Per the attached article, the American unions are complaining about out sourcing, and I believe we have a similar issue in Canada. Even in the United States a FAA repair station does not have to have SMS. Now with fatigue management, PVIs, SMS, OSH we are in a world market with an un even playing field
and with some over zealous TC Inspectors this gets even worse. Maybe during this election we should ask our politicians some questions, or is the AME doomed to obscurity ? Union blasts outsourced plane maintenance
WASHINGTON, April 6 (UPI) -- The shift of aircraft maintenance overseas is risking safety and security, a union representing American workers said Wednesday.
The Transport Workers Union of America issued a study, "Who's Fixing My Plane: Aircraft Maintenance in America?" based on government audits and industry data. It found most U.S. carriers, with the major exception of American Airlines, have outsourced much of their maintenance and repair to third parties in such places as China, El Salvador, Mexico, Singapore and Chile.
Southwest Airlines, although a 100 percent domestic carrier, is sending many of its Boeing 737s to a "largely unregulated" facility in El Salvador, the TWU said.
More than 40 percent of repair and maintenance at seven major carriers is now outsourced, the study says.
"We' re not playing on a level field, not when work at outsourced facilities overseas can avoid the certification of mechanics, background checks, and alcohol and drug testing that are a regular feature of TWU workplaces," union President James Little said.
The union backs the FAA Air Transportation and Safety Improvement Act, which would require all maintenance on U.S. aircraft to take place at facilities certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and subject to unannounced inspections.
