This is a MAJOR concern of mine about the whole outsourcing issue, stay with me for a moment on this one.
First of all I have been an aircraft mechanic for 28 years, 15 with U until I was laid off, so I do know from where I speak.
When I interviewed for the job, I was with another mechanic interviewing for employment. The interviewer asked us how we would go about a certain type of repair. The other mechanic said he could do it both ways. the interviewer asked, both ways?? He answered yep, I can do it fast, or I can do it right, your choice!! THAT IS THE CORE ISSUE IN MY OPINION!!!
When doing many repairs, it is easy to skip steps to kick the product out, and still make it look good, example, do you just use a twist drill for a close tolerance fastener installation or do you use a reamer for that needed close tolerance fit?? It makes a differance for the fasteners ability to be at its max strength!! One way is fast and one way is right... When inspecting parts such as bearings, many times it is a judgement call. If the wear is close to being out of limits what to do. That bearing might not be looked at again for a few years, but it is b***ch to chance and might hold up the flow of the plane in it's overhaul timeframe. If the time issue is brought into the equation, well you know the answer.
All aircraft have a certain amount of redundacy built into them for safty. Every time a step is passed, A questionable part is not replaced, that reduncy is reduced, maybe just a bit, but reduced none the less. How many small things passed over for the sake of time and cost, does it take for a major failure?? I don't know BUT I don't want to find out, do you???
Can I give you facts?? Probably not, just my years in the industry including years in overhaul of 737 and c checks of airbusses. After seeing first hand the corrosion found under the lavs if the busses during the cockpit door mods, and the delays in replacement parts from airbus, I have no doubt how mobil is handling some of the corrosion. Grind, prime and go!! Is it legal, mostly, enough metal remains to be within limits, but that part will then need to be replaced in 1 or 2 years in c-check taking a 2 day delay, instead of the next overhaul in 5 years. Save a dime, spend a dollar. Ask A O G it about getting parts from Airbus in a timely maner. And again that reduncy safty facter being compromised
On the surface, Mobil might be able, on paper, show they can do the overhaul cheaper than us according to some beancounters, but when you add up ALL the factors, all the time wasted repairing or replacing parts that should have been addresed in overhaul, the savings swings the other way.
Just my opinion , but I have no doubt about how its being done, I have been around the block to many times to have the wool pulled over my eyes on this one!!!