alt Hacker News> Never with a GUN to my head would I install 3D printed parts in a CAR engine, let alone in an aircraft engine.
The fabrication technology doesn't matter. The qualification process, on the other hand ...
This is the primary reason why I never got a pilot's license. I suspect I would spend far too much time making sure the maintenance was up to standard and far too little actually enjoying flying.
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> The fabrication technology doesn't matter. The qualification process, on the other hand ...
Well, yes, but... In this case the fabrication technology and the lack of qualification process likely go hand in hand. They wouldn't have a qualification process unless they were manufacturing enough of these that plastic 3d printing wouldn't be cost effective. The shortcut is the point.
You should be thrilled to know that any plane you will learn to fly in typically has full maintenance records for the entire life of the plane, including who did the work, their FAA certificate number, and all of the paperwork for any parts that were involved in the repair.
The shortcut is to ask the mechanic to come for a test flight after repairs. The place I learned to fly was owned by a mechanic, and the daughter ran the flight school. Given that the daughter might be test flying the mechanic's work, I trusted him to keep his planes in good shape.