KC-10 Driver said:
What inferior South American facility is JetBlue outsourcing heavy MX to? Is TACA inferior? What data can you share to back this up claim?
My understanding is that TACA has an excellent reputation for heavy MX -- this reputation is internationally recognized industry-wide.
Or, do you simply assume TACA MX is inferior because it is a Latin American company?
Lets start with the Inspector General's report:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/results/tools/ah_award_nominee_transportation.html
The team disclosed weaknesses in repair procedures and practices at 18 of the 21 repair stations visited that indicated FAA must take steps to enhance its oversight of these facilities. The team determined that these weaknesses in repair station oversight occurred because FAA inspectors did not place adequate emphasis on these facilities as part of their surveillance. The team determined that FAA had no mechanism in place to obtain information on how much work is sent to repair stations domestically or overseas so that FAA could adjust its surveillance resources as needed
Read the report or do a google search the GAO came up with the same findings in 1998.
FYI their are approx 300 certified foreign repair stations, the inspector could only get to 21 of them of which 85% had a failing grade. FYI the FAA has NO oversite in South or Latin America, the nearest office is Miami (they do have offices all over Asia and Europe)
http://www.aviationtoday.com/cgi/am/show_mag.cgi?pub=am&mon=0304&file=0304washington.htm
The problem with many foreign repair stations that are certificated by the FAA and accordingly perform maintenance on U.S.-registered aircraft is that they are not monitored at all, said the OIG (Inspector General). The report stated that some "foreign repair stations are not inspected by FAA inspectors at all because other civil aviation authorities review these facilities in FAA's behalf." Yet the OIG said that when it reviewed 16 of these foreign repair stations, in 14 of them their files did not contain enough information about what had been inspected and if any problems had been discovered. The FAA has to do a better job of reviewing these foreign repair stations, the OIG said.
This report lends substance and statistical data to an old complaint by American repair stations that foreign FAA-certificated repair stations are able to use cost-cutting procedures that would not be approved in the U.S. because they are not closely monitored
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/08/AR2005060802324.html
Maybe you can come up with an Inspector General's report, or a GAO report, or an article by the Washington Post that supports your claim "My understanding is that TACA has an excellent reputation for heavy MX -- this reputation is internationally recognized industry-wide." Didn't think so.
The IG also discovered that most Latin/South American repair stations don't keep employee records on computer, they are on paper. When asked in many cases they could not verify that their employees met the FAA required experience.
Do you understand the concept of a CRS vs an A&P license? Certified Repair Stations don't require their mechanics to have A&P's. This was developed by the FAA because mechanics departing the armed forces don't get A&P's. The logic was; why should he, if he is fixing a 707 for uncle sam he is more then capable to fix a 707 for UAL or AA. So, he could be hired directly from the service and start on the line, not having to deal with the lengthy A&P testing process. Foreign CRS's take this one step further, the only person required to have an FAA license is the IA who signs off on the work. Weather the mechanic has the proper credentials is by the IG's report, up to the foreign facility. The FAA doesn't have enough inspectors to check everyone of Taca's mechanics but you can bet that each one of AA Tulsa tech or DAL's ATL guys have been checked.
http://www.amtonline.com/publication/article.jsp?pubId=1&id=1713
Take a close look at the chart on the bottom of the article. Stop drinking the kool aid and do the research for yourself.
Now not to have you think that I am picking on Jetblue. How else do you think that it is possible for NWA to get rid of 1/2 it's mechanics over night? Foreign CRS's.
More high tech US jobs going abroad.
