Carmine Romano Retiring

[Hopeful]

Looks like Romano is hanging it up and will be replaced by Jim Ream, current CEO of Express Jet.

"His aviation career began with his time serving in the U.S. Army as a helicopter mechanic and crew chief and a lead aircraft mechanic for Evergreen International. He earned an associate of science degree in Aviation Maintenance and holds FAA certificates as an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic as well as a private pilot. He also holds a bachelor of science degree in Operations Management from San Diego State University and a master’s in Business Administration from Northwestern University."

 

[Rogallo]

American Airlines today announced that James Ream, President and CEO of ExpressJet, will become American's Senior Vice President of Maintenance & Engineering, effective Jan. 1. Ream succeeds Carmine Romano, who is retiring after 41 years with American Airlines.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/American-Air...ml?x=0&.v=1

Hopefully he's maintenance friendly????

 

[TWU informer]

The two smoke blowers are gone Fred and Conman, now if we could just do something about that docile union.

 

[Hopeful]

The two smoke blowers are gone Fred and Conman, now if we could just do something about that docile union.

I'm still waiting for Burchette on behalf of the TWU to stick his hand in Romano's pockets to get us everything we gave back. Guess that won't happen know with Romano leaving and all.....DARN!

 

[Wretched Wrench]

"His aviation career began with his time serving in the U.S. Army as a helicopter mechanic....

Hmmmmm..........that's not exactly a stellar qualification. Didn't take a very high GT score back then.

 

[TWU informer]

Hmmmmm..........that's not exactly a stellar qualification. Didn't take a very high GT score back then.

Maybe so but the rest appears to be more than most we have seen

He also holds a bachelor of science degree in Operations Management from San Diego State University and a master’s in Business Administration from Northwestern University.

His qualifications beat the hell out of those that have moved up internally using the good old boy system from the undesreable job of supervisor. Carmine's demostrated what you get from that pool. We should give this guy a chance and see what comes from this.

 

[Hopeful]

Maybe so but the rest appears to be more than most we have seen

He also holds a bachelor of science degree in Operations Management from San Diego State University and a master’s in Business Administration from Northwestern University.

His qualifications beat the hell out of those that have moved up internally using the good old boy system from the undesreable job of supervisor. Carmine's demostrated what you get from that pool. We should give this guy a chance and see what comes from this.

The problem could be that since he ran Express Jet, he may want to run M&E from a marketing and finance standpoint and that could spell drastic changes for the workers.
He may have the credentials but i would be more concerned about his intentions towards M&E.


I am not one to subscribe to conspiracy theories, but I must admit that bringing him and his background onboard does lead me to think that an entirely different course for M&E will be set.

Could he be here to "spin off" M&E?
Could he be the "new face" to convey the company's threats for the TWU?
Aren't there many a long time M&E manager who could replace Romano?

Time will tell.

 

[The Goose]

The problem could be that since he ran Express Jet, he may want to run M&E from a marketing and finance standpoint and that could spell drastic changes for the workers.
He may have the credentials but i would be more concerned about his intentions towards M&E.

Could he be here to "spin off" M&E?

Your scenario sounds much more plausible - if the M&E mechs won't agree to more concessions, simple sell the business and all its liabilities.

His intentions are immaterial, however. He's being hired for a specific purpose and will be given his orders by the board of directors who had to OK his hiring.

While my memory may not be correct, I believe Mr. Parmesian was involved with negotiations. That being the case, it may well be the company doesn't intend to do much more "negotiating". He's getting out while the getting is good.

Still curious - when Burchette was sticking his hands in Carmine's pockets, had Romano cut out the pocket bottoms? Burchette and Yingst, however, are another issue in dire need of being addressed by the membership but not in this thread.

 

[Jager]

What exactly does this move tell us about AA upper management.. What is the message here?

It’s quite clear..

Most of the time you work through the ranks to achieve the pinnacle of your career.. Usually when a VP retires, a subordinate fills the position that has the knowledge and experience of the operation…

Since this is not the case.. I’d say AArpey and friends have indicated a lack of confidence in the management of Aircraft Maintenance to solve the current problems.. So lets bring in an outsider to tackle the task…

Why hell!!! Lets hire a few more consulting groups too since management can’t quite figure it out..

 

[The Goose]

His qualifications beat the hell out of those that have moved up internally using the good old boy system from the undesreable job of supervisor. Carmine's demostrated what you get from that pool. We should give this guy a chance and see what comes from this.

I'm rather tired of reading about someone's "qualifications". Is the SOB capable of thinking or is he another puppy dog to fetch the master's slippers?

My guess is the latter - AMR has never cared for competence in their management after Crandall left and damned sure not any accountability. How else does any thinking individual believe Romano made it 41 years?

It's still hard to believe Crandall tolerated the fool unless he was totally under the radar during that time.

 

[eolesen]

Too many of the "good ol' boys" in TUL get used to the way things happen, which I'll agree is why M&E is screwed up.

When I walk into my parent's house, I wonder why they keep the same carpet, dark paneling, wallpaper etc. they had since the early 1970's.

Fact is they have gotten used to it, sorta like Carmine and the "good ol' boys" looking at all the inefficiencies in TUL.

If we bought my parents' house, I've redesigned it in my head a dozen times, mainly to bring in features I've had in houses I've owned in the past 20 years. The paneling and carpet should have been replaced years ago...


Ream's an outsider from most people's point of view, but he was also a VP under Crandall if you bothered to read his resume.

The fact he has both internal and external points of view as a positive.

 

[The Goose]

Too many of the "good ol' boys" in TUL get used to the way things happen, which I'll agree is why M&E is screwed up.

When I walk into my parent's house, I wonder why they keep the same carpet, dark paneling, wallpaper etc. they had since the early 1970's.

Fact is they have gotten used to it, sorta like Carmine and the "good ol' boys" looking at all the inefficiencies in TUL.

If we bought my parents' house, I've redesigned it in my head a dozen times, mainly to bring in features I've had in houses I've owned in the past 20 years. The paneling and carpet should have been replaced years ago...


Ream's an outsider from most people's point of view, but he was also a VP under Crandall if you bothered to read his resume.

The fact he has both internal and external points of view as a positive.

Perhaps, but the simple fact the BOD hired him is more of a negative to me. I have little faith in those who give the orders.

He'll come in, put forth numerous ideas as Captain Fred did, and be slapped down quickly by the bosses.

Yes - Fred did say a few things that gave me a glimmer of hope for the company, but he was quickly told to shut up by Romano.

Simple fact - all the best intentions in the world and $2 will buy you a cup of coffee. We shall see.

 

[Jager]

Ream's an outsider from most people's point of view, but he was also a VP under Crandall if you bothered to read his resume.

Yeah right Champ!! He worked in Finance 15 years ago... What's that got to do with keeping airplanes airworthy...

This aint Kansas any more skip.....lol!

 

[Rogallo]

Yeah right Champ!! He worked in Finance 15 years ago... What's that got to do with keeping airplanes airworthy...

This aint Kansas any more skip.....lol!

 

[TWU informer]

I don't really get it I guess.

We have complained relentlessly about the inept management and advancement system we have endured that quite frankly puts our households and standard of living at risk. We even have gone so far as to subsidize the ignorance with concessions reaching back 50 years of negotiations.

Now it seems AMR Executives are taking a different approach to the issue and most start bitching about that before the new guy even shows up. I can understand the lack of trust. I can understand the fear. But what reality?

We could be looking at the start of better direction for us all. There is money to be made in maintaining aircraft with good management, and a skilled work force. And AA has the facilities and equipment to make profits from maintenance. But not with unskilled workers, worthless management, and a budget system that see M&E as a cost center instead of a profit center.

My fear about the future comes mostly from the appearance that the BOD's were not even showing a slight inclination to fix the problem. Fear also comes from TWU's idea that every unskilled building cleaner can become a skilled worker, and that it is OK to lower wages and benefits to make that lack of skill cost effective for AA. Well guess what? Not only is that not working, in Tulsa we are currently witnessing many signs of a distressed maintenance program. There are more issues on the table today that could effect the bottom dollar that even $5.00 per hour workers wouldnt solve. This problem is coming from lack of skill, lack professionalism, and management that cannot get the job done. We walk over $20 to save a dime. AA is leasing engines to fly aircraft, AA is experiencing corrosion problems that could ground some of the fleet, Tulsa is lacking in skilled replacement workers and the attempts to train OSM's, and Building Cleaners to work to Regulated Standards is proving to be coslty and quite frankly scary to me. Not working! Not working! Not working! Cheaper Labor does not equal quality and viable maintenance programs.

Now, AMR rids itself of two of the biggest smoke blowers and hire an outsider with what appears to be decent credentials. So we should hope this is a new start and not a surrender to the idea of profits for maintenance.

Things that must change to succeed.

Better Management

Skilled Workers that are productive.

Accountablity across the board from management to union.

And a budget system with a philosophy that you must spend money to make money.

Currently to get replacement parts for scrapped engine components, my area has to wait for approval from 4 managements sources all the way to a level 6 in Dallas. When one of the 4 is out sick, vacation, or personal leave, we have to shut down production and wait for them to return. That is one small example of running a business like a hoarding bean counter that cost more time in production, resulting in lease of engines instead of flying our own. There are many, many, many more.

I say we give this guy a chance, spinning off maintenance may not be the end of the world if that is the intention. It could actually be the trigger that makes the changes needed to be the best we can be and survive this POS industry. At this point we really have nothing to FEAR but FEAR itself...

I am ready for both sides (union and management) to stop the pissing and moaning while blaming each other and get on with a program that will secure our future for real instead of a media frenzy that blows a bunch of smoke about how we are a great MRO capable of gaining profit from third party work when we really struggle daily just to manage and maintain our own fleet to federal standards. I hope Mr Ream is here to start in that direction rather than just here to "REAM" us out as many fear mongers have already concluded.