Qantas Sacking Tarmac Engineers
I have been including stories about the good things we do here in Maintenance Operations and highlighting our great People and Teams. This week I wanted to share with you something that really demonstrates the talent we have and that our vision is being realised. Our mission and vision hasn’t changed over the last four years and everything we do is aimed at us becoming a best in class maintenance organisation, where others look to us to define best practice. We have a history of defining best practice – our ETOPs procedure is something we developed and is now used by airlines around the world, and so is our NDT scribe mark process.
The team in Brisbane Base recently added to this list of engineering accolades, and again made our vision become reality. They got a call from Boeing engineering who asked whether they could bring a North American MRO into the facility to learn how they work. This came as a result of a world-wide modification that Boeing applied to the B737 Horizontal Stabiliser skin. The light weight structure of the stabiliser has seen many MROs damage the structure during the dismantling process – but not so in Brisbane. They have accomplished 28 skin replacements with little to no damage reported. This is true Service Quality in motion and a result of the skill of our people, aircraft day to day management, and Technical Support teams working so well together to complete such a complex task.
I am incredibly proud of the Brisbane Base folks. The effort they have made to improve their performance over the last 12 months is nothing short of amazing. They have increased their productivity, decreased their turn times, reduced their line slippage, have fewer injuries and fewer sick days per person. Their engagement is at an all-time high and the results are speaking for themselves. Two years ago we didn’t have Fiji airways asking us to repair their aircraft, we weren’t bidding on a multi-million dollar third party contract, and we didn’t have OEMs knocking on our door to see how we do things. We are becoming a competitive and attractive business in the eyes of our customers, and it is all thanks to the hard work and dedication of our talented BM team.
I also wanted to talk this week about the amount of emails you are having to sift through each day. It was something raised with me at a recent leadership program and it’s something I’m passionate about addressing. I’m told each day you receive - maintenance memos on all fleet types, quality bulletins, notification of local quality alerts, EQ notifications on training and qualifications as well as general corporate and engineering communication. I know you are frustrated with the time required to find the things that are actually relevant to the work you are doing, and can often delete the things you do need. I’ve asked Alex Parpaiola to help reduce this burden and do some filtering and categorisation of the volumes of information being set to your inbox. In the future I envision all you will receive from us is – mandatory read and signs that are relevant to you, required Quality Bulletins relevant to you, and communications from myself and your Leaders. I’m also told you sometimes miss my updates in the flood of other emails, and would like to access past updates to read when you have time. I’ve now set up library of my previous updates dating back to when we first started transforming the business in 2012.
Finally, I wanted to recognise two of our people in BNE Base Maintenance – Tai Johnsen and Rachel Dudok who were nominees at the recent Annual Metropolitan Region Awards for Queensland Training. Tai was one of three finalists for the apprentice of the year award, and Rachel won Vocational Student of the Year and now competes as a state finalist. Congratulations Tai and Rachel and thank you for showcasing what ‘Best in Class’ Qantas Engineering means to the rest of the industry.
Thanks for all you do.
Be Safe
The team in Brisbane Base recently added to this list of engineering accolades, and again made our vision become reality. They got a call from Boeing engineering who asked whether they could bring a North American MRO into the facility to learn how they work. This came as a result of a world-wide modification that Boeing applied to the B737 Horizontal Stabiliser skin. The light weight structure of the stabiliser has seen many MROs damage the structure during the dismantling process – but not so in Brisbane. They have accomplished 28 skin replacements with little to no damage reported. This is true Service Quality in motion and a result of the skill of our people, aircraft day to day management, and Technical Support teams working so well together to complete such a complex task.
I am incredibly proud of the Brisbane Base folks. The effort they have made to improve their performance over the last 12 months is nothing short of amazing. They have increased their productivity, decreased their turn times, reduced their line slippage, have fewer injuries and fewer sick days per person. Their engagement is at an all-time high and the results are speaking for themselves. Two years ago we didn’t have Fiji airways asking us to repair their aircraft, we weren’t bidding on a multi-million dollar third party contract, and we didn’t have OEMs knocking on our door to see how we do things. We are becoming a competitive and attractive business in the eyes of our customers, and it is all thanks to the hard work and dedication of our talented BM team.
I also wanted to talk this week about the amount of emails you are having to sift through each day. It was something raised with me at a recent leadership program and it’s something I’m passionate about addressing. I’m told each day you receive - maintenance memos on all fleet types, quality bulletins, notification of local quality alerts, EQ notifications on training and qualifications as well as general corporate and engineering communication. I know you are frustrated with the time required to find the things that are actually relevant to the work you are doing, and can often delete the things you do need. I’ve asked Alex Parpaiola to help reduce this burden and do some filtering and categorisation of the volumes of information being set to your inbox. In the future I envision all you will receive from us is – mandatory read and signs that are relevant to you, required Quality Bulletins relevant to you, and communications from myself and your Leaders. I’m also told you sometimes miss my updates in the flood of other emails, and would like to access past updates to read when you have time. I’ve now set up library of my previous updates dating back to when we first started transforming the business in 2012.
Finally, I wanted to recognise two of our people in BNE Base Maintenance – Tai Johnsen and Rachel Dudok who were nominees at the recent Annual Metropolitan Region Awards for Queensland Training. Tai was one of three finalists for the apprentice of the year award, and Rachel won Vocational Student of the Year and now competes as a state finalist. Congratulations Tai and Rachel and thank you for showcasing what ‘Best in Class’ Qantas Engineering means to the rest of the industry.
Thanks for all you do.
Be Safe
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Australia
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you're honest with yourself, you will realise that QF engineers in Australia were the best trained, and had the highest standard in following operational procedures. They may not have been the most diversified in a lot of areas, or may not be the best trouble shooters. But, when all said and done they follow the rules of certification and procedures more than most other Australian LAMEs.
HaaaaaHaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaHaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa.........Oh wait.....he is serious!!!
HaaaaaHaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaHaaaaaHaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaa.........Oh wait.....he is serious!!!
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Sydney
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Back on Topic
Getting back on topic, is the Union chasing the so called "Points" Criteria, the one where it was stated only info on Eq would be utilised as of the 28 Feb and yet they are now counting training to people, who havent even commenced it yet but been promised! If it isnt on Eq then it doesnt count!
Either make it 100% fair or at least admit its being changed to suit!
Take about corrupt...its either cut and dried or it totally being manipulated!
Either make it 100% fair or at least admit its being changed to suit!
Take about corrupt...its either cut and dried or it totally being manipulated!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: australia
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[QUOTE][But, when all said and done they follow the rules of certification and procedures more than most other Australian LAMEs.]
Just exactly what LAME's are you talking about ?
Just exactly what LAME's are you talking about ?
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: BRISBANE
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Engineers we are talking about are those who completed the exclusion training in preparation for a full 737 B1/B2 type course. Unfortunetly the 737 type course got post poned till early August, due to QF`s current restructure
There is still no definite recommencement date for the course. YET, miraculously these people were awarded full 737 plus the 20% B1/B2 points IAW the points table. Thats approx 600 points for a license they still haven`t completed the course for, passed the course, gained the reqd pratical hours for, a license that still hasn`t been approved for by CASA & a license that isn`t on EQ.
Meanwhile people with valid 737 license`s & people who would otherwise be above the wannabe 737 Engineer`s on the almighty points table, are being shuffled to SAM due to Qantas Engineering`s current wrath of mismanagement.
There is still no definite recommencement date for the course. YET, miraculously these people were awarded full 737 plus the 20% B1/B2 points IAW the points table. Thats approx 600 points for a license they still haven`t completed the course for, passed the course, gained the reqd pratical hours for, a license that still hasn`t been approved for by CASA & a license that isn`t on EQ.
Meanwhile people with valid 737 license`s & people who would otherwise be above the wannabe 737 Engineer`s on the almighty points table, are being shuffled to SAM due to Qantas Engineering`s current wrath of mismanagement.
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Bexley
Posts: 1,792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The union is chasing the points/Eq stuff up.
Firstly it was the case that the company had said that promised training would count towards points. The statement about Eq points only as per that locked in on Feb 28 is incorrect.
The problem we are encountering is this. Some people have been credited with "promised' training to save their ass, even when they weren't even qualified to carry out the make believe training the company has said these people were promised. On the other hand, others who have been given their marching orders had completed company training and not yet picked up the licence and were not credited with points. I have instructed Gary in our office to prepare a Fair Work Commission case regarding these discrepancies.
Aside from that we have now lodged the primary case in the Federal Court against Qantas for them failing to consult in accordance with the Workplace Determination. My 700 page affidavit was submitted at 4PM yesterday.
Firstly it was the case that the company had said that promised training would count towards points. The statement about Eq points only as per that locked in on Feb 28 is incorrect.
The problem we are encountering is this. Some people have been credited with "promised' training to save their ass, even when they weren't even qualified to carry out the make believe training the company has said these people were promised. On the other hand, others who have been given their marching orders had completed company training and not yet picked up the licence and were not credited with points. I have instructed Gary in our office to prepare a Fair Work Commission case regarding these discrepancies.
Aside from that we have now lodged the primary case in the Federal Court against Qantas for them failing to consult in accordance with the Workplace Determination. My 700 page affidavit was submitted at 4PM yesterday.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Qantas Sacking Tarmac Engineers
Is it just me, or does the new spin phrase, "Best in Class", sound like we're being judged as part of a dog show.
Just saying, cause that's how it sounds.
Just saying, cause that's how it sounds.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: australia
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
cookie
Trouble is, (QF) LAMEs continue to work their butts off, for little effect. No's have increasingly dwindled. Ain't a job that can be allocated overseas.......
C'mon guys. Stand up for your profession, and work slower. Believe me, the pilots (and cabin crew) are with you.....
This has been an
issue for 40 years
C'mon guys. Stand up for your profession, and work slower. Believe me, the pilots (and cabin crew) are with you.....
This has been an
issue for 40 years
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oz
Posts: 381
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just received my notice from the Ass'n. Looks like a significant development, meetings and info packs scheduled for end of this week.
Hope there is a sensible outcome for all.
Again, thanks to Steve and team for your endless efforts.
Hope there is a sensible outcome for all.
Again, thanks to Steve and team for your endless efforts.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Looking for the bridge of trust
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It has to get up. If it doesn't I will have lost all faith that the majority of LAMEs have a conscience and instead are just as bad as the company Engineering management.
Also would like to thank Steve and the ALAEA Execs for the unknown/unrecognised work that they do behind the scenes.
Also would like to thank Steve and the ALAEA Execs for the unknown/unrecognised work that they do behind the scenes.