planemad2
7th Apr 2006, 07:15
Second Qantas 747 being sent offshore
07apr06
Another Qantas heavy maintenance check on a 747 airliner is being sent offshore – this time to Hong Kong.
Qantas angered its workers last month with a decision to service one of its planes in Singapore while it winds down its Sydney maintenance base and moves it to Avalon in Victoria.
Only last week Qantas would not confirm if it would send more work offshore.
But today, the airline said a heavy maintenance check would be performed offshore next month by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO).
"We remain committed to our Australian heavy maintenance operations," Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said.
"The simple fact is, however, that we are in a transition period, moving our B747 maintenance from Sydney to Avalon."
A Qantas spokesman later said that in future all maintenance would be done in Avalon.
He refused to comment about whether the latest move would affect maintenance jobs in Australia.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) national secretary Doug Cameron said passenger safety would be put at risk by sending maintenance work offshore.
"The maintenance in Australia is the best maintenance in the world," Mr Cameron said.
"We believe their (offshore) maintenance is not the same quality."
Mr Cameron said Qantas was yet again trying to cut costs.
Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) president Michael O'Rance said Qantas had shown no sympathy for its workers.
"It's un-Australian," Mr O'Rance said.
"They're continually sending them (planes) overseas. We're extremely disappointed Qantas are showing no sympathy to workers." He said he did not believe Avalon would cope with the airline's maintenance demands due to inexperienced staff who had not worked on the B747-400s that were traditionally maintained in Sydney.
"I don't believe Avalon has the capacity to do all the work. They've got the space, but they haven't got the expertise," he said.
07apr06
Another Qantas heavy maintenance check on a 747 airliner is being sent offshore – this time to Hong Kong.
Qantas angered its workers last month with a decision to service one of its planes in Singapore while it winds down its Sydney maintenance base and moves it to Avalon in Victoria.
Only last week Qantas would not confirm if it would send more work offshore.
But today, the airline said a heavy maintenance check would be performed offshore next month by Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO).
"We remain committed to our Australian heavy maintenance operations," Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon said.
"The simple fact is, however, that we are in a transition period, moving our B747 maintenance from Sydney to Avalon."
A Qantas spokesman later said that in future all maintenance would be done in Avalon.
He refused to comment about whether the latest move would affect maintenance jobs in Australia.
Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) national secretary Doug Cameron said passenger safety would be put at risk by sending maintenance work offshore.
"The maintenance in Australia is the best maintenance in the world," Mr Cameron said.
"We believe their (offshore) maintenance is not the same quality."
Mr Cameron said Qantas was yet again trying to cut costs.
Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) president Michael O'Rance said Qantas had shown no sympathy for its workers.
"It's un-Australian," Mr O'Rance said.
"They're continually sending them (planes) overseas. We're extremely disappointed Qantas are showing no sympathy to workers." He said he did not believe Avalon would cope with the airline's maintenance demands due to inexperienced staff who had not worked on the B747-400s that were traditionally maintained in Sydney.
"I don't believe Avalon has the capacity to do all the work. They've got the space, but they haven't got the expertise," he said.