AMFA Asks for a Congressional Hearing on Outsourcing

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association wants to make Congress aware of the anti-safety culture that has developed in most airlines in the U.S. To promote this awareness, AMFA is submitting a written request for a Congressional hearing on outsourcing to the Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee in the immediate future, said O.V. Delle-Femine, National Director of AMFA. Aircraft mechanics employed in the airline industry are preparing for the hearings.

The magnitude of the safety issue was revealed when Northwest Airlines gave an aircraft mechanic, Ted Ludwig, a sixty-day suspension because he disclosed safety concerns in a public forum where reporters were present. Mr. Delle-Femine further says that NWA and UAL have in the past disciplined aircraft mechanics for uncovering maintenance discrepancies.

"Our job is to inspect and repair the aircraft when we find maintenance problems, regardless of the area," he said. "We are legally and morally bound by our training and by Federal Air Regulations to report any discrepancy, and should be able to do so without experiencing the intimidation and harassment we find in the industry today. Unfortunately, the Federal Aviation Administration avoids involvement by stating that discipline by the airlines is a labor-management problem, although the FAA has regulatory oversight over safety. We find ourselves alone fighting for the safety of the aircraft and against intimidation by the airlines and the bureaucracy of the FAA itself.

"The recent disturbing report of 28 undocumented workers arrested at TIMCO, at least one of whom had been working there for 10 years without proper papers, amplifies the inadequate inspection of outsourced repair facilities by the federal government, or by their own management. We believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The flying public would not fly on an aircraft if they knew it was piloted by an unlicensed pilot. Why would they fly on an aircraft maintained by unlicensed mechanics?

"We are dismayed at the pussyfooting by the Minnesota State Senators in their interrogation of NWA CEO Doug Steenland regarding his business plans and expansion that will greatly reduce jobs at the MSP base and exacerbate the problems associated with outsourcing. There were no hard questions for the NWA CEO by the Senators, which was extremely disappointing to our members," Delle-Femine said.

AMFA represents aircraft mechanics and related personnel employed at Alaska Airlines, ATA, Independence Air, Horizon Air, Mesaba Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines.

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Distributed by Market Wire

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