Napoleon_Tanerite Posted October 5, 2012 Posted October 5, 2012 "What outsourced company would be so stupid as to not bolt down seats?" Oh, gee, I dunno. Contract depot maintenance has such a sterling record.... Things don't seem to be looking too good for American. They're on the downswing while their major competitors, especially Delta seem to have righted the ship. If I were a betting man I wouldn't be putting money on American right now.
billy pilgrim Posted October 5, 2012 Posted October 5, 2012 I am much more concerned with the 24 y/o kid out of the ATP factory landing my CRJ in the weather (god forbid hand-flying) than a DC-9 with suspect seats flown by some old military retiree. 2
Napoleon_Tanerite Posted October 5, 2012 Author Posted October 5, 2012 I am much more concerned with the 24 y/o kid out of the ATP factory landing my CRJ in the weather (god forbid hand-flying) than a DC-9 with suspect seats flown by some old military retiree. As am I, but that doesn't do a whole lot for American's business prospects
Butters Posted October 5, 2012 Posted October 5, 2012 Things don't seem to be looking too good for American. They're on the downswing while their major competitors, especially Delta seem to have righted the ship. If I were a betting man I wouldn't be putting money on American right now. You do know they are in Bankruptcy right now, don't you? When a companies stock symbol changes from AMR to AAMRQ, probably not a good idea to buy that stock. You would get more out of stuffing $100 bills into a blender. Most people don't need to see pictures of unbolted seats to figure that one out.
HerkFE Posted October 6, 2012 Posted October 6, 2012 I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry listening to some of the news interviews of the dumbass passengers on the broken seat flight. "It was like...... a total nightmare". Okay, so your f'ing seat falls over backwards and lands in the lap of the people behind you....slightly startling, yes. "Total nightmare" ???? YGTBFSM.
Cap-10 Posted October 6, 2012 Posted October 6, 2012 I am much more concerned with the 24 y/o kid out of the ATP factory landing my CRJ in the weather (god forbid hand-flying) than a DC-9 with suspect seats flown by some old military retiree. You'd be lucky is that kid had an ATP...most of the regional FO's are hired with the signature still wet on their commercial ticket. Hiring Mins: Piedmont: 650TT, 250PIC Pinnacle: 1000TT, 200ME ExpressJet: 1200TT, 50ME Skywest: 1000TT, 100ME, 100 Instrument Not a single ATP Requirement...this will change in Aug 2013 when the NPRM goes into affect requiring both crew members (Part 121 and 135) to have an ATP rating. Cheers, Cap-10
iFlyTexans Posted October 6, 2012 Posted October 6, 2012 You'd be lucky is that kid had an ATP...most of the regional FO's are hired with the signature still wet on their commercial ticket. Hiring Mins: Piedmont: 650TT, 250PIC Pinnacle: 1000TT, 200ME ExpressJet: 1200TT, 50ME Skywest: 1000TT, 100ME, 100 Instrument Not a single ATP Requirement...this will change in Aug 2013 when the NPRM goes into affect requiring both crew members (Part 121 and 135) to have an ATP rating. Cheers, Cap-10 Those may be the mins, but they are trying to scoop up as many people that are "qualified" at this point. Not many left besides furloughed and laid off regional pilots at this point. The regional puddle jumper days are over. They will find a small amount of those people who max the mins, but mostly it is recycled pilots from Eagle, Pinnacle and Comair (RIP). The rest that are qualified are 135 dudes that meet and exceed the times. Most guys getting hired these days are well over 2000 hrs TT and have jet time. That has been my experience. The days of wet commercials are over. And the closer to AUG 13 we get the hiring min's have to go up because they would have to fire people who can't hold the ATP.
Surf70 Posted October 6, 2012 Posted October 6, 2012 "What outsourced company would be so stupid as to not bolt down seats?" Oh, gee, I dunno. Contract depot maintenance has such a sterling record.... Things don't seem to be looking too good for American. They're on the downswing while their major competitors, especially Delta seem to have righted the ship. If I were a betting man I wouldn't be putting money on American right now. To address the question posted, the problem is that American and many other majors are outsourcing their heavy maintenance. (B, C, and Depot level checks). This was started about five or so years ago when the majors started hurting financially. They are performed in Mexico, Indonesia, China, and many other places. If they are lucky they will have a few US IA's overseeing the masses, that are unlicensed, no ticket what so ever, performing heavy FAA regulated annual and semi annual inspections. Answer is I do not know how they will fix this if they ever will. However, the outcome is to grow I am sure. Long gone are the days of the superior American style airline industry.
JFS 3 Posted October 6, 2012 Posted October 6, 2012 To address the question posted, the problem is that American and many other majors are outsourcing their heavy maintenance. (B, C, and Depot level checks). This was started about five or so years ago when the majors started hurting financially. They are performed in Mexico, Indonesia, China, and many other places. If they are lucky they will have a few US IA's overseeing the masses, that are unlicensed, no ticket what so ever, performing heavy FAA regulated annual and semi annual inspections. Answer is I do not know how they will fix this if they ever will. However, the outcome is to grow I am sure. Long gone are the days of the superior American style airline industry. This is completely false. AMR does all of their maintenance at either Tulsa or Ft Worth. In fact, they are one of the few majors that still does it domestically. Many would argue that this helped them down the road to bankruptcy. And it's not Delta's maintenance practices that are in the news right now, is it? That's a real sad story you wrote though, about how the golden days of the superior American style are gone. Stupid facts, always getting in the way.
pitts2112 Posted October 6, 2012 Posted October 6, 2012 To address the question posted, the problem is that American and many other majors are outsourcing their heavy maintenance. (B, C, and Depot level checks). This was started about five or so years ago when the majors started hurting financially. They are performed in Mexico, Indonesia, China, and many other places. If they are lucky they will have a few US IA's overseeing the masses, that are unlicensed, no ticket what so ever, performing heavy FAA regulated annual and semi annual inspections. Answer is I do not know how they will fix this if they ever will. However, the outcome is to grow I am sure. Long gone are the days of the superior American style airline industry. I'd be interested to see your references or credentials that back up this claim of unlicensed work being carried out on US registered aircraft. I highly doubt that is the case, but I am always willing to be educated. The quality of the work can always be questioned, but I believe the FAA has a rather mature inspection and qualification system that vets overseas MROs.
HuggyU2 Posted October 7, 2012 Posted October 7, 2012 (edited) "What outsourced company would be so stupid as to not bolt down seats?" Oh, gee, I dunno. Contract depot maintenance has such a sterling record.... Things don't seem to be looking too good for American. They're on the downswing while their major competitors, especially Delta seem to have righted the ship. If I were a betting man I wouldn't be putting money on American right now. Wow, thank you for the advice, Mr Industry Insider. Edited October 7, 2012 by Huggyu2
StoleIt Posted October 7, 2012 Posted October 7, 2012 Beginning to regret buying tickets last week on AA for a trip in Feb...
Hacker Posted October 7, 2012 Posted October 7, 2012 All of this, of course, is the fault of those greedy pilots. 1
Butters Posted October 7, 2012 Posted October 7, 2012 All of this, of course, is the fault of those greedy pilots. and their union! 1
TreeA10 Posted October 8, 2012 Posted October 8, 2012 Unofficial spokesperson explaining the seat debacle.
LJDRVR Posted October 8, 2012 Posted October 8, 2012 I'd be interested to see your references or credentials that back up this claim of unlicensed work being carried out on US registered aircraft. I highly doubt that is the case, but I am always willing to be educated. The quality of the work can always be questioned, but I believe the FAA has a rather mature inspection and qualification system that vets overseas MROs. No references needed. It's common knowledge that MRO's use hordes of un-certificated, poorly trained and marginally supervised personnel to conduct heavy maintenance. There have been investigations, loss of repair station licenses, and so much bad press that even the mainstream media has picked up on it. Research it yourself, his post was totally accurate.
Napoleon_Tanerite Posted October 9, 2012 Author Posted October 9, 2012 You guys TOTALLY missed my reference to depot MX. Needless to say I'm very suspicious of anything coming out of depot, and with (what I feel to be) good reason. The statement by the AA rep that depot is basically infallible raises concerns as to the credibility of the whole system. Is the company so fractured that they are willing to throw their own employees (line MX) under the bus in order to preserve their relationship with the depot contractor?
Napoleon_Tanerite Posted October 9, 2012 Author Posted October 9, 2012 Most people don't need to see pictures of unbolted seats to figure that one out. Check my second link.... that is NOT a picture of unbolted seats.
Butters Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 Check my second link.... that is NOT a picture of unbolted seats. Really? Are you sure? No shit, I was referring (poorly) to the first link and the fact you were nice enough to point out that you would not invest money in a company in Chapter 11. Once again... no shit.
Prozac Posted October 9, 2012 Posted October 9, 2012 Unofficial spokesperson explaining the seat debacle. That chick is hot. 1
BolterKing Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 This is completely false. AMR does all of their maintenance at either Tulsa or Ft Worth. In fact, they are one of the few majors that still does it domestically. Many would argue that this helped them down the road to bankruptcy. And it's not Delta's maintenance practices that are in the news right now, is it? That's a real sad story you wrote though, about how the golden days of the superior American style are gone. Stupid facts, always getting in the way. AMR just handed out 3000 pink slips in Tulsa, where do you think that work is headed (hint: it's south of the Rio G.)
HuggyU2 Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 AMR just handed out 3000 pink slips in Tulsa,... AA has 3000 employees in Tulsa? I know they had a maintenance facility of some sort there, but that's way more than I would have expected.
Kostanza Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 (edited) AMR just handed out 3000 pink slips in Tulsa Not exactly.... American Airlines will lay off 300 mechanics and about 70 fleet service workers at its Tulsa Maintenance & Engineering Center by February, company and Transport Workers Union officials said Friday. The announcement came after American said Thursday that 709 mechanics, plant maintenance and logistics specialists in Tulsa elected to take an early-retirement option. The Tulsa maintenance base employs 7,000 people overall, 3,000 of them aircraft maintenance technicians or mechanics. "...the company originally sought to put over 2,700 of our members on the street as well as outsource the bulk of the work we perform as part of the plan it presented to the bankruptcy court." (quote from local union president) https://www.tulsaworl...A1_Americ848812 Edited October 10, 2012 by Kostanza 1
hobbitcid Posted October 10, 2012 Posted October 10, 2012 Contracting out maintenance - good for the balance sheet, perhaps not for the bottom line - Valujet 592 is a cautionary tale. The company contracted out some maintenance to Sabre Tech who routinely transported hazardous materials on aircraft in violation of FAA directives. Not only did the company transport materials illegally, they were not maintained in accordance with TOs. As a result, the chemical O2 generators stored in the hold ignited and destroyed the aircraft. Might be a good lesson to review for AA... Discussion - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ValuJet_Flight_592
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now