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You Can’t Fight Progress

It is not often that I comment these days, one way or the other, on words or positions that come from the mouth of politicians as I have come, in my old age, to hold most politicians in very low esteem. But I feel the remarks made by James P. Hoffa, the managerial and political leader of the powerful Teamsters group of labor unions while attending the Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Summit (held February 11, 2008), need to be addressed from the standpoint of the way the world today is being formulated to serve the aviation maintenance function and services on a global basis.

Mr. Hoffa is a powerful individual in USA business, labor and political environments, but he appears to be a little less than knowledgeable about the worldwide dynamics and movement of aviation maintenance services in the form of MROs/powerplant repair and overhaul facilities located offshore in foreign countries. The same old tired "protectionist" rhetoric coming from some of our labor leaders about our aviation industry is the same song now being sung about NAFTA, etc. Both are passé.

As one who has traveled the world and witnessed the beginning of offshore MRO activities firsthand, I can assure you that the powerful words from Mr. Hoffa will find no ears in the world that is developing before us. The rapid growth and expansion of aviation/airline activities throughout the world ensures and demands safe, efficient, state-of-the-art maintenance facilities in many unlikely places that never would have been considered in past years. That, Mr. Hoffa and NAFTA naysayers, is called the march of time. With thinking such as Mr. Hoffa puts forth, I can assure you that the nations of India, the People’s Republic of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Canada, the Emirates, Turkey, the entire European community, etc. will leave us with less market share and meaningful jobs if we are ever so foolish to thumb our noses at the building global economy or try to force our way of doing business on our foreign partners.

In my humble opinion, had the movers and shakers of business, labor and our government cooperated in ensuring our competitive edge in any number of industrial theaters, we would be in much better stead today with jobs, opportunities and strong, but productive, labor unions. But, as, history would have it, we blew it when the handwriting was clearly on the wall, in steel, in autos and now in aviation maintenance support activities. When leaders think narrowly rather then through strategic eyes, it is always the little guy that takes it where it hurts most. Actually the words out of Mr. Hoffa’s mouth are as frightening as the words about NAFTA. It almost brings to my mind the heartfelt words of the dying savior, Jesus Christ, when he uttered, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Folks, do what James Hoffa tells you to do and the USA will be in third world status within 50 years. You can bank on it!

John Arcari

Aviation Maintenance Consultant

Allen, Texas

Clarification

A cleaning product called Aero-Sense was included in the Tool Crib section of the March issue of AM. The company recently changed Web hosts and was having difficulty with its Web site, www.aero-sense.com in mid-March. The company said they expected the Web site to be fully operational in a few days of our inquiry. The cleaner is available for sale at www.3greens.eu. Thanks to Colleen Rauch at Dominion Aviation for the heads up!