More aircraft maintenance jobs move to El Salvador
Southwest Airlines will have maintenance on some of its flight performed in El Salvador according to Dallas area news reports:
Read more about Aeroman's success in getting aircraft maintenance work from the US airlines in my blog post here.
Many U.S. airlines already outsource maintenance to foreign countries. The company Southwest will use in El Salvador, Aeroman, has already performed heavy maintenance work for other major U.S. Airlines.
But, unions and consumer groups have objected to outsourcing, questioning the safety and oversight of work performed outside of the U.S., where mechanics are paid less than their American counterparts.
Last year, BusinessWeek reported that mechanics at Aeroman make between $4,500 and $15,000 a year, while U.S. airplane mechanics earn an average of $52,000 a year.
Southwest said it's confident that its new foreign maintenance provider is well qualified for the job. "They pass all or our really stringent tests for safety. They have a great track record," Flanagan said.
The union that represents Southwest's mechanics previously agreed to allow a limited amount of work to be outsourced to a foreign company last year, in a new contract with the airline.
Read more about Aeroman's success in getting aircraft maintenance work from the US airlines in my blog post here.
Comments
Safety, indeed, should be concern number one... but it is irresponsable to make statements of a company's capability just because it is not a US company.
It would not be either responsible to say that Southwest got fined just because it is a US company. Or to say Airfrance accident happended just because it is a french company. Both maintenance were performed by $50,000 mechanics
It seems like salary is not the only driver
The reality is, that once you have created your reputation, you can sit back on your laurels. The money you make are receive as salary is only the scorecard. You receive what you're worth.
So, you see, what someone is willing to pay you, and you accept to be payed, is a good benchmark as you your qualifications. That's why I mention salaries when dealing directly with public safety.
I think it's really scary that anyone seems to be qualified for the work we're dealing with here!
"Salary isn't the only driver"
Agreed, but it's a damned good benchmark wouldn't you say... Or why do you think there is a pay diference between an airline pilot and, ahh let's say... a baggage handler, or a chaufer.
Or between what a pilot of a small airlines makes vs what one makes who works for a major airlines. But enough examples, right.
I want to know the names of the companies who care so little about passenger safety, so as to be sure not to ever fly with them.
This is a travesty!
It should become law and passengers right, that airlines publish where their aircraft is being serviced and where they receive their regular and routine maintenance. It's a passengers rights to know.
I wouldn't trust the work of any mechanic who's not American and with the American work ethic.
I agree with the above post that airlines should be obligated to make public where their planes are services and maintained.
This news is some real Bad!
"All of you are dumber than the mechanics at Aeroman"
You make my point exactly. That's what worries me; that idiots like you even agree with me that outsourcing these important maintenance jobs to a fourth rate county like Salvador is completely irresponsible.
Salvador has never manufactured anything and most likely never will. Where would Salvadorean mechanics develop the stills needed for high tech maintanance. This is crazy, the companies are putting their profits ahead of the safety of passengers.
Pitting highly qualified union mechanics with grease monkies who've never seen an airliner up close. This is indeed temerious for all passengers.
A country like Salvador has no regulations and no one cares for the rights of others. This definitely is not a place where quality jobs can be expected.
AEROMAN, which was established in 1983, is an FAA 145 certified maintenance, repair and overhaul facility providing airframe heavy maintenance services on Airbus and Boeing narrow body aircraft. AEROMAN is located at El Salvador International Airport . The facility is staffed with over 1500 people comprised of aviation technicians, engineers, support departments and administration.
Both facilities have approximately 294,541 square feet of hangar, back-shop, administration and storage space and can fully enclose 6 narrow body aircraft simultaneously. The AEROMAN team performs over 100 narrow body heavy maintenance visits annually for North American and Latin American Airlines.
As for me, I'll sit it out on the sidelines and fly only with companies I feel safe with.
Now if you'd put a cook of "gallo con chicha" that is American trained chef vs a Salvadorean, I do not doubt for a second that the Salvadorean would make a tastier dish. But that's a far cry from technical work where people's lives are at stake.
The U.S. is an industrialized nation and has been for the past century, on the other hand, Salvador only exports people and imports even basic food stuffs. Big difference, don't you think...
When we think "Salvadorean" we think gangs, border hoppers, law breakers, low morals and inherent thieves. That's the reputation they have made for themselves, why would I trust my life to their hands. I may be crazy, but I sure ain't dumb.
And a little tid bit news report coming out of Salvador, the world murder capital:
Gangs in San Miguel, the second city in that country, have treatened police to leave them alone or they will assassinate a calcinate another innocent victim every 13-hours.
Reports have it that the infamous "Mara Salvatrucha" has already followed up on their treat by buring and calcinating 4 hapless clients.
This is what that country is best known for, not as professional mechanics that the world can rely on. If you want a tatooed killer, Salvador is the place to go.
Low paid, low quality, low professional mechanics giving maintenance to airlines can in no way be compared to highly paid and qualitied, professionals responsible for the maintenance of aircraft used by the public.
I don't think there is anyone in Salvbador capable of repairing my electric tooth brush.
Sounds good, real good, but how many Salvadoreans? Yeah, how many Salvadoreans in position of responsibility. I'm not talking about sweeping hanger floors either, or hand washing nuts and bolts in a can a thinner or kerosine.
Besides, I don't use airlines for my transportation so I really could care less about their maintenance arraingements
We don't want propaganda for any grease monkey ARMCO airplane maintenance fly by night compnay.
Take them all out!
So if a place is aproved by FAA.and EASA. And local Aviation authority...less be real. They can be buy off on. Contrats and maintance..
So having a FAA cert repair station..or EASA..IS..JUST A CERT IN. THE WALL.
MOST PEOPLE.DONT READ .WRITE OR SPEAK ENGLISH..CAN THEY REALLY DO ALL REPAIRS AND OPS CHECKS.AND MAINTANCE.????
LETS BE REAL..
AND YES TGE ONLY. HIRE YOUNG KIDS..AS IN. SOUTH AMERICA IF YOUR OLDER.THAN 35 YOU ARE CONSIDER AN OLD FART.
LETS HIRE .YOUNG. INEXPERIENCED.
AND IF A AIRPLANE GOES DOWN.WELL INSURANCE WILL PAY.
NEW AIRCRAFT.AND $$$FOR EA DEAD PASSENGERS...IS ALL A BUSSINES PEOPLE... MONEY TALKS .BS WALKS.
SUERTE .GOOD LUCK TRAVELERS.
HEAVY CHECKS ARE DONE HALF TGE TIME..AND SIGN OFF.. BY THE COMPANY.NOT INDIVIDUAL MECHS .LIKE USA..