My maintenance logbook is fat with the numerous Blackstone oil analyses I have collected over the years. But I was interested in the thought-processes report writers use when a lab report appears on their screen. In the Report Writer’s center at Blackstone Labs, I perched on Brian’s shoulder for fifteen minutes as he reviewed my latest submission. First he double-checks to make sure he’s got all the facts straight: the address, the tail number, the engine type, and so on. He also reads any notes the owner has provided. He then reviews the metals reported in the latest sample, comparing the current results to previous samples and the “universal average” results. These guys really know their engines.
