The responses received from last week’s Blog were, in a word, excellent. I would like to reiterate some of what I heard in these responses as a way of emphasizing the input.
I heard unanimous agreement for an advocacy of aviation mechanics in DC. I also heard a willingness to pay for this representation provided the services rendered are truly professional, with “boots on ground†and an in-your-face spirit.
Additionally, I heard continued significant concern related to the greater use of non-certificated personnel in aircraft maintenance operations, both at the management and floor levels.
An excellent observation related to the aviation maintenance tech subsets: airline, general aviation, subdivided into corporate and FBO/MRO ops. Let me add regional carriers tech as different subset, the reason being the regional techs function in a more universal manner as opposed to the often rigidly segmented mx ops of major trunk carriers.
Taking these subsets into account, do you think it is possible to represent these as a whole? It seems to me that this will mean many members, which in turn will result in a more effective advocacy. On the other hand are the interests of each of these subsets too diverse as to make unification of promotion not possible? If the latter, then which subsets do you see would result in an effective support office in DC. PAMA was unable to lure airline techs into its folds because the airlines would not support membership in what it perceived to be a unionizing effort. PAMA did add avionics technicians to its membership in an effort to add numbers and representative interests. Do you think this was good idea?
My personal opinion, and mine only, is that it is too difficult to try to represent airline techs under one hat. I think an effective representation for aircraft maintenance technicians includes corporate, regional, FBO and MRO certificated A&Ps. I am sure there are enough numbers to generate the clout and resources necessary to properly promote the interest of these professionals.
What has to happen was also cited often in the aforementioned responses to the earlier Blog – A&Ps have to get off their butt and become actively engaged in support of efforts to achieve this necessary advocacy if they want to improve their positions. Each has to quit lamenting his or her role in the overall aviation structure, and start being the professional each is by working continuously to improve.
Don’t you think it is time for mechanics to stop being “victims�