk K). That is industrial strength tape (call it duct or whatever) which is quite strong and used in many minor fixes on aircrafts wings. At least some (intelligent ) folks bothered to explain that above.
Given that the plane hasn’t even taken off its still plausible that they did the shot from their own bottle.. friggin’ ‘tards trying to nit pick at every minute detail thinking their some kinda expert.. do your comments make what your eyes are seeing any less interesting to the general public? NO… so STFU and Digg off!
“illegal to serve it.” - nothing is illegal in india
> what seems to be the same technique. Crossed my fingers, tossed back a shot of Black Label, and stayed on the flight.
When did they start allowing people to drink on board flights. I am a frequent flyer for a bunch of indian airlines, I have never had an issue with air deccan, I can say i had issues with air sahara though.
please enlighten me how you managed to drink on board? Did you also manage to puff on your cigar while you were watching them fix stuff??
For all the people that mentioned that they don’t serve alcohol on domestic Indian flights, you’re completely right- they don’t. But its pretty easy to bring a flask onboard
Lo ultimo que quieres ver antes de despegar…
Mientras un pasajero se preparaba para el despeje, cual es su sorpresa cuando ve que estan reparando el ala del avion, pero con cinta adesiva!!
……
Stop with the tape and the Black Label debate. One fact that proves these clowns should be fixing lawn mowers is throwing the tape backing on the ground. No trained service tech leaves anything on the ground for those giant hungry engines to suck up. It’s called FOD, Foreign Object Debris. On military bases grunts must walk shoulder to shoulder to search for the smallest piece. All vehicle entering are inspected for the tiniest pebble in the tire. Yes, a piece of tape will do little damage, but their work habits scare me the most.
Jonk K. What a waste of air/ earth/ time you must be.
[...] Dice que tras observar semejante reparación, tubo que beberse un Black Label mientras cruzada sus dedos…Yo, directamente, cojo la maleta Y ME BAJO ¬¬ [...]
[...] Dice que tras observar semejante reparación, tubo que beberse un Black Label mientras cruzada sus dedos…Yo, directamente, cojo la maleta Y ME BAJO ¬¬ [...]
[...] So you’re sitting in the plane, waiting for take-off, and you look out the window to see a lot of concerned people fussing around the flaps on the right wing. As you watch a guy climbs a ladder and uses duct tape to stick some loose material down. They then do the left wing, then you start taxiing for take off. Would you be happy to risk a flight on that plane? Watch the video and see what you think, it’s also worth reading the comments to discover that this form of tape is FIAA approved and used regularly. [...]