Karratha to get a Qantas Engineering Base

[pilotdude09]

Qantas is going to be installing a donga at KTA to base some engineering and MX and this is just the start they want it to become something significant.

Wait for it, the plan is to eventually look at hangar space!! :}

The blokes to be based here will be working on 737, 767 and A320's

So I guess we could maybe see JQ do Asian destinations or something? and there was a rumor going around there was going to be a 767 coming in here for trials but dunno how true that is.

Not rumors either all come from the local shire council meeting yesterday where the above was approved.

Hopefully it works out, must be planning some sort of further expansion to KTA.......but at least when things go pear shaped it's not going to be a 3-4hr delay waiting for an engineer to get here!

[BP2197]

Sounds great! What is the accomodation like up there? It needs to have white bed sheets.

[Going Nowhere]

So while they're not shutting down MX facilities on the East Coast to save money, they want to open a facility in quite possibly the dearest place in Australia? :ugh:

[LAME2]

Heard Dick Hayes is to be the Engineer in Charge.

[UPPERLOBE]

And will he have 457 engineers working for him? :}

[the_company_spy]

I heard on the grape vine that Slicker is coming back as ops manager KTA.

[howyoulikethat]

There goes Gordy's AOG Crack Rescue Team........just when we had finished polishing our tools and where on red hot standby!
Standown fella's......maybe next EBA.:{

[UPPERLOBE]

I think this thread is the first hint of a whole new game at play.

These 457 visa's have been around for a while and were by and large limited to fruit pickers, some building trades then nursing etc, but now it looks like being the latest way to reduce costs and at the same time say they had no choice because local talent is not available.

If this thread is true are we about to see major outsourcing occur on home soil and right under our noses?

Retail labour crisis looms in Queensland amid mining boom | News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au/business/retail-labour-crisis-looms/story-e6frfm1i-1226203163090)

Did laugh at this quote though...

"A McDonald's spokesman yesterday confirmed shortages in Queensland. KFC said while it did not engage fly-in, fly-out workers in Queensland, it did use overseas workers on 457 visas in management positions". :E

[ga_trojan]

457 Visa or not they will still have to live somewhere. Only in Aviation would there be a company stupid enough to move a maintenance base to a town where there is difficulty getting accommodation and ridiculous living costs.

Do you think Rio/Woodside/BHP base people up there by choice?

On saying all that I wouldn't be surprised if this is the first move to try and get away from Perth Airport. If they isolate Perth Int'l to just a backwater regional airport and expand KTA and PHE with 767's doing direct everywhere it might be a good plan.

Good opportunity for the KTA airport and council to setup a nice little hub airport for themselves if they do it properly. Any news on a terminal expansion? A Customs hall by any chance? It's pretty obvious that Perth Int'l have no interest in running a decent facility.

[aveng]

Maintenance base now named "Club Buggery" after its founder. 'Can do' attitude required and be willing to sign out of catagory when required. Don't know about stopping delays when it is "Lame on demand" and he wont be hanging around the airport.:ugh:

[Tankengine]

Rent on a fairly ordinary house in Port Hedland is $2500PW and Karratha cannot be far off?:ugh:

[topend3]

but at least when things go pear shaped it's not going to be a 3-4hr delay waiting for an engineer to get here!

been looked at for a while....now it will be just a 3-4 hr wait to get the right part there :ok:

[happy clapper]

Well Big Dick,
Maybe you can get your old pal Harris over to help you out,
Then there would be two Wa**ers who wouldn't know what to do with a spanner,If a line job in the KTA is what your career has finally got you,what with all the crap you tried to dish out last EBA,well hope you enjoy it.:D
Maybe you could get some tips from IASA on how to treat employees,although you have been through the Qantas school of buggery.:ugh:

[Cargo744]

Is SP moving to Karraffa??