Aviation News Item: 03219

17th Dec 2009

Source: ubmaviationnews.com

The US Transport Workers Union (TWU), which represents aircraft mechanics and other employees at American Airlines, began a publicity campaign against outsourcing of aircraft maintenance by US carriers to overseas MRO providers yesterday (December 16). The union started approaching members of the Senate, who are to decide about the FAA's re-authorisation bill, with fake boarding passes that highlight the alleged lack of oversight by the FAA on overseas repair stations, lower safety standards and associated risks for the travelling public. American Airlines was the only major US carrier still performing its aircraft maintenance work in the US, according to the union. The TWU plans to address passengers directly and distribute leaflets at airports in the new year. James Little, president of the TWU International, said that the union will reveal that "offshore maintenance is the airline industry's dirty little secret".

More Aviation News...