This is from another bulletin board, but thought the topic so disturbing and serious as to be passed on. I removed this F/A's name.
Terry
IDF
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2003 11:11 am
Subject: DISTURBING TREND AFOOT... MORALE AT ALL TIME LOW...
Dear Mr. Arpey:
As a 20 year veteran of American Airlines I am troubled by what I have
recently experienced at work. So troubled in fact, that I am contacting the
CEO of American Airlines to share my concerns.
There is a disturbing trend afoot Mr. Arpey, I'm very fearful for the future
of our company. Furthermore, for my own personal safety. It's no mystery
that the skies are becoming increasingly more hostile. Our preflight Captain's
briefing is evidence of that, but my recent close encounter with one of
American's Aircraft Mechanics left me wondering just what's going on here.
Aircraft #369 had been 'ferried' from SCL as a result of concerns with the
hydraulic system. I boarded the very same aircraft at DFW after it had
returned from SCL, the problem had not been fixed. We arrived in SJU where the is no 'overnight' maintenance (personnel in SJU are quick to point out that the
company has cut out all overnight pay authorization-hence no maintenance).
The aircraft was making unusual groaning noises upon landing in SJU, the
hydraulic pump was working double-time to compensate for the pump that was
inoperative. Sitting underneath the 'elevator' we could hear the struggle.
The landing in SJU was harder than normal.
The following morning we boarded the same aircraft and nothing had been done
to fix last evening's problems. The flight SJU-MIA is completed without
incident, except for the very hard landing in MIA. The same unusual noises
are heard. The aircraft, a 767 (very full and heavy) makes it's second consecutive
hard landing.
Upon leaving the aircraft to purchase sustenance (meals are no longer
provided for flight attendants) is when I encountered an American Airlines
Mechanic in the forward galley with the Aircraft Log Book in his hands. What follows defies logic at best, and at worst is irresponsible and dangerous.
I took it upon myself to mention the unusual noise the galley flight
attendant and myself had experienced on our aft jumpseats, mentioned the
aircraf seemed to have some problems, and asked maintenance (cordially/professionally) to see about them, as we were about to embark on a four and a half hour flight to LAX. His response was "Yeah, when they pay me more money, I'll get on that right away"... It was not the response I expected.
It left me with grave concerns for our personal safety. Furthermore, we are
lead to believe that this is the feeling amongst professional Aircraft
Mechanics.
Mr. Arpey, I'm not a squeamish type. I don't typically rattle that easy.
I've had my life threatened in flight before by a crazed and deranged Canadian,
but nothing has shaken me to bedrock quite like this. I'm writing you sir as
a means of informing you (if you weren't aware) that morale amongst the rank
and file is at an all-time low. The same type of low that saw Eastern
Airlines take it's last gasps. I'm writing you sir, and copying in my family
and friends, in the off chance that some horrible accident should befall an airplane I
happen to working on, I want someone to know about this.
It's troubling enough that we have to be concerned with terrorists from
abroad, but there's no excuse for this. There are a fair amount of disgruntled
employees out there that are being taxed to the limits of sanity. Understaffed
and overworked. Airplanes full and yet we can't get close to turning a profit.
It's a crying shame to see this once great airline reduced to what we have
become. And the ones we rely on most, are being flippant, and verbalizing
their distrust and displeasure with management by making comments (aloud) like the one I had to be subjected to.
I'm struggling to make sense of this Mr. Arpey. It's affecting my sleep, my
rest and my waking hours. I felt it incumbent upon me to share this with you.
Regretfully,
MN
Terry
IDF
Date: Tue Aug 19, 2003 11:11 am
Subject: DISTURBING TREND AFOOT... MORALE AT ALL TIME LOW...
Dear Mr. Arpey:
As a 20 year veteran of American Airlines I am troubled by what I have
recently experienced at work. So troubled in fact, that I am contacting the
CEO of American Airlines to share my concerns.
There is a disturbing trend afoot Mr. Arpey, I'm very fearful for the future
of our company. Furthermore, for my own personal safety. It's no mystery
that the skies are becoming increasingly more hostile. Our preflight Captain's
briefing is evidence of that, but my recent close encounter with one of
American's Aircraft Mechanics left me wondering just what's going on here.
Aircraft #369 had been 'ferried' from SCL as a result of concerns with the
hydraulic system. I boarded the very same aircraft at DFW after it had
returned from SCL, the problem had not been fixed. We arrived in SJU where the is no 'overnight' maintenance (personnel in SJU are quick to point out that the
company has cut out all overnight pay authorization-hence no maintenance).
The aircraft was making unusual groaning noises upon landing in SJU, the
hydraulic pump was working double-time to compensate for the pump that was
inoperative. Sitting underneath the 'elevator' we could hear the struggle.
The landing in SJU was harder than normal.
The following morning we boarded the same aircraft and nothing had been done
to fix last evening's problems. The flight SJU-MIA is completed without
incident, except for the very hard landing in MIA. The same unusual noises
are heard. The aircraft, a 767 (very full and heavy) makes it's second consecutive
hard landing.
Upon leaving the aircraft to purchase sustenance (meals are no longer
provided for flight attendants) is when I encountered an American Airlines
Mechanic in the forward galley with the Aircraft Log Book in his hands. What follows defies logic at best, and at worst is irresponsible and dangerous.
I took it upon myself to mention the unusual noise the galley flight
attendant and myself had experienced on our aft jumpseats, mentioned the
aircraf seemed to have some problems, and asked maintenance (cordially/professionally) to see about them, as we were about to embark on a four and a half hour flight to LAX. His response was "Yeah, when they pay me more money, I'll get on that right away"... It was not the response I expected.
It left me with grave concerns for our personal safety. Furthermore, we are
lead to believe that this is the feeling amongst professional Aircraft
Mechanics.
Mr. Arpey, I'm not a squeamish type. I don't typically rattle that easy.
I've had my life threatened in flight before by a crazed and deranged Canadian,
but nothing has shaken me to bedrock quite like this. I'm writing you sir as
a means of informing you (if you weren't aware) that morale amongst the rank
and file is at an all-time low. The same type of low that saw Eastern
Airlines take it's last gasps. I'm writing you sir, and copying in my family
and friends, in the off chance that some horrible accident should befall an airplane I
happen to working on, I want someone to know about this.
It's troubling enough that we have to be concerned with terrorists from
abroad, but there's no excuse for this. There are a fair amount of disgruntled
employees out there that are being taxed to the limits of sanity. Understaffed
and overworked. Airplanes full and yet we can't get close to turning a profit.
It's a crying shame to see this once great airline reduced to what we have
become. And the ones we rely on most, are being flippant, and verbalizing
their distrust and displeasure with management by making comments (aloud) like the one I had to be subjected to.
I'm struggling to make sense of this Mr. Arpey. It's affecting my sleep, my
rest and my waking hours. I felt it incumbent upon me to share this with you.
Regretfully,
MN
