Jet Blue aircraft having problems with landing gear

[mx757 4]

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Why am I NOT surprised? Jet Blue send it's aircraft for overhaul / maintenance to South America, namely El SALVIDOR They pay these people almost nothing. They have no FAA license or oversight, and I doubt they can read the aircraft manuals (English)

The mechanics' strike at Northwest Airlines Corp. has refocused attention on the airline industry's ongoing push to reduce costs by outsourcing maintenance jobs.

A key issue for the mechanics union was Northwest's insistence on reducing its in-house maintenance work. In addition to demanding pay cuts, Northwest sought to slash the number of mechanics on its payroll, preferring to send the work to lower-priced contractors in the United States and overseas.


Outsourcing of maintenance tasks has surged in recent years, raising concerns about the experience and background of workers performing the upkeep on the nation's aircraft. Fifty-three percent of all major maintenance on U.S. airlines is done by contractors rather than airline employees, an increase from 47 percent in 2003, according to the Transportation Department's inspector general. In 1990, only a third of the carriers' maintenance went outside the company.

JetBlue Airways and America West Airlines have their planes serviced in El Salvador. Northwest and Continental Airlines use repair stations in Hong Kong and Singapore. Delta Air Lines' planes will soon be serviced by a division of Air Canada. Many other carriers send maintenance work to third parties in the United States, many located in the South, where labor rates are lower.

Like other unionized mechanics, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association at Northwest has questioned whether airlines are compromising safety and security by moving the delicate task of major aircraft repairs thousands of miles from their headquarters. Northwest has trimmed its workforce of mechanics and other maintenance workers from 10,000 in 2001 to 4,400 today, through a combination of job cuts and outsourcing, according to the union.

"Northwest directly competes in the global marketplace, with airlines based on three continents and across two oceans," Kenneth J. Hylander, the airline's vice president of safety and engineering, said in a statement. "Other airlines and aircraft operators are using the full range of competent maintenance opportunities available to efficiently maintain and safely fly their aircraft. This is the world we find ourselves in and in which we must compete."

The trend poses new challenges for the airlines and the federal government in keeping on top of safety and security. In January 2003, a US Airways Express flight operated by Air Midwest crashed shortly after takeoff from Charlotte, killing all 21 aboard, partly because an inexperienced mechanic at a third-party maintenance contractor performed improper work on the aircraft. In March, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency arrested 27 illegal immigrants who were working at one of the country's largest contract aircraft maintenance facilities, in Greensboro, N.C. None of the immigrants, from Central and South America, Sudan and the Philippines, had terrorist ties, but the incident raised questions about the hiring standards of contractors.

Sarah MacLeod, executive director of the Aeronautical Repair Station Association, said she rejects the notion that recent events indicate contractors' standards are any less safe than those of the airlines. "I think a lot of emotion has been injected in this because the government is finally enforcing its regulations and people are getting caught," MacLeod said. "It does not make an entire aviation maintenance industry unsafe."

MacLeod said half of her 732 member companies based in the United States and overseas conduct their own criminal background checks on employees. She said the contract maintenance industry is similar to many other industries that are growing as companies look for ways to reduce costs.

Union officials said workers at contract repair stations are not required to meet stringent criminal background checks and pass drug tests, as technicians who work directly for airlines are. Congress mandated that the Transportation Security Administration develop security protocols and procedures for maintenance workers and facilities overseas by August 2004, but the agency still has not issued any plans. A TSA spokesman said the agency plans to file a public notice of its proposed rules soon.

In a post-9/11 environment, the in-house guys undergo tremendous surveillance and criminal background checks, and they are subject to screening in secure areas of an airport," said Lawrence I. Willis, general counsel for the transportation trades department of the AFL-CIO. "It's clearly not the case for third-party repair stations."

The Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General has found that the Federal Aviation Administration has also been slow to keep up with the changing industry. The FAA's workforce of safety inspectors continue to be focused mostly on maintenance at airlines' in-house hangars rather than contractors in the United States and overseas, according to a status report sent last month to Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-Minn.), who asked the office to conduct an audit of the FAA's inspection program.

"FAA initially planned to implement all of our recommendations by August 2005," stated the inspector general's letter to Oberstar. "However, progress has been slow: FAA has completed only one of nine promised actions."

The FAA said that its progress has been hampered by laws and regulations overseas that are far different from those in the United States, such as those pertaining to routine drug tests. The agency plans to work out a bilateral agreement with the safety agency in Europe to ensure that countries on both sides of the Atlantic can ensure safe inspections of each other's maintenance facilities.

"Clearly, we need to refine our oversight of repair stations -- specifically as they become more popular," said Greg Martin, an FAA spokesman. "The inspector general's concern is perhaps maybe those actions aren't as quick as they should be, but we are moving forward with due speed."

[lawrocket 3]

Overheard from the control tower after landing:

"some of us here, particularly me would like to buy you a drink and shake your hand...and Ted I just want you to know that when the going got rough...

"Loneliness, thats the bottom line. I was never happy as a child...Christmas Ted, what does that mean to you? It was living hell. Do you know what its like falling in the mud and getting kicked, in the head. With an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does, that never happens. Sorry Ted, that's a dumb question. Municipal bonds Ted, I'm talking double A rating - the best investment in America."

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[rwieder 0]

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You're kidding right! It's standard procedure to turn off the monitors in preparation for landing. Isn't it smarter to have the passangers, especially in a situation like this, paying attention to the flight crew rather than T.V. monitors???

I'm a world traveler. I've flown every airline their is. I can say that this may be standard procedures under normal landing conditions. But these were not normal landing conditions. They shut those monitors down so the passengers couldn't see what the television cameras were showing the rest of the world. They shut those monitors down not knowing how much longer they would have to orbit before landing. And "NO" i wasn't kidding. I think it's a sorry thing to do. It doesn't matter in the long run because there were some MSNBC reporting personal on board that flight, i'm sure they'll be deposed for all the world to hear anyway. This CYA crap has got to stop.

-Richard-
"You're Holding The Rope And I'm Taking The Fall"

[mx757 4]

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I'm watching CNN, and they just now reported there is a Jet Blue Airline aircraft flight # 292 that can't get it's landing gear down. They have dumped fuel in the ocean already. Flying over Long Beach.

well there been AD service notices from FAA on these Airbus A-320 nose gears.. seems they are still having problems with them...

[airtwardo 6]

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Overheard from the control tower after landing:

"some of us here, particularly me would like to buy you a drink and shake your hand...and Ted I just want you to know that when the going got rough...

"Loneliness, thats the bottom line. I was never happy as a child...Christmas Ted, what does that mean to you? It was living hell. Do you know what its like falling in the mud and getting kicked, in the head. With an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does, that never happens. Sorry Ted, that's a dumb question. Municipal bonds Ted, I'm talking double A rating - the best investment in America."

***

Now THAT'S Funny!




...Gladiator movie anyone?

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[Frenchy68 0]

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...Gladiator movie anyone?

Surely.

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[ypelchat 0]

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...I gotta say it's pretty cool how that guy landed dead center on the runway and kept it dead center on the runway the whole way.

Once again, congrats to the two chicks who successfully landed JetBlue #292.

Yves.

[bob.dino 0]

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Northwest and Continental Airlines use repair stations in Hong Kong and Singapore.

So? It's a global marketplace... I can't speak for HK, but the Singaporeans know how to build and run things. Singapore Airlines is a far better carrier than any of the major US guys.

[mx757 4]

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Northwest and Continental Airlines use repair stations in Hong Kong and Singapore.

So? It's a global marketplace... I can't speak for HK, but the Singaporeans know how to build and run things. Singapore Airlines is a far better carrier than any of the major US guys.

tell that to the United mechanics who have to fix lot of problems on aircraft coming in from these over sea repairs...and the Northwest Airlines 747 that landed Gaum with nose gear up, after coming out of Hong Kong repair shop. .lot of crappy workmanship over there..

[Keith 0]

Some people choose the damndest things to bitch about

Keith

Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville

[thesaint 0]

The plane got down safe. THe front landing gear was turned at a 90 degree angle and IT HELD. That is one heck of a commercial for AIRBUS.

O yea and to the pilots,...."GOOD JOB, THAT's BEER".

"If a thousand people agree on a dumb ideal, it's STILL a dumb ideal."

Skully Bro #1 - POPS# 10440

[Dougiefresh 0]

Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.

Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. --Douglas Adams

[nael 0]

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They shut those monitors down so the passengers couldn't see what the television cameras were showing the rest of the world. They shut those monitors down not knowing how much longer they would have to orbit before landing. And "NO" i wasn't kidding. I think it's a sorry thing to do. It doesn't matter in the long run because there were some MSNBC reporting personal on board that flight, i'm sure they'll be deposed for all the world to hear anyway. This CYA crap has got to stop.

Perhaps it had something to do with keeping the passengers calm and not trying to scare the pants off them, thus causeing even more panic throughout the plane. I think they did the right thing shutting those monitors off.

www.TerminalSports.com.auAustralia's largest skydive gear store

[BillyVance 34]

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yea, Mar I'm deaf.... I was watching it on CNN but TV here is old and No closed captions so I had to guess...and they don't always closed caption "live breaking news" any way...

Get a new TV! I watched it on CNN and Fox News. Both were captioned.

Great job by the pilots! I could not imagine a better landing coming to a stop dead center on the runway on the metal strut! My heart was racing there a bit as the front tires disintegrated... whew!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[mx757 4]

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Quote

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Northwest and Continental Airlines use repair stations in Hong Kong and Singapore.

So? It's a global marketplace... I can't speak for HK, but the Singaporeans know how to build and run things. Singapore Airlines is a far better carrier than any of the major US guys.

tell that to the United mechanics who have to fix lot of problems on aircraft coming in from these over sea repairs...and the Northwest Airlines 747 that landed Gaum with nose gear up, after coming out of Hong Kong repair shop. .lot of crappy workmanship over there..

Here is the Boeing 777 nose gear. You can see the torque link behind the tires. I bet this broke on the Airbus. On the Boeing aircraft if it breaks a cam in the gear as it extends will center the nose gear. The airbus doesn't have this safety feature...which why the Airbus nose gear was turned 90 degrees off center. The 777 nose gear will turn 70 degrees with the tiller and 7 degrees with use of rudder.

[BillyVance 34]

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Here is the Boeing 777 nose gear. You can see the torque link behind the tires. I bet this broke on the Airbus. On the Boeing aircraft if it breaks a cam in the gear as it extends will center the nose gear. The airbus doesn't have this safety feature...which why the Airbus nose gear was turned 90 degrees off center. The 777 nose gear will turn 70 degrees with the tiller and 7 degrees with use of rudder.

Mike really knows his shit. All bow down to his knowledge! Now you know why all these airlines should have bought Boeing jets, not Airbus!

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[mx757 4]

If it ain't a Boeing I ain't going!

[Frenchy68 0]

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Now you know why all these airlines should have bought Boeing jets, not Airbus!

You must be kidding! Airbus just opened new horizons to the industry. No need for tires anymore!

On a serious note, I have a feeling there's a nice little trench running through the middle of runway 25R at LAX...

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[ypelchat 0]

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Here is the Boeing 777 nose gear. You can see the torque link behind the tires. I bet this broke on the Airbus. On the Boeing aircraft if it breaks a cam in the gear as it extends will center the nose gear. The airbus doesn't have this safety feature...which why the Airbus nose gear was turned 90 degrees off center. The 777 nose gear will turn 70 degrees with the tiller and 7 degrees with use of rudder.

Mike really knows his shit. All bow down to his knowledge! Now you know why all these airlines should have bought Boeing jets, not Airbus!

Really!

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/588609/L/

Yves.

[BillyVance 34]

D'oh! Miiiiiiike!!! Got an explanation for this???

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Frenchy68 0]

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D'oh! Miiiiiiike!!! Got an explanation for this???

Low turn!

"For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return."

[ypelchat 0]

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D'oh! Miiiiiiike!!! Got an explanation for this???

Low turn!

Yves.

[bob.dino 0]

That looks like a) a 747, and b) idiocy by the pilots - check the rudder & the caption. They forgot to centre the rudder & nosegear before applying full thrust. D'oh!

[ypelchat 0]

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That looks like a) a 747, and b) idiocy by the pilots - check the rudder & the caption. They forgot to centre the rudder & nosegear before applying full thrust. D'oh!

Yeah.... right.

A 747 pilot, on a monday morning, screwing up a take off....


The pilot had to use the rudder, to counteract the effect of a failed nose gear, at take off.......

Yves.

[lawrocket 3]

Found this one, too.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=021016&WxsIERv=Obrvat%20747-338&Wm=0&WdsYXMg=Dnagnf&QtODMg=Flqarl%20-%20Xvatfsbeq%20Fzvgu%20Vagreangvbany%20%28Znfpbg%29%20%28FLQ%20%2F%20LFFL%29&ERDLTkt=Nhfgenyvn%20-%20Arj%20Fbhgu%20Jnyrf&ktODMp=Qrprzore%2027%2C%201998&BP=1&WNEb25u=Penvt%20Zheenl&xsIERvdWdsY=IU-ROK&MgTUQtODMgKE=%22Pvgl%20bs%20Jbqbatn%22%20%28Qry%2011%2F86%29%20neevivat%20ba%20Ehajnl%2034Y%20jvgu%20gur%20abfr%20trne%20bss%20prager%20naq%20gur%20erfhyg%20jnf%20fcrpgnphyne&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=293242&NEb25uZWxs=1998-12-29&ODJ9dvCE=&O89Dcjdg=23688%2F662&static=yes&width=900&height=588&sok=%20BEQRE%20OL%20ivrjf%20QRFP&photo_nr=12&prev_id=392871&next_id=108617&tbl=ACCIDENT

My wife is hotter than your wife.