My husband has lived within view of the pale and sometimes unsavory underbelly of the aviation manufacturing and mechanics world for over 20 years now. Jeff’s assessment of issues working Boeing is agonizingly familiar to conversations my husband and I have had over and over. And it’s not just Boeing (which is why many believe it’s a con…
My husband has lived within view of the pale and sometimes unsavory underbelly of the aviation manufacturing and mechanics world for over 20 years now. Jeff’s assessment of issues working Boeing is agonizingly familiar to conversations my husband and I have had over and over. And it’s not just Boeing (which is why many believe it’s a controlled demolition of Boeing - this is a huge problem across pretty much all of aviation, so why is Boeing being singled out?). One issue with “reading the manual” is that in the past few years DEI hiring practices have led to the majority (yes, majority) of new employees not being native English speakers or readers and also, due to DEI, even if they were, you can’t test them because the demographics they hired are “protected” and testing would be some “-ist”. My husband reads, comprehends and applies hundreds of pages instructions, sometimes PER ten hour work shift - with mild dyslexia (!)- but the manuals being put out are picture books. Problem is, pictures can’t convey all the necessary details of the assignments so then you need someone to teach you. But the employees in many cases have been told they are again, a protected class, so they are pretty much unteachable and will report any one who corrects them to HR claiming -isms or “creation of a hostile work environment.”
It’s really a mess.
Please note: my husband says that until the Obama years, A&P Mechanics were considered skilled laborers and it drew a commensurate candidate pool. When Obama pulled the skilled consideration, the companies basically said, “any one can do this” and their hiring practices reflect that inaccurate supposition.
*the manuals being put out NOW, it should say. The more detailed ones still exist and my husband uses them but the newer employees can’t read or comprehend them. Even the native English speakers often can’t. Government schooling comes full circle.
I think there’s a reluctant, unstated, dawning realization at some of these wile companies, that employees can’t comprehend written instructions which is different from being able to read words or not. But I also think there are some managers who prefer some sort of a clueless maintenance class who follow directions without any questions about things like regulations, laws, safety, or even the reality of the working machine.
I admit I’m biased but his various bosses throughout his entire career aren’t and they have also noted many times that my husband is one of the best in each company he’s worked at. He is principled, knowledgeable, instinctive and just SEES the guts of the machinery like many never understand. For people who do fly these days - pray that someone like my husband worked on your plane and caught the myriad potentially catastrophic mistakes others made before it left the maintenance facility.
Boeing may be singled out because they got a hefty government contract to get a transport to the International Space Station because the only way to get there was by Russian rockets. The project ended up being 4 years behind schedule when the media pressure started. Boeing then got 2 astronauts there and the pressure eased, but now that they can't get them back, the media pressure started back up. The astronauts are still waiting for their return flight. Very embarrassing for the US who is "unoffcially" at war with Russia.
Good point. It’s also been noted previously that China wants the Boeing market for their new China cheapie 737 knockoffs and of course I don’t see why Biden wouldn’t help them out with that. Trump shared a link to an article about this on his Truth social page, without additional comment.
Whatever is making Boeing a special target, I don’t think it’s really about shoddy manufacturing and maintenance practices, or poor quality training, or low information employees…because that is pretty much standard across aviation right now, including many other companies with major government contracts. (And I don’t deny they’re shooting themselves in the foot with these issues, like other av companies.) Still feels like there’s more afoot here…
Sometimes drug tests are still used. Anytime something goes wrong, the people the companies would like to get rid of (usually whistleblower types/squeaky wheels) get “randomly” tested. It is sort of company-internal lawfare…
My husband has lived within view of the pale and sometimes unsavory underbelly of the aviation manufacturing and mechanics world for over 20 years now. Jeff’s assessment of issues working Boeing is agonizingly familiar to conversations my husband and I have had over and over. And it’s not just Boeing (which is why many believe it’s a controlled demolition of Boeing - this is a huge problem across pretty much all of aviation, so why is Boeing being singled out?). One issue with “reading the manual” is that in the past few years DEI hiring practices have led to the majority (yes, majority) of new employees not being native English speakers or readers and also, due to DEI, even if they were, you can’t test them because the demographics they hired are “protected” and testing would be some “-ist”. My husband reads, comprehends and applies hundreds of pages instructions, sometimes PER ten hour work shift - with mild dyslexia (!)- but the manuals being put out are picture books. Problem is, pictures can’t convey all the necessary details of the assignments so then you need someone to teach you. But the employees in many cases have been told they are again, a protected class, so they are pretty much unteachable and will report any one who corrects them to HR claiming -isms or “creation of a hostile work environment.”
It’s really a mess.
Please note: my husband says that until the Obama years, A&P Mechanics were considered skilled laborers and it drew a commensurate candidate pool. When Obama pulled the skilled consideration, the companies basically said, “any one can do this” and their hiring practices reflect that inaccurate supposition.
Thanks Obama.
*the manuals being put out NOW, it should say. The more detailed ones still exist and my husband uses them but the newer employees can’t read or comprehend them. Even the native English speakers often can’t. Government schooling comes full circle.
Ugh. Tell your husband thanks for sticking with his job. Sounds like a miserable environment.
Years ago, I remember that USAirways was sending planes to Central America to do maintenance.
Did they even speak English?
Reminds me of any manual you get now. All pictures, no words. I do better with words that include pictures for clarity.
Is the assumption that no one can read?
I think there’s a reluctant, unstated, dawning realization at some of these wile companies, that employees can’t comprehend written instructions which is different from being able to read words or not. But I also think there are some managers who prefer some sort of a clueless maintenance class who follow directions without any questions about things like regulations, laws, safety, or even the reality of the working machine.
huh?
As a pilot (not currently flying) I always had the utmost respect for an A&P . Perhaps I should be grateful I'm not flying these days.
I admit I’m biased but his various bosses throughout his entire career aren’t and they have also noted many times that my husband is one of the best in each company he’s worked at. He is principled, knowledgeable, instinctive and just SEES the guts of the machinery like many never understand. For people who do fly these days - pray that someone like my husband worked on your plane and caught the myriad potentially catastrophic mistakes others made before it left the maintenance facility.
Boeing may be singled out because they got a hefty government contract to get a transport to the International Space Station because the only way to get there was by Russian rockets. The project ended up being 4 years behind schedule when the media pressure started. Boeing then got 2 astronauts there and the pressure eased, but now that they can't get them back, the media pressure started back up. The astronauts are still waiting for their return flight. Very embarrassing for the US who is "unoffcially" at war with Russia.
What I don't understand is, how can we be at war with Russia,
and also share a sophisticated joint Space Program with them?
It does seem ludicrous!
Good point. It’s also been noted previously that China wants the Boeing market for their new China cheapie 737 knockoffs and of course I don’t see why Biden wouldn’t help them out with that. Trump shared a link to an article about this on his Truth social page, without additional comment.
Whatever is making Boeing a special target, I don’t think it’s really about shoddy manufacturing and maintenance practices, or poor quality training, or low information employees…because that is pretty much standard across aviation right now, including many other companies with major government contracts. (And I don’t deny they’re shooting themselves in the foot with these issues, like other av companies.) Still feels like there’s more afoot here…
And drug test were still administered.
Sometimes drug tests are still used. Anytime something goes wrong, the people the companies would like to get rid of (usually whistleblower types/squeaky wheels) get “randomly” tested. It is sort of company-internal lawfare…
*applies only to the floor. Not managers. They have to try get rid of them other ways.