Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > PPRuNe Worldwide > Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific
Reload this Page >

Qantas Engineering is on the prowl for AMEs

Wikiposts
Search
Australia, New Zealand & the Pacific Airline and RPT Rumours & News in Australia, enZed and the Pacific

Qantas Engineering is on the prowl for AMEs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 14th Oct 2008, 03:16
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: sydney
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Qantas Engineering is on the prowl for AMEs

Wow wonders will never cease. I reckon CASA finally found there balls and has told QF enough is enough.
This would be the first time in 6-7 years that they have employed. My guess is they will struggle to find experienced people due to the fact that QF have screwed the majority of them in the past.

Also heard that they are 2 years behind in the OSIP work, which I find hard to believe as management keep saying everything is fine.

Time will tell all.
another superlame is offline  
Old 14th Oct 2008, 05:52
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hmmm, don't think I would consider another career with QANTAS as they will never be the company they were when I was there in the mid 80's.......I know showing my age. Then you were once proud to call yourself a QANTAS AME/LAME, and your training, skills and reputation were respected by airlines around the globe. Don't think QF management give a toss anymore about R E P U T A T I O N.

Metal Fatigued is offline  
Old 14th Oct 2008, 06:36
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SYDNEY
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
they will not be able to get LAME's let alone AME's,who would ever want to work for an outfit like that.........NO FUTURE
QF MAINT OUTSOURCED is offline  
Old 14th Oct 2008, 06:51
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Christmas Island
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
2 years behind ha???
Could that be due to HM closed??
could that be due to Lean Smegma??
Could that be due to the amount of people that were made redundant?
Could that be to all the red tape that M introduced??

So whats the fix.... more AMEs?? . Still need the LAMES to supervise. Why not train up the current workforce to be able to better utilize them.
OOPS.. thats a cost!!!
How many lames would have been trained for the pay rise GD just got??
ouch.
hadagutfull is offline  
Old 14th Oct 2008, 08:29
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
As I understand it,these will be full time positions in Qantas heavy Mel.Does anyone here know how many ame/lame's they will be hiring and when do they want them to start.
satos is offline  
Old 14th Oct 2008, 09:52
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
'MF' I think yr statement .........."Then you were once proud to call yourself a QANTAS AME/LAME, and your training, skills and reputation were respected by airlines around the globe"............ was spot on

A good long time friend of mine whose son I took for his first plane ride when he was around 7 yrs of age (around 22+ yrs ago now) for as long as I could remember afterwards he wanted to work for QF, kids only ever knew of great airlines like QF & Ansett many years ago. He always used to say QF this QF that, back then it was indeed a well respected airline. He did finally join QF many years latter as an engineer. He started with that belief that his dream had come true after all those years. 10 years down the track with QF that kid who had stars in his eyes about QF left in recent times & took up flying, he no longer talks about QF & for good reason. The fire went out in his eyes, I first saw that when he was a child, I now see a bitter & twisted man towards QF. QF actually indirectly did this kid/man a favour, he now has that fire back in his eyes with flying & instructing.
'Tricky Dicky' has not only taken the stars out of kids eyes he's taken away hope for those that he has left behind, I only hope that the current QF employees are stronger than he is.
Capt Wally is offline  
Old 14th Oct 2008, 11:51
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Brisbane
Age: 49
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, good to see Melbourne is actively recruiting FULL TIMERS. Wish I could say the same for our outfit.

Those of you in Brissy Heavy will be able to work out who I am. I've been around in QF 15 years or so but if I were looking for a new job as an AME would QF be the right career move?

As each week goes by, we see more and more contractors coming through the door. We are told that prospective full timers are being interviewed but where are they?

Talking with the contractors, you can understand why we see very few full timers.

If you had to choose between the pathetic rate of around $20 an hour (entry level 7 AME) as a full timer, or $35+ an hour as a contractor with Hyundai Elantra rental car, petrol and accommodation in a very nice near new unit at Nundah provided, which would you choose?

Additionally, there is a lack of career path. Join QF as an AME on around $20 and work your way up to $23.96 an hour as a level 12 (that is, if you are lucky enough to get a level 12 quota position!). Then where do you go?

Joining QF engineering is an extremely unattractive proposition when companies such as ALG, Bermil and JHAS are offering so much more.

Perhaps this is the way QF want things? Perhaps their mission is to get rid of the AME's through attrition and replace them with contractors? (Avalon all over again, and gee, aren't things going smoothly down there! )
BrissySparkyCoit is offline  
Old 14th Oct 2008, 13:21
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: OZ
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Forstaff

I hear Forstaff are coming to S'pore to recruit AMEs, creating lots of interest with the locals. They have been screwed over so hard by SIAEC they figure it's worth a try downunder. I have no idea what Forstaff are offering them.
QF22 is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2008, 00:18
  #9 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: sydney
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
satos the advert was for Mascot not Tulla
another superlame is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2008, 01:58
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Capt Wally,

It is for that very reason (the downfall of QANTAS' reputation) that I would not recommend my own sons taking on an aviation career with QF Engineering and Maintenance. I left QF around 1990 and went o/seas to Canada where I worked for a few different companies including Rolls Royce affiliated companies and a 7 year stint with Air Canada. My credentials as a QF trained Structures Mechanic opened many doors for me and I had no problem gaining employment and being paid at the top salary level in each company. In fact many of my collegues in Air Canada would often ask how they could get to work for QF in Oz' (QF's reputation was that well respected - globally).

Now I shake my head every time I read a story about QF maintenance woes, knowing full well that the QF managers of late are responsible for the demise of that reputation by cost cutting here and there to satisfy the shareholder to remain "competitive" in the aviation market.

Every airline knows you can't make money doing your own maintenance, but at least you can have a comfy feeling knowing that you maintain your own fleet with your own highly skilled and "in-house trained" workforce (as was the case with QF when I was there).

Instead of saving costs by outsourcing maintenance (as QF is doing more of), you grow your MRO by doing "third-party-work", and your reputation as a world leader in a/c maintenance also grows with you, and now you A R E C O M P E T I T I V E in the market............its not rocket science.

Metal Fatigued is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2008, 05:37
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
another superlame satos the advert was for Mascot not Tulla
I got the gossip from one of my friends who works as a lame in mel heavy.He told me they will be starting another line for the 737's and will be looking for full timers shortly to fill those positions but he doesn't know how many they want.
satos is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2008, 11:22
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: The Dark Side
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Interesting posts by people!!

Has not stopped me applying!!! Got to better prospects than who I am currently working for!

Has anybody got any idea what there time frame is? as there is no closing date on the application.

regards
TOJP.
The Original Jetpipe is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2008, 18:00
  #13 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: sydney
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The ad is a bit ambiguous. They are asking for AMEs but with what seems like LAME type qualifications. Are they hedging their bets?
another superlame is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2008, 21:04
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Sydney
Age: 53
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think there is no closing date due top the fact that Sydney Base has asked for 45 AME's. They will never get the numbers, so why put a closing date.
Syd eng is offline  
Old 15th Oct 2008, 21:51
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
And Another Thing...

All this is happening just as the 'Metals' Unions start their EBA VIII negotiating with QF. Now from what I've heard up here in Bris Vegas the sky is already falling with QF crying about the 'Global Market' being in damage control, they can not help them selves can they!

Every QF employee has heard it all before, Bird Flu, SARS, Oil Prices, War in Iraq blah blah blah , I feel for you guys. These so called risks or drivers didn't have any affect on GD's remuneration did it now? What was it again, 11.92 MILLION.
Red Baron is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2008, 03:46
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oz
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Perhaps this is the way QF want things? Perhaps their mission is to get rid of the AME's through attrition and replace them with contractors?
Yep!

It's called disbanding of the 'legacy'.
Clipped is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2008, 05:30
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: The Dark Side
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
45 positions!!! at least i might get an interview!

Heard a "rumour" that it was only part time casual 2 year contract? BUT it does not say anything about that in the advert?

Anyone got anymore info?

TOJP
The Original Jetpipe is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2008, 08:30
  #18 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: sydney
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
45 positions. It seems they havent employed enough apprentices in recent years or they went too far when they culled and closed 245.
That is a big number for ACS. I wonder if it is right or just a vicious rumour.
Also the contract thing,that would ruffle a few feathers in Mascot,they have wanted to bring that in for years,
another superlame is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2008, 11:21
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I hear Ford are laying off another 450 poor buggers, & we think that the aviation industry is fragile! How about the auto manufacturing industry, like a QF airliner it's going down fast!


CW
Capt Wally is offline  
Old 16th Oct 2008, 11:51
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This interesting article was posted to me, I wonder if it has any bearing on QF's latest predicament.
FAA faulted for laxness on maintenance outsourcing
Saturday October 4, 7:33 am ET
By Joan Lowy, Associated Press Writer
Investigators: Airlines outsourcing more aircraft maintenance and FAA not keeping close tabs

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nine U.S. airlines outsourced more than 70 percent of their major aircraft maintenance last year, and federal aviation officials' oversight of repair facilities is lagging, according to a government report. One-fourth of the outsourced maintenance is being handled by contractors overseas.
The Transportation Department's inspector general said the outsourcing, which has more than doubled in four years, was of concern because the Federal Aviation Administration has failed to closely track how much maintenance is farmed out and where it is performed.
Although the FAA has taken steps to improve, "the agency still faces challenges in determining where the most critical maintenance occurs and ensuring sufficient oversight," investigators said in the report issued this week.
In their effort to lower costs, the report said, airlines continue to shift their heavy airframe maintenance from their own in-house mechanics and engineers to hundreds of repair companies in the United States, Canada, Mexico and countries in Central America and Asia.
Nine major airlines examined by the inspector general outsourced 71 percent of their heavy air frame maintenance -- repairs and servicing to an aircraft's body, wings and tail -- in 2007, up from 34 percent in 2003. More than a quarter of that maintenance -- 27 percent -- was performed at foreign repair facilities.
The airlines examined in the report were AirTran Airways, Alaska Airlines, America West Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Northwest Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines. American Airlines, the nation's largest domestic carrier, was not included, the inspector general said, because it handles most maintenance in-house.
The FAA relies heavily on the airlines -- and the repair facilities themselves -- to make sure outsourced repairs meet the air safety standards and requirements of the individual airlines.
FAA requires each repair station to undergo a government inspection at least once a year, FAA spokesman Les Dorr said. The report says those inspections often are not being conducted by agency inspectors most familiar with standards and requirements of the airline whose planes are being repaired.
As much as five years lapsed between visits to some major maintenance facilities by inspectors assigned to individual airlines. Inspectors not assigned to a specific airline may not be familiar with the special maintenance requirements of that airline's planes, which are often customized.
The report cited a foreign facility, which repairs engines for an unidentified airline, that had not been inspected by an FAA inspector assigned to that airline in five years, a period in which the facility had repaired 39 of the air carrier's engines.
The report recommends FAA require airlines to provide more complete information on the extent and location of outsourced repairs, ensure air carriers and repair stations are better able to spot and correct problems, and improve the documentation of inspection results.
The FAA agreed it needs to do more. "We actually concur with all the inspector general's recommendations," Dorr said. "We have procedures in place that already address some of the recommendations, and we have some projects in progress that address others."
One safety expert, however, said the report underscores that FAA still has a long way to go toward resolving the outsourcing issue, which has been source of controversy for the agency for several years.
"What this report tells me is there is still a big problem with oversight -- the FAA is not verifying that the oversight being provided by the air carriers is doing the job it's supposed to," said John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board.
The Mr Fixit is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.