What exactly are REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT tags for?

Question

I keep seeing these as key chains everywhere. What's the story behind the remove before flight tags on aircraft?

Answer 1

they are flags that you remove from aircraft befor flight.

Answer 2

They remind the pilot that these areas need inspection before a flight.  Upon inspection, the tags are removed.

Answer 3

they are attached to various safety pins, nad covers that would lock the aircraft systems and/or block them from working properly -pitot tube covers, canopy protective hoods, armament safety pins, ejection seat safety pins, engine inlets, cooling air inlets.

as stated on the tags... they are all to be removed before flight. they are red and fluttering, so they get attention much more easily then various tiny pins.

me as a pilot i NEVER remove these tags... they are to be removed by the maintenance personell. you just check that none of them is still on the plane... with exception of the hotseat safety and armament safety pins, which are removed AFTER you are seated and ready for start up. then, the aircraft technician should show these to you to ensure you that both your armament and ejection seat would work properly- their removal is last but one procedure, just before locking the canopy/cockpit door.

Answer 4

They are just what they say: One must remove it before flight.

In Line after towing the aircraft to the ramp or to its departure gate, the one riding the towing tractor removes these 3 landing gear lock pins,1 for each main leg and 1 from the nose landing gear leg. Pitot covers are removed, often times we removed it prior towing already. What was left is only the nose steering bypass pin where it depressurizes the NW steering so towing maneuvering is by the tow tug driver only.

It is helpful or easily noticed when the thing is hanging you know right away, because failure to remove it like the landing gear pins won't retract your landing gear or if there is a red streamer on your T/R isolation valve the pilot would be shock to learn that he has no thrust reverser deployment.

Answer 5

On a plane they often have protective devices that use while the planes are parked (like wheel chocks, air speed pitot cover, etc.).  But those devices are suppose to be REMOVED BEFORE FLIGHT for safety.  So to remind and make them visible, they attach bright red ribbon with the words REMOVE BEFORE FLIGHT.

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http://www.stroudsafety.com/Images/Chute...

Somewhere along the line the people who work around planes made them into key chains as sort of inside joke.

good Luck...

Answer 6

Where did you see these key chains?  I'd like to get one for my motorcycle!

Answer 7

As the name signifies, these must be removed before flight, and are normally a bright red in colour. Starting from covers for various ports/heads, these are also attached to safety pins which secure the equipment on the ground to prevent their inadvertent operation. On fighters these are placed with safety pins on the ejection seats to prevent inadvertent actuation.