2015 AMT Discussion

[skinvalve]

LUS AMT's working the line do not get line pay. Regular, license, and shift differential is all.

 

[La Li Lu Le Lo]

I do agree 100% that we are a lean workforce and in some places too lean. Not saying that it's ok, but SWA has always ran a lean workforce.

That is because SWA do not sacrifice compensation for jobs.
 
The WORKERS make good money instead of giving the company a large, cheap workforce all in the name of padding UNION bosses' pockets. 

 

[Flying low]

They make the same money, except the hangar doesnt get line pay and they all have days, afternoons and midnights, but the hangar is usually closed on Holidays, and the line is open.

  

LUS AMT's working the line do not get line pay. Regular, license, and shift differential is all.

So, who's correct? The way 700 types, hanger and line make the same except hanger doesn't get line pay. To me that sounds like LUS line mechanics get line pay. Yet, skinvalve claims the line mechanics get no line pay.

 

[paul1]

Hey Duke I am based in ORD they have only 40 guys in avionics here. They are always short on all shifts. I recently transferred back to ORD. Big mistake! Any way that's  another story! I asked to go into avionics, but was told by the stations manager, usair guys from above do not want any more guys in avionics. Then he went on to talk about some ratio of avionics to regular line guys. Well I do not know what the ratio is. But I do know there is over 90 in DFW over 70 in LAX and over 70 in MIA avionics guys, so I am not sure what ratio he is talking about.
 
Usair was hiring avionics guys in PHX for the line recently!
 
They are running guys here through a electric maint. class. to get them up to speed on avionics. Showing them how to crimp a wire and pin a cannon plug lol. Like that's going to make them avionics! There is a lot more to it than that!
 
I am sure when I get to work later I will have a major job like making sure cabin services brings me the right seat cover! Thank goodness for a/c engineering drawing for each a/c!

 

[Duke787]

Hey Duke I am based in ORD they have only 40 guys in avionics here. They are always short on all shifts. I recently transferred back to ORD. Big mistake! Any way that's  another story! I asked to go into avionics, but was told by the stations manager, usair guys from above do not want any more guys in avionics. Then he went on to talk about some ratio of avionics to regular line guys. Well I do not know what the ratio is. But I do know there is over 90 in DFW over 70 in LAX and over 70 in MIA avionics guys, so I am not sure what ratio he is talking about.
 
Usair was hiring avionics guys in PHX for the line recently!
 
They are running guys here through a electric maint. class. to get them up to speed on avionics. Showing them how to crimp a wire and pin a cannon plug lol. Like that's going to make them avionics! There is a lot more to it than that!
 
I am sure when I get to work later I will have a major job like making sure cabin services brings me the right seat cover! Thank goodness for a/c engineering drawing for each a/c!

Thanks Paul1, it sounds like the leaders of Aircraft maintenance don't have a clue what they're doing. They talk about on time departure but yet don't provide resources for mechanics to do the job. 27k FA's on their second generation of tablets, 14k pilots on their second generation tablets. Mechanics, some have tablets some don't. Even as something as simple as a work stand at each gate is too much to ask for. We have about 30 mechs for 60 gates on any given day. That's probably why they don't have a mechanic meeting every plane and staying with that plane until it pushes off the gate.

Instead of blaming the mechanics for doing a slow down, how about providing the resources to do the job. Getting back to avionics, to people that have never worked avionics, avionics is nothing more then replacing a box. It would be refreshing to get an executive of aircraft maintenance who actually knows something of aircraft maintenance. AA's chief pilot IS a pilot. Hector the head of flight service WAS a FA. And guess what, their respective work groups have gotten contracts and are provided the resources to do the job.

 

[700UW]

PMUS doesn't get line pay, skinvalve is correct.

 

[bigjets]

Thanks Paul1, it sounds like the leaders of Aircraft maintenance don't have a clue what they're doing. They talk about on time departure but yet don't provide resources for mechanics to do the job. 27k FA's on their second generation of tablets, 14k pilots on their second generation tablets. Mechanics, some have tablets some don't. Even as something as simple as a work stand at each gate is too much to ask for. We have about 30 mechs for 60 gates on any given day. That's probably why they don't have a mechanic meeting every plane and staying with that plane until it pushes off the gate.
Instead of blaming the mechanics for doing a slow down, how about providing the resources to do the job. Getting back to avionics, to people that have never worked avionics, avionics is nothing more then replacing a box. It would be refreshing to get an executive of aircraft maintenance who actually knows something of aircraft maintenance. AA's chief pilot IS a pilot. Hector the head of flight service WAS a FA. And guess what, their respective work groups have gotten contracts and are provided the resources to do the job.

Let's look at what duke is complaining about, not given resources to do job. Mechanics don't do work actions like flight crews, sick outs, strikes, having to be bribed to show up on holidays. But yet the flight crews are treated like gold where mechanics are treated as second class citizens.

Example: FAs given another 6% raise ahead of schedule because UAL taking to long to negotiate contract with its FAs. AWESOME !!!!!!!!

Mechanics NOT given a 4% raise when the rest of employees received one, because we don't have a contract. NOT AWESOME!!!!

Once the company realizes we are not working on 5 year old Fords, but on 15 year old Boeings maybe they will show us some respect.

It would be nice if the head of maintenance let's the flight crews know that if their 767 with 150k hours on it, takes a 30 min delay for a PILOT write up, you're doing pretty good.

 

[2ndGENAMT]

Thanks Paul1, it sounds like the leaders of Aircraft maintenance don't have a clue what they're doing. They talk about on time departure but yet don't provide resources for mechanics to do the job. 27k FA's on their second generation of tablets, 14k pilots on their second generation tablets. Mechanics, some have tablets some don't. Even as something as simple as a work stand at each gate is too much to ask for. We have about 30 mechs for 60 gates on any given day. That's probably why they don't have a mechanic meeting every plane and staying with that pulane until it pushes off the gate.
Instead of blaming the mechanics for doing a slow down, how about providing the resources to do the job. Getting back to avionics, to people that have never worked avionics, avionics is nothing more then replacing a box. It would be refreshing to get an executive of aircraft maintenance who actually knows something of aircraft maintenance. AA's chief pilot IS a pilot. Hector the head of flight service WAS a FA. And guess what, their respective work groups have gotten contracts and are provided the resources to do the job.

Come on Duke, Avionics is nothing more than changing a box? Possibly, but a module change can come with some lengthy tests and possibly Pitot/Static leak checks. I worked base Avionics for about 5 years and was getting pretty good but was no comparison to some of the real deal Coneheads. In my observations the best Coneheads were trained by the U.S. Navy!
Not busting your chops but a good Avionics man is hard to beat, unless you need a hole drilled..
Cheers!

 

[1AA]

After you change a box you have to verify you have the correct up to date software for that aircraft effectivity. If you think that it's just about a box then load the wrong software and see what happens.
When looking up software you will run into several versions listed, then you have to further research to find the correct one for your aircraft tail number. Search through ECO's and verify. Yea just a box swap, that's funny.

 

[MetalMover]

 Getting back to avionics, to people that have never worked avionics, avionics is nothing more then replacing a box. 

Really? That's all there is to it? No miles and miles of wire to trace should an open or a short exist?

 

[Kev3188]

I don't think that what he's trying to say.

At the risk of putting words in Duke's mouth, try reading it like this:

"To people that have never worked avionics, it may seem like nothing more than replacing a box."

Seems like a good time to remind everyone that /all/ work has value. It's not just smashing bags, slinging cokes, or replacing a box...

 

[Duke787]

I don't think that what he's trying to say.
At the risk of putting words in Duke's mouth, try reading it like this:
"To people that have never worked avionics, it may seem like nothing more than replacing a box."
Seems like a good time to remind everyone that /all/ work has value. It's not just smashing bags, slinging cokes, or replacing a box...

Thx for clearing that up for me.

A good analogy for everything Maint does. Wether it be engine, sheet metal, composite. Etc

You wouldn't go to a general practitioner doctor for brain surgery.

 

[CactUS4Ever]

i guess you never worked an Embraer 190 where theres no boxes and have to target load every card or display unit that is being replaced. We actually accomplish mods for some cards. Id like to see an everyday A&P do that...

 

[700UW]

They do at line stations where there are no avionics staffed.

 

[1AA]

They do at line stations where there are no avionics staffed.

And you know this first hand by experience?
Times have changed and technology has changed since the wide use of 387 bulbs. Avionics has gotten more complicated in order to be more reliable in the data it transmits and receives. The days of changing relays and analog sensors are dwindling down. Avionics has become more challenging and not many AMT'S can singly focus on this technology and be proficient in all areas let alone multiple fleets.