The issue of outsourcing is not going away. The trend of airlines outsourcing maintenance work to third-party repair facilities is growing.
I talk about outsourcing in my upcoming May editorial column in AMT (arriving in your mailbox next month). I discuss this trend, and more specifically the trend of sending more work to foreign repair stations (and the FAA oversight challenges that go along with them).
Obviously the key driver to outsourcing is money. But can it be stopped? Is there a way that airlines can keep their maintenance in house and still remain competitive?
Here's another thought. In the past I have heard many mechanics say that if the traveling public was willing to pay higher (reasonable) rates for airline tickets, this wouldn't be an issue. Airlines have kept ticket prices at un-realistic low levels to avoid losing customers to their competitors. But if money is the issue, and airlines are saving money by outsourcing maintenance, if ticket prices do happen to go up, do you honestly think the airlines will bring the work back in-house? I don't think so! I believe the outsourcing that has happened is irreversible. If ticket prices do rise, the airlines will take their profits and run.
We welcome your comments!
Joe Escobar