Outsourced repair for planes: safe?
The controversy has prompted two federal investigations and hearings on Capitol Hill.
from the June 26, 2007 edition
Page 2 of 3
In 1996, private and foreign companies did 37 percent of the work. Today, that number is up to 64 percent. While the FAA has no data to indicate how much of that outsourced work is done abroad, the inspector general of the Transportation Department concluded that it's a significant amount.
Moreover, these outsourced companies aren't just changing the oil, according to the inspector general of the Transportation Department. They're now undertaking crucial repairs on things like landing gear.
At these foreign repair stations, critics note, workers aren't required to go through periodic drug and alcohol testing, or to undergo background checks. And some foreign repair stations are in countries that have active terrorist cells, such as the Philippines and Indonesia.
Critics see another serious safety problem with foreign repair stations: They don't get surprise spot checks by the FAA, the way domestic shops do. Instead, the foreign facilities are given 60 to 90 days' notice before an FAA inspector shows up.
Then there's the issue of uncertified foreign stations, whose number is estimated to be three times greater than that of certified foreign repair shops. A loophole allows them to still do work on US planes, as long as one FAA-certified mechanic signs off on the work.
"Safety is definitely being compromised," says Robert Roach Jr. of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represents airline mechanics.
But the airlines, as well as FAA management, say that safety is not being compromised in any way. They note there hasn't been a major airline crash since November 2001, when American Airlines Flight 587 crashed in Queens, N.Y. They also note that the overall aviation accident rate continues to decline. Of those tragic few that do occur, they say, only 8 percent are maintenance-related.
"Safety is the constant, overriding imperative in our members' activities," said Basil Barimo of Air Transport Association, which represents major US carriers, during last week's hearing. "[The airlines] understand their responsibilities, and they act accordingly. The US airline industry's stellar – and improving – safety record demonstrates that indisputable commitment."
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