Reader Feedback

Outrageous Outsourcing

I have spoken with a federal representative concerning the outsourcing of high-tech aircraft jobs, and what I have learned about illegal aliens working on American flag aircraft here and abroad is outrageous.

If you have a United States FAA certificate (i.e., A & P or the worthless repairman certificate) these third-world countries can hire mechanics from the U.S. to go and sign off the airworthiness of American carriers' aircraft. But in Canada, Germany, Britain, etc, they do not recognized the FAA certificate or have an American FAA technician sign off the work done on airplanes in their country. The certificate is not recognized as being valid for those countries mentioned, because of the requirements set forth by their respective civil aviation authority, except for Hong Kong and Singapore.

Because of their system of integrity, you have to be licensed to work on a particular aircraft and meet the requirements to work on that aircraft after you pass a test. The same is not true in this country. So this lets non-qualified, non-licensed individuals, that have not been trained, work on the American carriers' aircraft in countries such as El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, and Brazil, as long as they have, on staff, a certificated FAA A&P willing to sign off the work.

The industry tries to distance themselves on this issue but they are going to be in for a rude awakening. There are some in Congress who want to look at this issue in the context of what it means for safety. They may consider rules about verification of training and qualification of personnel similar to the rules in countries like Canada, Britain, and Germany. The airlines are going to fight the new rules, but enough is enough. No more crying wolf and blaming the worker about the wages and benefits and other issues used to justify these actions. Remember this: Qantas has never had an accident because all of their technicians are qualified to work on a particular aircraft, by training, and they are not allowing others to work on their aircraft.

Name Withheld by Request

Four Year Degree?

As an A&P, IA, former DME and past part time instructor for Embry Riddle, my opinion would be that A&P schools should consider expanding their curriculum into a four-year degree program in applied science.

As a DME, I have tested many military applicants, both normal enlistments and retirees as well as some A&P school graduates, for the A&P certificate. Most did not possess an adequate level of experience or basic knowledge in most areas to pass the oral or practical test, let alone be employed in the capacity to sign off work for a Part 121 airline. The emphasis in training is to provide basic information and skills in the two-year period required by the FAA and let the industry finish the training as OJT. This never sat well with me as an option for adequate training. The industry is complex enough that more initial training is needed. The problem is that in our haste to turn people out into the field, we are not providing an acceptable level of training for the more complex aircraft. Also, will student loans and expenses for this type of education be accepted by the industry and applicants and be compensated for with higher salaries?

Our ability to compete on a worldwide scale will be determined by who has the best skills and education. This is what leads to efficiency and safety in our industry and not just the price paid for a unit of work performed as in foreign countries.

Arnie Borreson
Mountain Home Idaho