Scullcap……
Agree with your views relating for the need for quality people, we need them on both sides of the rotary fence. Over zealous ownership, poor management qualities (in some cases, not all) and an over regulated industry is chasing those quality people away from aviation. As well there is nothing to really attracted new blood into the industry.
FYI only........the last company I worked for paid it’s final year apprentice about $2500.00 @ month, he was in the stages of writing all of the exams. In addition to the $2500.00 a month they offered him an Astar course in Montreal. However, had him commit to a two contract to re-pay for the course if he departed the company for more $$ after his training within the two yr period, prorated of course. We had one guy that was ready to write and he packed it in and went into a different line of work for some of the reasons outlined in this part of the forum. Just out of the blue....I quit and he departed.
It’s a tough industry to belong to, uncompromising management and owners, the regulations structure, long hours, lack of quality pay and incentive and AME’s are required to continue to sign that “maintenance release†knowing in some instances they should not be. Why? Because there is not much else to choose from these days and some of these people have families to look after.
That was a part of my job that I enjoyed as Q/A, I supported the AME's, apprentices and pilots with their regulatory issuses or safety of flight concerns that management would otherwise elect to ignor. I had no problems what so ever walking into the front office with the MCM/MPM/Ops manual and what ever regulatory information I needed to support the guys in the hanger and in the field. In most cases I won the battle, managed to protect the Pilot, AME, ACA and AMO......it gave me personal satisfaction to know the guys were covered and when they needed help I managed to find a way to get it to them. The small battles that were lost were comprised on, however at all times we remained legal and so did the aircraft flight authority. The big boys managed to get their pound of flesh from me from time to time.........that did not matter to me. The crews did matter.
The corporate world isn’t much better with its better, cheaper and faster philosophy. Outsourcing is the flavour of the past and present decade and the demands on the employee to develop value added and revenue generation strategies to promote fiscal responsibility towards shareholder value for the company was very high. Even when the belt notch is at its last hole one must try to find another notch to tighten even more. However, when there is a change in upper management or the CEO they are the ones that benefited with the huge lucrative packages, nothing substantial to benefit the bottom feeders that contributed more so to the bottom line after sitting on the bubble year in and year out.
Just one guys humble opinion………
hbd
:elvis:
