"dont trust maintenace outfits" is the quote from negative g ,my inital reaction to this statment was the guy is talking cr*p but after a cup of tea and a think i can see how he got this attitude.
Some time back i was asked to do the annual check on an aircraft that had been looked after by a very small outfit with a reputation for being cheap , of the 30 or so AD,s AND SB,s required by law to be actioned none were done or had been done at the required time a number of these checks invoved flying controls and other saftey critical items.
Having done all the checks and compleated the annual the owner was sent a bill IRO £3500 ,he exploded at us accusing us of ripping him off and of making unnessesary work and that an annual check should only cost £700.
It will not suprize you all to know that next year he returned to the man who would just wipe an oily cloth across his aircraft.
Not long ago the the man,s aircraft was subject to a saftey critical flight control AD i just wonder if it will ever get looked at and if it ever bothers him when he is flying but i supose that he thinks that he has a good deal with his £700 annual.
I am now retaind by a group with 3 aircraft to look over the maintenance bills and oversee some of the bigger jobs such as repaints and engine changes and of all the reputable maintenance companys they have used i have not had reason to despute more than a few hours work and some of the spare parts prices.
All told the aircraft engineering in the UK is not a rip off and works to a high standard ,the only person that most owners need protection from is them self,s
The bottom line is you get what you pay for and with the cost of work in the southern UK at around £35 per hour i think the aircraft owner is getting a good deal , perhaps some one can tell me what the hourly rate is at the local BMW dealers.
[This message has been edited by A and C (edited 23 January 2001).]
[This message has been edited by A and C (edited 23 January 2001).]