State of the Airline Industry
I got an e-mail yesterday from a reader by the name of Fernando Fojo. Here is what Mr. Fojo writes:
Hello Mr. Escobar,
I’ve been involved in aviation maintenance for over 15 years, and I feel that I have some input to add. Before I do so, let me say that I am a certificated A+P with a FCC GROL certificate and radar endorsement. I also possess an A.S. Degree in Electronic Engineering Technology, and I am finishing my B.S. in Professional Aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
The comments I have are for those who work on heavy jets, not GA. They are different worlds in many aspects. You and Mr. Napert touched upon some points that we cannot get away from with respect to outsourcing. I disagree to some extent about the trend coming and going with the airlines. Security may be an issue, but we are seeing the beginnings of the “assetless” airlines. Fewer airlines own their aircraft or other equipment outrightly these days. The more successful carriers lease everything and keep only the personnel and equipment they need to exercise their core business – flying passengers. Everything else is expendable. The only really notable exception is American Airlines which does third-party maintenance work at its Tulsa, OK facility. Delta and United also have some limited third-party work, but American is the big exception.
My opinion is simple. To be a successful A+P mechanic in this particular environment, future (and present) maintenance personnel are going to have to be more educated and more dynamic. They are going to have to learn second languages and possibly ply their trade overseas. It’s not necessarily a grim picture, but it will be realistic for many of us. Globalization has changed our careers forever.
Another issue that has not been mentioned is the Railway Labor Act. For those of us in the airlines, this piece of legislation is an abomination. This one act causes more bitterness than anything else. If the government and the airlines want to stay under this act, then the benefits and pay accorded to the railroads should also be extended to airline employees. Under the Railway Labor Act, an employee does not pay into Social Security. Instead, the employee pays into a railroad pension fund which is far superior. An employee who changes jobs from one railroad to another gets to keep his/her pay scale. In other words, you don’t have to start at the bottom again. You keep your pay, medical/dental, pension, vacation, etc.
These are the serious issues today that are keeping talented youngsters away from this field. For heavy jet mechanics, economic and political policies play a big role in their careers. Until these things change, basic supply and demand equations will not be enough to change the downward spiral that aviation maintenance is facing in terms of new talent. Many oldtimers are telling their children and grandchildren to stay out of aviation maintenance as a career.
There you have it. Now you have some issues that you can sink your teeth into for future editions of AMT. I thank you for your time.
Fernando Fojo, A+P
Mr. Fojo makes some good points on the airline industry, the Railway Labor Act, and the future of aircraft maintenance.
To heck with waiting until the next issue of AMT to sink our teeth into this. Let’s get this discussion rolling now.
Thanks for reading, and keep that feedback coming!
Joe Escobar
[…] I?ve been involved in aviation maintenance for over 15 years, and I feel that I have some input to add. Before I do so, let me say that I am a certificated A+P with a FCC GROL certificate and radar endorsement.Read full story… Blogged under Jobs by Vinit on Thursday 30 August 2007 at 5:31 am […]
I have been in, and have associated myself with many 20 yr plus aviation maintenance people, we all tell the young people not this is probably not the career they think it is. Sad.
I’m relatively new to the aviaiton industry, I received my A&P on Dec. 17, 2003 (100th anniversary of the first flight - yes, I planned it that way). And even as I attended a PAMA convention as a student I was told to “get out” of aviation maintenance - very sad. I am proud of my profession, let’s stop talking and do something. Can someone tell me what I can personally do to change this situation? I know it won’t be easy or quick, but let’s talk action!
Dear Rhonda
If you can figure out a way to bring an element of humanity, of community and family, just treating people right back into the corporate profit equation, that might do it, and oh yeah by corporate profit I don’t neccesarily mean money in the companys pocket as much as in the upper executives pocket. The greed has gone too far, it is 2007 not 1907!
A big part of the problem is that the government allows aircraft maintenance jobs to be outsourced overseas andas a result, the airlines have gotten rid of their maintenance departments to send their aircraft overseas. A recent article in the Chicago Tribune covered United Airline’s desire to sell off its maintenance department completely. I found this out the day after I posted my letter. The mechanic’s union (AMFA) will fight it, but I bet that the deal will go through. The maintenance facilities in SFO won’t go away, but the same maintenance jobs will have lower pay and benefits, guaranteed. The only way to make an impact is to get your local congressman involved, and to make this a lifelong pursuit.
Being 24 years old and a rated A&P (IA in a few months) I feel that I can speak for the next generation of mechanics. My father, a senior forman for United at ORD, told me many times don’t go into aviation. It’s a bad career with long hours and little pay, go to college and do something else. And after ignoring that advice I am the youngest mechanic that I know. It has been that way since I got out of the Corps. There is almost no one in this gig that’s under 30 and that makes for a good thing. Not that I am glad the old timers got raped by the airlines and other’s, but it has made it for a good career field. There are more than enough jobs to go around that pay rather well. Look at the HEMS field for example. One company Air Methods after a recient aquisition now has over 350 aircraft that each need a field mechanic and about 200 mechanics to go around. The pay is above industry average and the job is great. SO I as that all of the old timers try not to spoil the next crop of mechanics because we still need em out here. Learn the trade, sheetmetal, avionics, electronics, and get a degree. You have to be a better mechanic than ever before, but you will be rewarded for it.
I forgot to mention one other thing about the Railway Labor Act. Unionized employees that work for companies that operate under the Act can’t just strike the company. Under the National Labor Relations Act, employees can strike their employer if negotiations break down with little or no interference from the government. Not so under the RLA. The company has the right to delay actions and line up replacement employees due to the government’s prohibiting of employee’s striking the company. Outsourcing hamstrings mechanics on the one hand, and the RLA hamstrings mechanics on the other. It’s a lose-lose situation.
I think Fernando makes an excellent point. There was a looming “shortage” of mechanics that was going to take place in the 90’s. Did it ever occur? Of course not, that is when the airlines all started the outsourcing game. It started out as a way to stay viable due to the coming shortage but then it just flat got out of hand and we found most jobs being gutted and tossed over the borders in every direction. There was also a very little publicized meeting that occured…it was called the air conference. For those mechanics that never heard about the conference it was because we all were not invited. It is illegal under anti-trust laws for the airlines to get together and set prices for their services(airfare) but somehow it is okay for them to all get together and collectively decide how much they are going to pay for “services”(labor, leases, catering, etc). This slipped past most industry watch groups without so much as a blip. I have over 20 years in this industry and I have seen it slip to the point that I would not recommend anyone plot a course through this wacked world where corporate greed is preying on your good name and the accountability that when something goes wrong on their part that they have the FAA to help them prosecute you on a personal level for their shortcomings. What other industry can you go to prison simply for signing off an aircraft that appeared to be in order only to later find out that something at a deeper level was not fine but your signature covered it because it was on the same aircraft? The amount of personal liability that is now involved due to all of this outsourcing needs to be looked at before you get involved with this line of work. Do you feel comfortable signing what may become a death sentence because some corporate lacky wants to get a flight out? Think about it because there will be plenty of time later if you don’t consider all the facts up front.
under current outsource conditions the RLA is no longer valid or constitutional as it applies to the airline industry. It should be challenged and repealed and the government made to pay restitution for all those that suffered under its application. If it remains in affect then all those affected by it should be given a government pension and health care as payment for the seizure of the ability to strike.
lets not forget whats most important to the airline companys, corporate profet! also mr fogo should know there are few overseas jobs for A&P’s as each country has there own brand, anyone can come to the us for a A&P, but you cant go and get there license. stay in school find another job where you wont have to work with scabs
What imaginary reality are you guys living in? You think outsourcing is an airline-only issue? You think cutting costs wherever possible is an airline idea? You think the airlines are the only place where workers have been cut like my brother-in-law cuts the cheese after a bowl of chili? You think corporate profit is an idea born in the airline industry? Well, wake up and smell the jet fuel.
The reality is that no matter what degree you get or what career you choose, there will always be those in power looking to cut costs — be it through outsourcing, layoffs, product quality, etc… Pick any industry, and you can find instances of corporate greed. The only way to effect change is to be the one in power. Then you can do what you feel necessary to turn the tide. But you can’t do that by whining and crying about how “the man” is out to get you. Pick yourself up by your bootstraps, advance in your education, stay positive, and work your a$$ off to get to the top. Quit blaming others and take responsibility for your future. If you are unhappy, do something about it. Your future is in your hands.
Those with bad attitudes who think the solution to their problems is to change careers will likely become disgruntled employees in a new industry. There will always be something to complain about.
Don’t rely on the unions either. They are no longer the bastions of labor power they once were. They have turned into money-greedy bureaucracies themselves — out to protect their own hind end, not that of their members. Their focus seems to be on getting new members, not on serving the members they already have.
Dan
A&P/IA
how many corporate BS artists have just entered their corporate BS?
Corporate BS artists? If I am a corporate BS artist because I believe I can work hard, be ethical and professional in the workplace, and have the ambition to move up the career ladder, then call me a corporate BS artist if you must.
You can wallow in your self-pity and call me whatever you want. I just know that no matter what career we are in, there are always going to be those in upper management who are not seen favorably by workers. Those employees that want to grumble and complain while doing absolutely nothing to better themselves will be perpetual disgruntled employees. It’s not that there are some workers that are just plain happy all the time. But those that are unhappy but strive to effect change can have successful careers, no matter what their career choice.
Yes, even in aviation.
Dan
A&P/IA
Daniel makes a good point. Outsourcing, layoffs, etc., are not unique to the airline industry. I only mentioned these problems earlier due to the fact that this is an aviation maintenance thread. He is also correct about the sad state of unions today. It is a shame that they have become what they are now. I remember hearing stories about the good they once did when I was a boy.
There are more overseas jobs for A+P mechanics than many of you might think. I’m sure that we have all heard about the lucrative contracts in certain places in the Middle East, but there are plenty of overseas facilities that respect the FAA A+P license. Remember, overseas facilities that do third-party work have to have an FAA repair station certificate if they wish to perform third-party work for U.S. carriers. This is why I say that foreign languages and advanced education are a must for our profession. Perhaps going overseas might be a drawback for some of us, but for some of us, it may be an opportunity. It depends on the individual. In Europe and other places, an aircraft mechanic is held in high esteem. Europeans particularly have a love affair with aviation.
These are just some options. I am sure that everyone out there can make their own best career decision.
Fernando Fojo A+P
I have been in the industry for 22 years and the last few years the talent and work ethic of the tech comming up is lacking!! Most are not worth what there paid and especially not what they think they’re worth. I agree the industry has taken advantage of maint. But I think the pendulum is beginning to swing our way. It seems, at least in alaska a&p are getting hard to come by. No 0ne whats to do shift work and have the middle of the week off!! I dont blame anyone but its called paying your dues!! Our last three new hires didnt make it off probation due to attends and work ethic and there were started on dayshift. Had a few young talented mech turned down apprintices program due to days off (middle of the week and the shift work…The good ol USA we have your issues but not like the rest of the world. My buddy an (DME) refused to test a guy from air china because he could not read and understand english at least not to the DME liking. The man broke down, because he was getting to old for the company and was going to be laid off ! And wanted to get an a&p so he could market him self in the USA. The guy had been working heavys for years. The interpeter said thats what the old guys do ,get an a&p and go to work for contract company or somthing like that. I think because of the lack of a&p we should see the wage begain to raise. I know one outfit had to raise there new hire wage $4.00 an hour to get apps to start coming in. Once the apps started comming in they were held to a high standard. Sounds like its working for them but where does that leave the senior mech that has seen the companys though the hard and slow times? Its a crazy world aviation is!! Is it just me or does the industry now have more people driving desk than ever before. The outfit I work for, maint tech are way out numbered by desk drivers. there are vice over vices I think. Most in the interests of fed regs, at various levels. Well enough of my venting….. Leads mech, A&P, aircargo
DK alaska
The lack of quality A+P mechanics coming up the ranks does not surprise me at all. I reside in Indiana. My older son attends the aviation program at Purdue University. His four-year Bachelor’s Degree will cost $24,000. The Aviation Institute of Maintenance campus offers the A+P course that lasts 1 and 1/2 years, and costs approximately $30,000. All you get for your money is the license, an Assoc. in Applied Science Degree (which is NOT a full Associate of Science Degree), and a lot of school loans to pay back. Nobody sane wants to pay that much money to go to school, and then graduate and be paid a sub-standard wage. With interest rates tacked on, the school loans will take many years to be paid off. This is why the kids coming out of A+P school think that they should be paid top dollar. A+P school is great, but it is not worth $30,000. Not if a respected university offers full degrees for $10,000 less. Vincennes University in Indiana offers the A+P program for approx. half of AIM’s price, and you can get the A.S. Degree. If you wish to continue your education, you can also get the B.S. Degree. It will still be cheaper than AIM. These are the institutions that need to be supported if the industry
The lack of quality A+P mechanics coming up the ranks does not surprise me at all. I reside in Indiana. My older son attends the aviation program at Purdue University. His four-year Bachelor’s Degree will cost $24,000. The Aviation Institute of Maintenance campus offers the A+P course that lasts 1 and 1/2 years, and costs approximately $30,000. All you get for your money is the license, an Assoc. in Applied Science Degree (which is NOT a full Associate of Science Degree), and a lot of school loans to pay back. Nobody sane wants to pay that much money to go to school, and then graduate and be paid a sub-standard wage. With interest rates tacked on, the school loans will take many years to be paid off. This is why the kids coming out of A+P school think that they should be paid top dollar. A+P school is great, but it is not worth $30,000. Not if a respected university offers full degrees for $10,000 less. Vincennes University in Indiana offers the A+P program for approx. half of AIM’s price, and you can get the A.S. Degree. If you wish to continue your education, you can also get the B.S. Degree. It will still be cheaper than AIM. These are the institutions that need to be supported if the industry is going to thrive.