Food for thought when you outsource your maintenance
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Food for thought when you outsource your maintenance
How could anybody in their right mind expect a B747 to be turned around in a couple of hours after coming in as a ferry flight from Singapore where it spent the last month or so having a "supposed" D Check carried out.
This was the situation with VH-OJQ this afternoon. It came in with the following defects:
Techlog Incoming Defects SIN-SYD:
- APU oil qty dropped below 0.25 - 7 qts oil uplifted upon arrival - found major oil leak at oil supply line.
- #4 Eng NAI valve failed to close.
- Unable to receive on both HF Radios.
- "No Land 3" EICAS msg.
- Fuel Xfer valve Main 1 to Main 2 did not close when commanded.
- Door Chime 1L Inop - Found wiring disconnected.
- Numerous cockpit panel discrete lights Inop.
- Flt Deck toilet door unable to engage/lock.
- Crew rest curtain not fitted.
HOLD ITEMS OUT OF SIN:
- # 8 Spoiler PCU SQ loan item.
- FCC-C SQ loan item.
- Cabin Pressure Controller A SQ loan item.
- No VHF link on ACARS.
- #2 Eng NAI valve BA loan item.
- ELT deactivated.
- #2 Eng cold stream acoustic panel detached on 3 sides - temp repair.
- Capt's panel flood light low intensity.
DEFECTS FOUND DURING ATTEMPTED TRANSIT:
- #1 Eng oil leak - IDG drive pad.
- CSM Sta cabin temp control panel found with cannon plug disconnected.
- No water flow in U/Deck galley.
Suffice to say another A/C that was scheduled for a stayover had to be turned around and OJQ towed over to the hangars to get it up to speed.
This was the situation with VH-OJQ this afternoon. It came in with the following defects:
Techlog Incoming Defects SIN-SYD:
- APU oil qty dropped below 0.25 - 7 qts oil uplifted upon arrival - found major oil leak at oil supply line.
- #4 Eng NAI valve failed to close.
- Unable to receive on both HF Radios.
- "No Land 3" EICAS msg.
- Fuel Xfer valve Main 1 to Main 2 did not close when commanded.
- Door Chime 1L Inop - Found wiring disconnected.
- Numerous cockpit panel discrete lights Inop.
- Flt Deck toilet door unable to engage/lock.
- Crew rest curtain not fitted.
HOLD ITEMS OUT OF SIN:
- # 8 Spoiler PCU SQ loan item.
- FCC-C SQ loan item.
- Cabin Pressure Controller A SQ loan item.
- No VHF link on ACARS.
- #2 Eng NAI valve BA loan item.
- ELT deactivated.
- #2 Eng cold stream acoustic panel detached on 3 sides - temp repair.
- Capt's panel flood light low intensity.
DEFECTS FOUND DURING ATTEMPTED TRANSIT:
- #1 Eng oil leak - IDG drive pad.
- CSM Sta cabin temp control panel found with cannon plug disconnected.
- No water flow in U/Deck galley.
Suffice to say another A/C that was scheduled for a stayover had to be turned around and OJQ towed over to the hangars to get it up to speed.
Join Date: May 2005
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What The!!!!!!!!!
Not being faniliar with all items listed, but what F#@& was that doing leaving a maint. shop in the first place.
Who were the poor suckers flying it back here.....next time take the whole senior management on a JUNKET trip and shortly before you TKOF clearence is issued hand the the defect list
.............see what they think of that.
I am starting to think my little 4 seat plastic plane is maintained to a higher standard...........oh yeah...myself and an ex QF 744 captain do the work.....its gotta be better.
J
Who were the poor suckers flying it back here.....next time take the whole senior management on a JUNKET trip and shortly before you TKOF clearence is issued hand the the defect list
.............see what they think of that. I am starting to think my little 4 seat plastic plane is maintained to a higher standard...........oh yeah...myself and an ex QF 744 captain do the work.....its gotta be better.
J
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L.M.A.O.
Within minutes...my prayers were answered.
Arrange a few more, preferably long delays and ugly diversions
J
Within minutes...my prayers were answered.
Arrange a few more, preferably long delays and ugly diversions
J
Last edited by J430; 13th Oct 2006 at 11:43. Reason: size
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U don't even get what you pay for going down this track! 
How may times does it take before each new set of beancounters get the message??
BUT, as someone once said; they're cheap!
G'day
How may times does it take before each new set of beancounters get the message??
BUT, as someone once said; they're cheap!
G'day
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being one of those EX QF engineers, i dont know whether to laugh or cry.
sadly the list of defects will be overlook as all involved (beancounters) only bask in the glory of having the maintainence done at the lowest ever prices.
do it cheap now, let the next lot worry about it later.
sadly the list of defects will be overlook as all involved (beancounters) only bask in the glory of having the maintainence done at the lowest ever prices.
do it cheap now, let the next lot worry about it later.
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Sounds like the beancounters are starting to see the fruit of their labours. Never mind, put it all down to risk management.
Sounds like he is a true nimby, although "The Three Stooges" have all shown shown their true colours when a maintenance issue dares to interrupt their jollies.
Sounds like he is a true nimby, although "The Three Stooges" have all shown shown their true colours when a maintenance issue dares to interrupt their jollies.
Last edited by UPPERLOBE; 26th Jun 2008 at 07:23.
This is all going to end in tears.
By the way, are you aware that QF have just sold its spares inventory to an outsourcer?
The concept of the "virtual company" where everything is outsourced, sounds good on paper. All the Board does is sit in its boardroom and sip champagne. The aircraft are outsourced to an "aircraft provider" the crews to a "crew provider", marketing to an advertising agency,............you get my drift.
The trouble with this idea is that each time you outsource something you lose a little chunk of value added. Taking the outsourcing case to the extreme - where your virtual company has no employees - just owners and a Board, the question has to be asked, what value are you adding to the business? And the answer is actually zero.
In addition, unless the market into which you are outsourcing is highly competitive, you risk being royally screwed at a later date. then of course their is the possibility of your business being disrupted through supply chain failure.
If Qantas continues to outsource, there is no reason to protect it anymore as an Australian Icon or strategic asset. In fact our strategic interests, as well as the public interest, would be better served by an open skies policy to maximise the supply of airtravel opportunities as well as consumer choice.
To put it another way, being tied to Qantas the "outsourced" airline, the Australian public can be held to ransom by Chinese suppliers.
By the way, are you aware that QF have just sold its spares inventory to an outsourcer?
The concept of the "virtual company" where everything is outsourced, sounds good on paper. All the Board does is sit in its boardroom and sip champagne. The aircraft are outsourced to an "aircraft provider" the crews to a "crew provider", marketing to an advertising agency,............you get my drift.
The trouble with this idea is that each time you outsource something you lose a little chunk of value added. Taking the outsourcing case to the extreme - where your virtual company has no employees - just owners and a Board, the question has to be asked, what value are you adding to the business? And the answer is actually zero.
In addition, unless the market into which you are outsourcing is highly competitive, you risk being royally screwed at a later date. then of course their is the possibility of your business being disrupted through supply chain failure.
If Qantas continues to outsource, there is no reason to protect it anymore as an Australian Icon or strategic asset. In fact our strategic interests, as well as the public interest, would be better served by an open skies policy to maximise the supply of airtravel opportunities as well as consumer choice.
To put it another way, being tied to Qantas the "outsourced" airline, the Australian public can be held to ransom by Chinese suppliers.
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i have never understood why QF , and many otehr airlines and companies are in such a rush to hand over control of their greatest costs to another party? and risk being held to ransom by another companies balance sheet/ unions etc
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now here is the best bit about this aircraft OJQ,RUMOR HAS IT ,it had a 55 hr structual inspection done in 8hrs overnight while on this check,1 person carried out the structual inspections on 4 pax doors,the wet area of the floor in E zone( TOILET AREA AT THE BACK OF THE AIRCRAFT),and the pressure deck in D zone(structure between the cabin and the landing gear wheel well),and the grand total of 1 defect was raised,this was of coarse done overnight when there was no QF rep around,bearing in mind that the nexted time these areas will be looked at will be 6 yrs,and this current check was not too flash,that will be 12 yrs before this area has a decent inspection.That's if it is done proerly the nexted time.I should think it will only be a matter of time before the QF board buy themselves a corporate jet to get around,this is just too much of a risk flying on our aircraft.
Last edited by QF MAINT OUTSOURCED; 16th Oct 2006 at 00:59.
I'm sure the ABC would be interested to hear. 4 Corners did a show on QF outsourcing years ago talking about the loss of aprentices, loss of company knowledge and skills for short term gain etc etc.
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I'm going to be a dunce for a moment and ask the following questions:
1) What's Techlog Incoming Defects SIN-SYD
2) What's a "Hold Item"
3) What's "Defects Found During Attempted Transit", specifically "Attempted Transit"
4) What's a "Loan Item" and why are there "Loan items"
5) It's ST Aero I think that does the MX for Qantas isn't it?
Feel free to be condescending.
I take it this was the one B747 that was outsourced a bit after the latest job cuts and had to be justified by QF's engineering guy who came out and said that this was just a temporary measure and that there was nothing to worry about (in terms of jobs obviously)
1) What's Techlog Incoming Defects SIN-SYD
2) What's a "Hold Item"
3) What's "Defects Found During Attempted Transit", specifically "Attempted Transit"
4) What's a "Loan Item" and why are there "Loan items"
5) It's ST Aero I think that does the MX for Qantas isn't it?
Feel free to be condescending.
I take it this was the one B747 that was outsourced a bit after the latest job cuts and had to be justified by QF's engineering guy who came out and said that this was just a temporary measure and that there was nothing to worry about (in terms of jobs obviously)
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1) What's Techlog Incoming Defects SIN-SYD
2) What's a "Hold Item"
3) What's "Defects Found During Attempted Transit", specifically "Attempted Transit"
4) What's a "Loan Item" and why are there "Loan items"
5) It's ST Aero I think that does the MX for Qantas isn't it?
To answer you briefly without going too far into things,
1. Defects added to the a/c's tech log by the crew on the SIN - SYD sector.
2. A defect which can continue until ground time permits rectification or spares become available or MEL expires, etc.
3. During the transit check routine these defects were found.
3.5 Attempted transit means this aircraft was replaced by a "serviceable" a/c.
4. To limit spares holdings on station airlines pool spares and borrow from the pool, or in this case spares borrowed from the maintenance provider in order to despatch the aircraft.
5. Singapores maintenance/engineering company.
Hope this helps.
2) What's a "Hold Item"
3) What's "Defects Found During Attempted Transit", specifically "Attempted Transit"
4) What's a "Loan Item" and why are there "Loan items"
5) It's ST Aero I think that does the MX for Qantas isn't it?
To answer you briefly without going too far into things,
1. Defects added to the a/c's tech log by the crew on the SIN - SYD sector.
2. A defect which can continue until ground time permits rectification or spares become available or MEL expires, etc.
3. During the transit check routine these defects were found.
3.5 Attempted transit means this aircraft was replaced by a "serviceable" a/c.
4. To limit spares holdings on station airlines pool spares and borrow from the pool, or in this case spares borrowed from the maintenance provider in order to despatch the aircraft.
5. Singapores maintenance/engineering company.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by UPPERLOBE; 14th Oct 2006 at 21:04.
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Thanks Upperlobe.
A bit surprising that SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) did the work.
SIAEC Annual Report 2005/2006
A bit surprising that SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) did the work.
In the last financial year, we underwent 92 internal audits and 107 external audits. Constant review of our work procedures ensures that a high standard of service is maintained. As a testament to the Company’s high quality of work, we currently hold regulatory approvals from 23 national aviation authorities and 20 airlines (as of April 2006). These includethe FAA, EASA, Japan Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB), Emirates Airlines and Qantas Airways
