Quantas engineer Fake License !!
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Quantas engineer Fake License !!
That's what happens when HR doesn't do it's job properly !!.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...159455322.html
http://www.theage.com.au/news/nation...159455322.html
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How fortuitous for Qantas' PR Dept that they will be able to spin the story to Joe Public that the maintenance problem at Bangkok was caused by one rogue fake engineer, and not a seriously flawed new corporate culture directed from the very top.
One that is becoming more and more obviously to those within the industry - and in the lower echelons of the company itself - the complete opposite of what the company once was. A hard-earned reputation Qantas still attempts to trade on looks more and more like being at risk of being lost in the most tragic circumstances if one day a crew - be it maintenance or technical - who still retain enough of the 'old Skippy' ethos isn't there to bail the company out of a future situation that would have been stopped three or four 'slices of cheese' earlier under the 'Old Qantas' formula.
(They probably caught the guy when he signed off one of the aircraft with "QUantas Engineer".
)
One that is becoming more and more obviously to those within the industry - and in the lower echelons of the company itself - the complete opposite of what the company once was. A hard-earned reputation Qantas still attempts to trade on looks more and more like being at risk of being lost in the most tragic circumstances if one day a crew - be it maintenance or technical - who still retain enough of the 'old Skippy' ethos isn't there to bail the company out of a future situation that would have been stopped three or four 'slices of cheese' earlier under the 'Old Qantas' formula.
(They probably caught the guy when he signed off one of the aircraft with "QUantas Engineer".
)
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Ooooooh..... he maintained the aircraft with the cracked dripshield!!
Now you see what happens when we have people like him commiting fraud..... cracked dripshields go un-noticed!!
Nice one, journalists.
Now you see what happens when we have people like him commiting fraud..... cracked dripshields go un-noticed!!
Nice one, journalists.
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There's an organisation called FASS www.fass.org.uk which was formed by a number of recruitment agencies in the UK and Ireland, in an attempt to raise the standards of recruitment and in particular vetting of qualifications.
It set up a central Register, and I was one of those who registered, but that's on ice. It seems that the response from the airline maintenance industry was encouragement from safety-minded people such as Quality Assurance, but they were invariably over-ruled by the bean-counters who simply go for the lowest price regardless of safety.
It seems also that the CAA while giving encouragement to FASS did little or nothing to push the MRO's into really demanding what FASS is offering.
EASA is thinking about the problem, according to FASS, but in a time frame of years.
Meanwhile, I and my highly qualified, experienced and motivated contractor colleagues find ourselves working alongside people with false documentation more often that you would want to know about.
It set up a central Register, and I was one of those who registered, but that's on ice. It seems that the response from the airline maintenance industry was encouragement from safety-minded people such as Quality Assurance, but they were invariably over-ruled by the bean-counters who simply go for the lowest price regardless of safety.
It seems also that the CAA while giving encouragement to FASS did little or nothing to push the MRO's into really demanding what FASS is offering.
EASA is thinking about the problem, according to FASS, but in a time frame of years.
Meanwhile, I and my highly qualified, experienced and motivated contractor colleagues find ourselves working alongside people with false documentation more often that you would want to know about.
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Flight crew too I'm afraid...
Years ago when I was an expat CP in South Asia, I found we had a couple of pilots from South America (hired before my time), with falsified hours on type and in one case a forged type proficiency check. My suspicions being raised by their lack of competency.
Additionally I had applications from other pilots from the same country, whose backgrounds I checked, who were found to have submitted false references and claims of 500 hours (how convenient) PiC time when they had no ATPL at the time of the logged flights...
At the same airline I discovered we had a "senior" LAME from another part of SA who claimed he had licences on a type but strangely very little knowledge of such and who had performed some very poor (read dangerous) work. His previous work experience showed no training on said type....
I had no choice but to report them to Exec Mgt and eventually the local CAA when the airline showed no interest in removing them from staff...
I left that employer ASAP!
Coming from Australasia I was in some degree of disbelief as I had never heard of anything so stupid. Not to mentional potential career suicide.
I know thats not in OZ but I learnt my lesson. ALWAYS check someones qualifications before you let them near an aeroplane!
Additionally I had applications from other pilots from the same country, whose backgrounds I checked, who were found to have submitted false references and claims of 500 hours (how convenient) PiC time when they had no ATPL at the time of the logged flights...
At the same airline I discovered we had a "senior" LAME from another part of SA who claimed he had licences on a type but strangely very little knowledge of such and who had performed some very poor (read dangerous) work. His previous work experience showed no training on said type....
I had no choice but to report them to Exec Mgt and eventually the local CAA when the airline showed no interest in removing them from staff...
I left that employer ASAP!
Coming from Australasia I was in some degree of disbelief as I had never heard of anything so stupid. Not to mentional potential career suicide.
I know thats not in OZ but I learnt my lesson. ALWAYS check someones qualifications before you let them near an aeroplane!
Paxing All Over The World
Non pilot speaking
It does not matter whether this bloke went near VH-OJM (LHR~BKK), if he was working on a/c then QF mgmt are culpable. To my mind, this blows a gaping hole in any statement about "Our passenger's safety comes first"
It does not matter whether this bloke went near VH-OJM (LHR~BKK), if he was working on a/c then QF mgmt are culpable. To my mind, this blows a gaping hole in any statement about "Our passenger's safety comes first"
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About 20 years ago, while still involved in the vintage staff at Duxford and also earning most of my living contracting as an LAE at STN, I was contacted one evening by a local newspaper.
The reporter stated that he had heard that I knew a bloke - who also worked at STN, at least around the time if the incident - who had stripped a Catalina to bits at Duxford. Transpires this fellow had falsified his licence and had been certifying at STN for an MRO there. His disappeared. I remember headlines such as "xxx aircraft worldwide will have to be recalled for 'maintenance checks' after having had work incorrectly inspected" or similar.
Someone knew I worked at both Duxford and STN and assumed I knew him; I did not but I heard he was not bad in technical respects.
At least in the UK, prospective employers are encouraged to contact the Competent Authority that issued the licence prior to proceeding.
The reporter stated that he had heard that I knew a bloke - who also worked at STN, at least around the time if the incident - who had stripped a Catalina to bits at Duxford. Transpires this fellow had falsified his licence and had been certifying at STN for an MRO there. His disappeared. I remember headlines such as "xxx aircraft worldwide will have to be recalled for 'maintenance checks' after having had work incorrectly inspected" or similar.
Someone knew I worked at both Duxford and STN and assumed I knew him; I did not but I heard he was not bad in technical respects.
At least in the UK, prospective employers are encouraged to contact the Competent Authority that issued the licence prior to proceeding.
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I'm guilty of thread drift here, but what makes people do this sort of thing?
It reminds me of the case of the guy who turned up at the floods they had around Tewkesbury in the UK last summer. He said he was a senior fireman from the Merseyside fire brigade and spent days organising defences, rescues etc.
He wasn't. He was just some nutter with a nicked uniform.
Is it a power thing?
It reminds me of the case of the guy who turned up at the floods they had around Tewkesbury in the UK last summer. He said he was a senior fireman from the Merseyside fire brigade and spent days organising defences, rescues etc.
He wasn't. He was just some nutter with a nicked uniform.
Is it a power thing?
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Bogus Qualifications
HR organisations in the aviation industry should at least scrutinise and check on licences with relevant issuing authorities on potential applications for employment.Any large orgainisation having an overstaffed HR dept should ensure it has at least operational and technical vetting of applications before the interview process.
Many have have slipped through the net without this diligent oversight
Many have have slipped through the net without this diligent oversight
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Gann described this very situation in "Fate Is The Hunter" 45 years ago. His name was Dudley IIRC
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Brian,
Are you referring to the story they made into a film.... I think it was called "Catch me if you can".
Don't think he ever flew "up front" but use to tag along as standby crew, but his real ploy was forging Pam Am cheques. Heard he ended up actually working for the blokes that nabbed him.... the FBI
Great Film
With OZ security ASIC cards, I have been mistaken for Qantas crew.... same coloured card etc...... more than once.... scary.... that is, me being capable of getting up front........ I'd sh
t myself.
Are you referring to the story they made into a film.... I think it was called "Catch me if you can".
Don't think he ever flew "up front" but use to tag along as standby crew, but his real ploy was forging Pam Am cheques. Heard he ended up actually working for the blokes that nabbed him.... the FBI
Great Film
With OZ security ASIC cards, I have been mistaken for Qantas crew.... same coloured card etc...... more than once.... scary.... that is, me being capable of getting up front........ I'd sh
t myself.
An ASIC card won't get you in the jump seat in Australia. We don't have any commuting agreements.
The USA has a commuting agreement between airlines enabling people to live away from their home base and fly in for free in the jumpseat on any airline if you are on your way to work. The guy in catch me if you can took advantage of this and flew all over the USA and cashed cheques around the country.
The USA has a commuting agreement between airlines enabling people to live away from their home base and fly in for free in the jumpseat on any airline if you are on your way to work. The guy in catch me if you can took advantage of this and flew all over the USA and cashed cheques around the country.
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I heard DJ may let you into the flight deck with an ASIC card, or it might have been if you are a relative of a member of staff?
Last edited by pinklemonae; 19th Jan 2008 at 03:10.
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fraudulent engineer
To all, do you realise that this guy worked for Qantas as an unlicencenced engineer, presented company with fake certificates for exams needed to be passed to hold a licence (called basics in Oz), then sat on (and passed?) a company licence/type course? Apparently he then fronted for work wearing LAE/LAME insignia and started signing a/c out. No one checked if all relevant experience had been sent to regulator etc, etc.
Wasn't even getting paid at the higher wage rate and that was his undoing.
Wasn't even getting paid at the higher wage rate and that was his undoing.
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airmuster - Yes I know of the con man/movie but this was written up in the trade papers at the time (mid late 70's I'm guessing). Fed riding on the flight deck asked for his licence and was not able to produce and subsequently turned out he never had one - ever. In 42 years no one (Oz) every asked to see my licence and only twice did I ever have to produce a log book (CASA once, employer once). Had to quote a licence number a million times tho'. (Think of a number, double it and add six would seem to work 
)
)
