We've heard all the excuses before about putting LAMEs where they are needed most - fixing defects - but that won't occur if the defects aren't found which we suspect is the plan by Virgin. Why would we have such thoughts? Firstly because all airlines are about making money and despite what they say about safety before schedule, money always comes first.
Our suspicions are confirmed in the training document course ref
VB 214-009/09 recently handed to the Engineers. Page two explains why the Engineering pre-flight is being removed and it is because it is
"happening too late in the morning to enable time to rectify any work arising".
So now the check is renamed, it happens at the same time in the morning, but rather than have a highly qualified and experienced LAME carry out the check, an unlicenced approved person will do it after they have completed a 4 hour course.
Our union is not in the business of assisting Virgin to pull the wool over the publics eyes. We will make this a public issue and rightfully so.
To have a LAME carry out an Engineering pre-flight before every single flight would cost less then $1 per ticket. Now, to take him off the first flight of the day, Virgin are saving about 5 cents per ticket.