Emergency landing after row of seats comes loose
- Thread starter Super FLUF
- Start date
If one full row of seats came loose what is to make you think that no other rows are loose? Also that loose row of seats becomes a projectile in any turbulence. So yes an emergecy should be called.
We have had the same seats in the 757's for almost 20 years with no problem. Outsource the seat repitch to Timco in Boston and then the #### hits the fan as the company tries to blame their own mechanics. We even have to deliver and pick up that plane in Boston for the Timco repitch. Pay me know or pay me later.............................
Sabotage? Hell no!
Pilots? Hell no!
Outsourced scab maintnenance? Hell yes!!!!!
MCI transplant
Veteran
- Jun 4, 2003
- 5,311
- 584
- Banned
- #64
The problem may not be with the seats themself's, but with the seat tracks that they are secured to. The tracks corrode, and the corrostion can be ground off. There are limits to the amount metal that can be removed, and where on the track it is located, before the track has to be replaced. Which, may I add, can be a major, and time consuming job. ----- Maybe those limits need to be revaluated ?
You think Timco will reevaluate the limits? AA is in a outsourcing mindset.
MCI transplant
Veteran
- Jun 4, 2003
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Yes they are but this is not the way to do it.
AMFAinMIAMI
Veteran
This is a copy of letter sent to the TWU ATD.
Since the TWU has allowed the outsourcing of aircraft maintenance, Lets see how long it takes them to respond and defend the aircraft mechanics of AA.
10-1-12
Gary Drummond
ATD Director
Transport Workers Union AFL-CIO
RE: Request to TWU Media Communication
To Clarify TIMCO Responsible for "Shoddy"
Maintenance on 757 Seats on Recent AA
Flights and Not TWU-Represented AMTs
Gary:
I am making a formal request to you that the TWU International Media Communication send out an immediate communiqué to all its related media contacts clarifying the recent incidents involving the 757 seat track row of seats becoming unseated were the direct result of contract maintenance performed by TIMCO, an outsourced maintenance facility, and not that of TWU-represented American Airlines Maintenance Technicians.
As aircraft maintenance technicians represented by the TWU, we take with extreme exception any media reference that incorrectly attributes the recent 757 seat debacle with American Airlines maintenance personnel.
I wish to have the TWU Media Communication address this matter post-haste!
Fraternally,
TWU Local 564 AFL-CIO
CC: 564 E-Board, Gless, Videtich,
Bloodhound
Member
- Jan 25, 2012
- 33
- 30
Watching a live feed from Fox News at BOS. They're removing seats from AA 75's and putting them into TIMCO vehicles!!!
Most airlines have an AE licensed mechanic who works in with various outsourced facilities. Here at SWA we have a posting all the time for an OPENING at TIMCO.
rifbound
Member
- Feb 2, 2012
- 91
- 35
You got that right! It makes me sick to say I work here. Where are those TWU supporters now? Maybe just maybe they'll get the point now. I'm not holding my breath though.
Both the Int'l and Local 514 have put out legitimate statements. If you would take a break from this blog you might find out what's going on on the real world!
October 2, 2012
For Immediate Release
Attention aviation, business, labor and Dallas-based reporters and editors
UPDATED Statement by Robert Gless
Deputy Director, Air Transport Division
Transport Workers Union of America on
Investigation of Loose Seats on American Airlines Flights
The Transport Workers Union of America, which represents aircraft mechanics and other maintenance workers at American Airlines, has launched an investigation into problems related to loose seats on recent flights.
Much of the work related to seat installation on American Airlines’ aircraft has been done by an outside firm, TIMCO, rather than by maintenance personnel employed by the airline.
Statements by some in the media and by self-appointed ‘experts’ linking the seat problem to labor issues are without any basis in fact. The facts are TWU has ratified agreements with the airline in recent weeks for all its members. Problems related to seats are less likely a labor problem, but rather a management issue related to outsourcing work to third-party facilities.
The use of outsourced maintenance is increasing. American Airlines has announced their intention to increase the use of third-part facilities, especially ones located in China and other overseas locations as part of their plan to exit bankruptcy.
Historically, American Airlines and TWU led the industry in maintaining work in house. This was to the benefit of the company, its workers, and the flying public. This incident clearly reveals that AMR’s plans to replicate some of the worst practices of its competitors by expanding outsourcing are short-sighted and not in its or its customers’ interests.
Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) represents 200,000 workers and retirees, primarily in commercial aviation, public transportation and passenger railroads, including 26,000 workers at AMR. TWU represents more workers at AMR than any other labor organization. The union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 2, 2012
TWU Local 514 Blasts American for Outsourcing Seat Work
A TWU protest of the outsourcing is pending in arbitration
(TULSA, Okla.) — Transport Workers Union Local 514 leadership in Tulsa on Tuesday blasted American Airlines for outsourcing work on B757s aircraft that have recently had passenger seats come loose during flight, a problem that TWU Aircraft Maintenance Technicians have never allowed to happen. TIMCO Aviation Services most recently installed the aircraft
"It's disappointing that the company chooses to point fingers instead of addressing the real issue: is this an outsourced maintenance problem? Our only relief is that nobody was hurt as a result of this," said John Hewitt, chairman of maintenance for Transport Workers Union Local 514. "This is exactly why we fight so fiercely to keep work in-house here in Tulsa so that it can be performed by highly-trained individuals."
In news reports, American Airlines officials said that American Airlines employees were the last to touch the seats, which is a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
"Our workers were the last to touch the seats only in the sense that after the seats came loose we were dispatched to inspect the problem when the planes were grounded," said Hewitt. "For the company to infer that TWU maintenance workers had a hand in sloppy workmanship is simply wrong. Now our members here in Tulsa will be correcting this problem as we have on numerous other occasions when outsourced work was not completed properly."
TWU Local 514 protested the outsourcing of work to TIMCO, which came about in the run up to bankruptcy. TWU firmly believes that it is poor business practice to outsource aircraft maintenance because it often leads to additional problems. The Transport Workers Union position has always been that while there may be a cost associated with maintaining American Airlines aircraft in-house, TWU workers are focused on the quality of the work they performed. The Transport Workers Union is on record with the DOT and the FAA with concerns about the oversight and qualification standards at contract maintenance facilities around the world.
