Ford Escort

[tripfree]

A little bird tells me that FLS are up to their old tricks again.At Gatwick not only have they "sacked" three quarters of their licenced staff,they now have "relocated" their Development Section giving the push to several more highly qualified bods.In Jobs Weekly they have the cheek to say they have three bases.I hope their customers are aware that Gatwick would probably have difficulty in even changing the oil in the wife's Ford Escort.

[Skytrucker87]

Any time that FLS is mentioned on PPRuNe, it seems to be mandatory to be derogatory. Just for the record, FLS does have a lot of very good points, a hell of a lot of really good people, we do have fun very frequently - yes, even the engineers (I have seen them laughing and heard them whistling) The problems that face FLS are by no means unique to FLS. The problems may be solved by restructuring, or take-over or merger or by changing management policies and/or teams but at the end of the day the company is about the People. Moan as much as you feel inclined to but be grateful for the friendship of your colleagues.

Skytrucker, Ch2. V. 35-60

[SchmiteGoBust]

There are a lot of good people working for FLS I will agree. However, from a customers point of view, they all appear to be on the shop floor. The rest of the departments seem to range from bad (i.e stores) to extremely bad (i.e. planning and customer support) to the completely and utterly ridiculously useless (i.e. CMG) even though this department appears to be profitable. If it wasn't for the techs on the floor running it nothing would ever leave the hangar!!!

[OpsMon]

Ah ! I remember it well !
The days when the Dublin FLS guys were known as the Former Loyal Servants (of Aer Lingus that is). Where did it all go pear shaped and who do we blame ? (answers on a postcard please), and Yes FLS have some great staff, but many have have been driven out or around the bend !

[unwrapping the aog]

Having read many many threads about FLS haven't once read anything bad about any FLS engineers, but yes the organisation itself has been slated.

Yes you are right FLS has many excellent engineers, from various backgrounds,Dan-Air, Aer Lingus, FFV etc. As Schmite says unfortunately most of these are now so de-moralised overworked and stressed out that perhaps now they are starting to to be tarred with the same brush as the other useless departments.
What FLS needs to do is get right back to basics. A team of highly skilled and dedicaticated engineers (which it still has, just!), A COUPLE of STOREMAN, PLANNERS, TECH RECORDS etc TO SUPPORT the ENGINEERS (not vice versa). This way aircraft will roll out of the hangars on time on budget as there will be no huge empires of non productive staffs wage bills to support.

It does not need Black Belt trainee Librarians (I kid you not) FLS TV, Formula one or its Olympic stadium!

[old-timer]

well said AOG,
it is so obvious to those in the know
what to do, why is so hard for the
'management' (thats a laugh, most couldnt manage their way out of a paper bag !)

SH said it would change ?
I dont see any at all,
except for more B.S. & politics,
which doesnt make any money...
I despair...

[jetfueldrinker]

Interesting to read this thread. The observation that I have made is that the problems that face good old FLS seem to be industry wide. No matter where you go in this industry, office staff seem to reign supreme, yet it is the blokes in overalls that service and maintain the aeroplanes. At the place that I work, Lowest Quote rules the day. Yet this is false economy. Some of the consumable tooling (ie No. 2 bits) can be bought very cheaply. Yet for a few pence more you can get the same product but it will last far longer. Try telling that to an Engineering Accountant!

[Skytrucker87]

Agree up to a point AOG but only up to a point. The notion that Engineers (yes with a capital letter because I still have engineering quals) can operate with only minimal support is rather naive. It is the lack lustre performance of the ancillaries which causes the problem, not their existence. It is very very simple to criticise any sector of the aviation community but the point of the criticism is dulled somewhat unless the critic knows what he or she is talking about. I totally agree that a lot of the money is generated by those souls at the end of the wrench but the much maligned CMG produce a considerable fortune by managing and loaning the very considerable component inventory owned by FLS. Just who is going to bring an aircraft to FLS unless someone sells the service? Who is going to pay the Engineers? Who is going to provision the spares? and ..(this is going to be unpopular..) who is going to teach the guys in the hangar to read an IPC?
Come on people - we all have an important role in this business. Let's all make sure that we perform to the very best of our ability and very importantly - lets get rid of the buzz word management and replace them with folks who actually know something about the industry

[SchmiteGoBust]

Nobody in the offices is qualified or even capable of teaching me how to use an IPC.I find that remark insulting to the extreme!!

[Skytrucker87]

Schmite,
Before you get your feathers too ruffled, you will note that I did not mention anyone by name. I generalised which is exactly what everybody else on this thread has done. Despite your protestations, not every engineer (or mechanic if you wish to be pedantic) is beyond reproach. Similarly I suggest you re-think your assertation that 'NOBODY ' in the offices could teach an engineer to read an IPC. There are many many people on the hangar floor who would never make a mistake whilst reading IPCs but I categorically assure you that there are also many many people there who absolutely cannot accurately sort out part numbers and transfer them to demands. Are you so sure that everybody in the offices is totally ignorant of engineering principles and practice? You are badly damaging your own case by such arrogance. Anybody who works in this Industry and considers themselves to be beyond reproach requires an object lesson in humility. My several decades of involvement has at least taught me that one should never underestimate the abilities of others. Schmite, I do not doubt your own abilities nor your integrity for an instant. Please do not underestimate the abilities of others.

[SchmiteGoBust]

Sky,
It certainly got you going though didn't it!!!!He He...

[Skytrucker87]

It sure did took the bait, hook line and sinker

:) :) :)

[mriya225]

Looks like we have a position open for an Escort mechanic owing to some overzealous trouble shooting which earned this git a Darwin Award...

NOMINEE No. 2: [Kalamazoo Gazette] James Burns, 34, (a mechanic) of Alamo, Mich., was killed in March as he was trying to repair what police describe as a "farm type truck." Burns got a friend to drive the truck on a highway while Burns hung underneath so that he could ascertain the source of a troubling noise. Burns' clothes caught on something, however, and the other man found Burns "wrapped in the drive shaft."


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Un diva très doué.