Has outsourced repairs to Aeroman compromised America West safety
04-23-2006, 09:57 PM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Has outsourced repairs to Aeroman compromised America West safety
Greetings:
I apologize for posting in this forum since I am not a pilot but I'm not sure where else to turn at this point.
I purchased some tickets to hawaii for my family with America West only to learn that they are using Aeroman Taca in El Salvador for major repairs. This topic has raised quite a stir on the internet on several reputable sites such as the Washington Post. Other sites such as Aviation Today or Aviation Now seem to indicate Aeroman is indeed a reputable facility - despite the third world location.
I was wondering, if per chance, an America West pilot or someone else might comment on this topic. I have been worried sick the past few days on whether we should proceed with this trip.
Thank you in advance.
I apologize for posting in this forum since I am not a pilot but I'm not sure where else to turn at this point.
I purchased some tickets to hawaii for my family with America West only to learn that they are using Aeroman Taca in El Salvador for major repairs. This topic has raised quite a stir on the internet on several reputable sites such as the Washington Post. Other sites such as Aviation Today or Aviation Now seem to indicate Aeroman is indeed a reputable facility - despite the third world location.
I was wondering, if per chance, an America West pilot or someone else might comment on this topic. I have been worried sick the past few days on whether we should proceed with this trip.
Thank you in advance.
04-23-2006, 11:33 PM
#2
On Reserve
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: A320....on the right seat.
Posts: 20
..
I'm not a HP pilot but I used to work for TACA in El Salvador, as far as I know HP have been using AEROMAN services since 2004, they perform some major checks and they also give maintenance for Jetblue.
I haven't heard about any problem or incident related to the maintenance given by AEROMAN, but I've been living here in the states since 2005 so unless someone else knows something new I wouldn't be that worry about it.
Just my .02 cents.
I haven't heard about any problem or incident related to the maintenance given by AEROMAN, but I've been living here in the states since 2005 so unless someone else knows something new I wouldn't be that worry about it.
Just my .02 cents.
04-24-2006, 07:10 AM
#4
Cactus Aviator
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: Learning to fly with my left hand.
Posts: 250
I've been flying for America West for almost 2 years now. I'm on the Airbus and that is the aircraft the facility down in El Salvador is contracted to work on, and during my time all of the planes I've flown have been in great condition, no major problems. All our Hawaii flying is on the Boeing 757's and the maintaince performed on those planes is all in house. As someone pointed out above, Jetblue has all their Airbus heavy maintaince performed my the same outfit as well. I've never been down there nor have I've seen the facility, however all I hear is great things about them, from what I hear the building where they perform the maintaince is so clean you can eat off the floor.
As a proud pilot for America West I can say you have absolutly nothing to worry about, so relax, and go enjoy your trip to Hawaii. Aloha!
As a proud pilot for America West I can say you have absolutly nothing to worry about, so relax, and go enjoy your trip to Hawaii. Aloha!
04-24-2006, 07:12 AM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: FO, looking left
Posts: 1,057
Originally Posted by crewdawg52
Welcome to the world of "Out Sourced MX" going to the cheapest bidder, just so your tickets will be the lowest in history!
04-24-2006, 08:07 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Thanks everyone for the replies. They were very helpful!
By the way, this was the article that really shook me up...,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092701467.html
although I also found other positive info about Aeroman...
http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/col/...157/index.html
JetMonkey, I really appreciate your information as an America West Pilot. Could you confirm something for me? I had a call into America West and they responded today that all heavy maintenance is down by Aeroman and El Salvador. They did not differentiate between the Boeing and Airbus planes. Can you inquire for me? Are the Boeings really not going to El Salvador? Are they going to Timco in Macon, GA? Jetblue had some landing gear issues potentially linked back to them. It is impossible for a passenger like me to ever get a answer like that. In any case, I appreciate your reassurance. I have read that many pilots, including America West, are members of ALPA and that they can basically refuse to fly a plane if they think it is unsafe any particular day.
Thanks!
By the way, this was the article that really shook me up...,
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...092701467.html
although I also found other positive info about Aeroman...
http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/col/...157/index.html
JetMonkey, I really appreciate your information as an America West Pilot. Could you confirm something for me? I had a call into America West and they responded today that all heavy maintenance is down by Aeroman and El Salvador. They did not differentiate between the Boeing and Airbus planes. Can you inquire for me? Are the Boeings really not going to El Salvador? Are they going to Timco in Macon, GA? Jetblue had some landing gear issues potentially linked back to them. It is impossible for a passenger like me to ever get a answer like that. In any case, I appreciate your reassurance. I have read that many pilots, including America West, are members of ALPA and that they can basically refuse to fly a plane if they think it is unsafe any particular day.
Thanks!
Last edited by Will91; 04-24-2006 at 08:12 AM.
04-24-2006, 08:33 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 173
Originally Posted by ryane946
I really do not see a problem with this. Everyone always complains about airline execs not doing anything. Well this is a good example of a way airlines are saving money. The word outsourcing has such a negative conotation to it, but outsourcing in the sense of letting another company do maintenance on jets for a cheaper price is a good idea.
Since you so enjoy outsourcing, soon many of our professional aviator jobs will be outsourced as well with your attitude. Best of luck with your career, but with your attitude I hope it is a career CHANGE.
04-24-2006, 11:44 AM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: FO, looking left
Posts: 1,057
I am sorry, but I just don't agree with what you say. We live in a capitalist country. Our country is governed by the laws of economics. Everyone seems to forget that trickle down economics determine how our nation is doing. If large companies are doing good, then the people are doing good.
Think about this example...
A large manufactering company owned by a rich person has a lot of manufactering jobs in the United States. It is significantly cheaper to send these jobs oversees, so the company outsources the manufactering work. As a result of this, the companies profit skyrockets.
Now what does a rich person like more than money??? How about MORE MONEY! How do you earn more money in a capitalist society??? You invest in capital. So the rich person takes this large profit and invests it into creating a new business. New jobs are created. The wealth trickles down.
Everyone knows the United States has a low unemployement rate (< 5%), and the fact is that 100% employement is BAD for the economy. I think we are perfect. Unskilled labor such as manufactering jobs have, are in the process of, or eventually will go overseas.
What happens once these jobs go overseas?? Take China as an example. Their workers get jobs, earn money, and their economy booms. Now what? Now that booming economy has money to buy goods, say airplanes. Now what happens when China buys, say 150 Boeing 737's. I know exactly what happens. All the skilled workers back in the US at Boeing benefit. Billions of dollars are poured back into the US economy.
But this will only happen if OUR goods are CHEAPER and better than other countries goods. How does that happen? If they are manufactered as cheap as possible.
The fact is that unskilled labor is leaving this country, and skilled labor is here to stay. People cringe when they hear the word outsourcing, but it is not a bad thing. It makes US companies better, which helps them make money, which trickles down to the middle class.
Think about this example...
A large manufactering company owned by a rich person has a lot of manufactering jobs in the United States. It is significantly cheaper to send these jobs oversees, so the company outsources the manufactering work. As a result of this, the companies profit skyrockets.
Now what does a rich person like more than money??? How about MORE MONEY! How do you earn more money in a capitalist society??? You invest in capital. So the rich person takes this large profit and invests it into creating a new business. New jobs are created. The wealth trickles down.
Everyone knows the United States has a low unemployement rate (< 5%), and the fact is that 100% employement is BAD for the economy. I think we are perfect. Unskilled labor such as manufactering jobs have, are in the process of, or eventually will go overseas.
What happens once these jobs go overseas?? Take China as an example. Their workers get jobs, earn money, and their economy booms. Now what? Now that booming economy has money to buy goods, say airplanes. Now what happens when China buys, say 150 Boeing 737's. I know exactly what happens. All the skilled workers back in the US at Boeing benefit. Billions of dollars are poured back into the US economy.
But this will only happen if OUR goods are CHEAPER and better than other countries goods. How does that happen? If they are manufactered as cheap as possible.
The fact is that unskilled labor is leaving this country, and skilled labor is here to stay. People cringe when they hear the word outsourcing, but it is not a bad thing. It makes US companies better, which helps them make money, which trickles down to the middle class.
04-24-2006, 11:56 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2005
Position: Retired
Posts: 2,934
Originally Posted by ryane946
I am sorry, but I just don't agree with what you say. We live in a capitalist country. Our country is governed by the laws of economics. Everyone seems to forget that trickle down economics determine how our nation is doing. If large companies are doing good, then the people are doing good.
Think about this example...
A large manufactering company owned by a rich person has a lot of manufactering jobs in the United States. It is significantly cheaper to send these jobs oversees, so the company outsources the manufactering work. As a result of this, the companies profit skyrockets.
Now what does a rich person like more than money??? How about MORE MONEY! How do you earn more money in a capitalist society??? You invest in capital. So the rich person takes this large profit and invests it into creating a new business. New jobs are created. The wealth trickles down.
Everyone knows the United States has a low unemployement rate (< 5%), and the fact is that 100% employement is BAD for the economy. I think we are perfect. Unskilled labor such as manufactering jobs have, are in the process of, or eventually will go overseas.
What happens once these jobs go overseas?? Take China as an example. Their workers get jobs, earn money, and their economy booms. Now what? Now that booming economy has money to buy goods, say airplanes. Now what happens when China buys, say 150 Boeing 737's. I know exactly what happens. All the skilled workers back in the US at Boeing benefit. Billions of dollars are poured back into the US economy.
But this will only happen if OUR goods are CHEAPER and better than other countries goods. How does that happen? If they are manufactered as cheap as possible.
The fact is that unskilled labor is leaving this country, and skilled labor is here to stay. People cringe when they hear the word outsourcing, but it is not a bad thing. It makes US companies better, which helps them make money, which trickles down to the middle class.
Think about this example...
A large manufactering company owned by a rich person has a lot of manufactering jobs in the United States. It is significantly cheaper to send these jobs oversees, so the company outsources the manufactering work. As a result of this, the companies profit skyrockets.
Now what does a rich person like more than money??? How about MORE MONEY! How do you earn more money in a capitalist society??? You invest in capital. So the rich person takes this large profit and invests it into creating a new business. New jobs are created. The wealth trickles down.
Everyone knows the United States has a low unemployement rate (< 5%), and the fact is that 100% employement is BAD for the economy. I think we are perfect. Unskilled labor such as manufactering jobs have, are in the process of, or eventually will go overseas.
What happens once these jobs go overseas?? Take China as an example. Their workers get jobs, earn money, and their economy booms. Now what? Now that booming economy has money to buy goods, say airplanes. Now what happens when China buys, say 150 Boeing 737's. I know exactly what happens. All the skilled workers back in the US at Boeing benefit. Billions of dollars are poured back into the US economy.
But this will only happen if OUR goods are CHEAPER and better than other countries goods. How does that happen? If they are manufactered as cheap as possible.
The fact is that unskilled labor is leaving this country, and skilled labor is here to stay. People cringe when they hear the word outsourcing, but it is not a bad thing. It makes US companies better, which helps them make money, which trickles down to the middle class.
I thought that aircraft mechanics are a pretty skilled bunch...
Second, all of these jobs leaving means that people are out of work. Exactly how to you maximize profits when your customer base is reduced? Cities like St. Louis are in crisis mode right now because companies like Ford are closing plants and outsourcing work overseas. Not only does it affect them, but it also affects other businesses like the one I work for. We're seeing a drastic decline in the number of frieght aircraft that are brining in parts for them. Other local small businesses like restaurants are closing becuase the plant's closing has resulted in a dramatic decline in lunchtime business. The local school districts are cutting programs and staff due to a loss of tax revenue, which puts the next generation even further behind.
Third, relating to the first point, cheaper goods don't matter if you're out of a job and have no income. Can you tell where I stand on outsourcing?
Last edited by Pilotpip; 04-24-2006 at 12:00 PM.
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