Airline Suspends Mechanics

Widow · Post by **Widow** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 12:53 pm

Airline suspends mechanics
Four Jazz staff disciplined after speaking out about safety concerns
Jun. 13, 2006. 09:48 AM
ROBERT CRIBB, FRED VALLANCE-JONES AND TAMSIN MCMAHON
TORSTAR NEWS SERVICE

Air Canada Jazz has suspended four mechanics a day after they publicly raised concerns about safety at the airline.

Dave Avella, Gianni Ballestrin, Grant Anastas and Ron Anstey, all mechanics at Jazz's Toronto facility, were suspended with pay pending an investigation by the airline into comments they made to the Star, including allegations they are pressured to release planes with defects that could compromise public safety.

Meanwhile, Transport Canada yesterday said it was launching an audit into Jazz's mechanical operations in the next three months.

Lucy Vignola, a spokesperson for the regulator, said inspectors will examine the airline's mechanical standards for compliance with federal regulations. She says the regulator was not aware of the specific allegations made by the four mechanics and that it needs detailed information about incidents in order to properly investigate.

Debra Williams, a Jazz spokesperson, said the airline will investigate the mechanics' allegations.

"The suspensions are so we can have some time to review the concerns raised in the article and why the mechanics chose to take that avenue when there are numerous internal options available to them," said Williams.

Swift action against the four whistle-blowers is an attempt to silence important information the public has a right to hear, said NDP transportation critic Peter Julian (Burnaby-New Westminster).

"What we are seeing increasingly is a drive for more secrecy and a drive to muzzle whistleblowers and I do not believe it's in the public interest," he said.

Several Jazz mechanics who spoke with reporters, including the four who spoke publicly, say they've lodged complaints with Transport Canada inspectors about conditions at Jazz without response.

The comments of the four mechanics included allegations that they are forced to cut corners in order to avoid costly delays in flight schedules, that some mechanical procedures are done in breach of regulations and that there's a poor level of training and scrutiny over mechanical repairs at the airline.

The four mechanics were among a dozen Jazz employees who raised safety concerns with reporters in interviews over the past three months. But they were the only ones quoted by name. The others withheld their names because they feared repersussions.

Several mechanics who spoke with reporters agreed that a Jazz aircraft takes off with mechanical defects, on average, about once a week.

The Jazz mechanics who spoke with reporters said they refuse to release planes with defects into service. But they say in many cases their superiors simply find another mechanic to sign the paperwork releasing the plane — or sign it out themselves — to avoid delays.

Some of the mechanics, including Anstey, say they are nervous flying their own airline.

Jazz, which was the subject of a highly critical audit by Transport Canada in 2003, denied all of the allegations in a written statement that said the airline "never compromises safety.. While on-time performance is definitely a goal at Jazz, we never sacrifice safety in order to achieve an on-time flight departure."

The airline has had several high-profile mechanical incidents in the past several years including a 2002 incident in which a metre-long piece of the leading edge of the wing of a Jazz Dash 8 fell off on takeoff in Toronto. A Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation found the potentially tragic mishap — triggered by 14 missing screws that should have secured the part on the wing — was caused by sloppy maintenance and the "undesirably low" ratio of experienced to inexperienced mechanics.

The company attributed the incident to human error.

A 2003 audit by Transport Canada of the airline found "the focus of the maintenance and operations departments was compromised to the extent that several of the most basic regulatory and quality control tasks had deteriorated."

The company says those problems have been corrected.

A year later, pilots of another Jazz Dash 8 on a Toronto-to-Kingston route declared an emergency due to loose nuts in the plane's pitch control system that fell off.

A TSB investigation found deficiencies in Jazz's mechanical procedures.

The company says it took "immediate corrective action in response to the incident by implementing changes to its maintenance and flight operations procedures."

Tim Pearce, vice-president of the union representing Jazz's 750 mechanics, said he received word yesterday afternoon from company management that the four mechanics were being suspended for breaching the company's media relations policy.

Pearce, along with three of the mechanics interviewed yesterday, say they've never heard of the policy.

Anastas, Avella and Ballestrin stood by their comments yesterday.

Anstey could not be reached for comment.

loopy · Post by **loopy** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:23 pm

At first I was I was surprised they were suspended. Then again, most companies have some sort of policy about dealing with the press.

I commend the mechanics for what they did, if in fact their own supervisors were going and releasing aircraft they themselves would not.

INTEGRITY

This industry needs it.

grimey · Post by **grimey** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:34 pm

They were suspended with pay, so it's not nearly as bad as it sounds. We need to get some sort of whistleblower protection in place, though.

bizjet_mania · Post by **bizjet_mania** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:50 pm

When I read the article a few days I go a had a feeling this would happen. If infact it is true, then hats off to the mechanics.

... · Post by **...** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 4:20 pm

Nice to see this new SMS is working

Donald · Post by **Donald** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 6:57 pm

Not saying the allegations are true or untrue, but if TC was actually concerned...

Meanwhile, Transport Canada yesterday said it was launching an audit into Jazz's mechanical operations in the next three months.

Why give any suspect company a three month head start to fix the paper and/or planes?

Bugz · Post by **Bugz** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:30 pm

Why give any suspect company a three month head start to fix the paper and/or planes?

To minimize the amount of work those lazy arses have to do when they get there, but they still look good in the public's eye, because they "investigated"

ramp_rat · Post by **ramp_rat** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:13 pm

Good Job Boys!!! By the way, I know who worked on that leading edge that fell off during take off but i'll keep it a secret!!!

rampman · Post by **rampman** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:48 am

I doubt an ame signed out the thing knowing that the 14 bolts were missing. If he did then its negligence and (s)he should have all that's coming to him.

yeah you could blame it on the pilots too for not noticing on the walkaround

but what are they really talking about here? mel'd items? or some of the little items that there's probalby a couple dozen outfits flying around without right now

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 11:59 am

Launching an audit w/in the next three months is more than likely due to a backlog on the M&M side of TC.

If a concern is expressed over an operators maintenance, it's not as though TC can drop everything they are working on to investigate said company. That would put the other companies TC is working with on the back-burner, when those other companies probably have maintenance concerns as well.

Imagine if your company was told to play second fiddle while TC went running to audit Jazz b/c a few disgruntled employees ran to the media. Meanwhile, you're awaiting a MSA for an a/c new to your fleet - crew is trained...insurance and lease payments are being made...but you can't fly the a/c without the paperwork, you've just lost your Dir of Maint. to the competition, and you're awaiting approval for your MCM or MPCM to which you're already applying the changes to ops 'pre-approval'.

- I would have a serious problem with moving to the back of the line after a couple months working my way to the front.

SKYTRAILS · Post by **SKYTRAILS** » Wed Jun 14, 2006 3:24 pm

Im a bit surprised at all the support for the JAZZ maintenance guys who spoke to the press about the 'alleged' maintanence problems. I dont know if the problems exist or not, I hope they dont. I've worked for companies with some questionable maintanence practices, but I just cant see how going to the Press is the best way to deal with the problem. There are a few much better ways to deal with the problem:

1) Talk to the person you disagree with. (LOOPY - This shows INTEGRITY).
2) Talk to your Safety Committee.
3) Talk with your Ops Manager.

4) Talk with TC.

A company CANNOT fire you for bringing these issues up. If they try to, I'd say you've got a pretty good 'wrongfull dismissal' case on your hands, and you'd probably end up with some pretty decent compensation AND your job.

TC should only be brought into the fold if all other means dont work. I'd bet they would at least investigate - otherwise they could be held liable if there is an accident.

We all know that the Press is not the best at writing well thought out articles about the aviation industry. They want their stories to be read, and will sensationalize a story without hesitation to attract readers.

So to the JAZZ maintenance 'brothers': Do you think this is going to help you next time your union agreement is due for renewal?

FLY SAFE !

ramp_rat · Post by **ramp_rat** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:44 am

rampman wrote:I doubt an ame signed out the thing knowing that the 14 bolts were missing. If he did then its negligence and (s)he should have all that's coming to him.

yeah you could blame it on the pilots too for not noticing on the walkaround

but what are they really talking about here? mel'd items? or some of the little items that there's probalby a couple dozen outfits flying around without right now

dude, you are totally right!! no one would freaking sign a plane in that condition but from what i heard, it got passed on to another shift, i guess they totally forgot about it, that's why it's always good when it's on paper!! but i really don't know what the real story is, so who knows!!

longdog · Post by **longdog** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 9:53 am

I agree that whistleblower protections should be in place. Yet these 4 handled the problem wrong. They didn't try and fix the problem internally. I sense 4 disgruntled employees trying to drive a thorn deeper.

snaproll20 · Post by **snaproll20** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:37 am

SKYTRAILS, longdog ( and others)

I find your comments rather naive. Too often, comments by responsible individuals with consciences are responded to unfavourably by management.

talking over a problem with anyone in a supervisory position has to be tempered by the knowledge your ass could get kicked for doing it. You need to know when to back out of the discussion.
Unscrupulous managers will always dump on the "whistle-blowers", which is why the SMS is going to be a losing concept.
Will TC bankroll an ex-employee who wants to sue his boss for wrongful dismissal after revealing a safety issue?

The particular discussion may never be spoken of, written about or alluded to, but the manager will find some other "legitimate" reason to dispose of the employee who has now demonstrated he/she is not a "team-player."

Similarly, talking to TC produces two results....nothing and nothing. (Nothing regarding action, and nothing for your future.)
Any action which takes place from them will be only to their glory and you will be hung out to dry.

I am not in favour of employees going to the media, but I understand that it is sometimes the only way to get action. Just suppose one of the aircraft mentioned had crashed? Would you like that on your conscience?

KAG · Post by **KAG** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 12:52 pm

Just like the PIC has to stand up for his/her decisions and not fold to company pressure, so should mechanics. Don’t cry to the media that you felt “pressure” – shit we all feel pressure, take a stand!!!!
Company tries to push you, push back – you have a union backing you. Also there are us pilots, who WON’T fly a knowingly unsafe plane, come talk to us we’ll help ya out. We’ll flat out refuse to fly it.

If it’s that bad, you let it get that bad!!! And you’re putting our lives and the passenger’s lives at risk, for what because you won’t stand up for yourselves?!?!

Talk to your UNION – that’s what it’s there for.

Why go straight to the media – that’s the LAST resort.

socrates · Post by **socrates** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 1:41 pm

Doesn't anyone find it ironic that this article is printed only in the Toronto Star and no other paper has said anything about it.

Doesn't anyone find it ironic that this article was printed a couple of months before Jazz's newest competitor will be taking to the skys.

I think if these guys get fired we all know what company they'll be headed to.

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:40 pm

socrates wrote: Doesn't anyone find it ironic that this article was printed a couple of months before Jazz's newest competitor will be taking to the skys.

I think if these guys get fired we all know what company they'll be headed to.

Who?

CD · Post by CD » Thu Jun 15, 2006 4:40 pm

cyyz wrote:
socrates wrote: Doesn't anyone find it ironic that this article was printed a couple of months before Jazz's newest competitor will be taking to the skys.

I think if these guys get fired we all know what company they'll be headed to.
Who?

Porter Airlines?

twotter · Post by **twotter** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:48 pm

socrates wrote:Doesn't anyone find it ironic that this article is printed only in the Toronto Star and no other paper has said anything about it.

Doesn't anyone find it ironic that this article was printed a couple of months before Jazz's newest competitor will be taking to the skys.

I think if these guys get fired we all know what company they'll be headed to.

Actually it hit a couple papers here in Vancouver..

V1 · Post by V1 » Thu Jun 15, 2006 10:46 pm

Have you even read the series on aviation that the Star has been doing? It has nothing to do with Jazz or any other airline, it has to do with safety, and what the public doesn't know. The different articles have gone through 703-705 operators, not only Jazz, other people have used their names and there hasn't been any fallout yet. Just Jazz!
Supposedly the Toronto Star has a bigger readership then the National Post and the Globe and Mail. It would be nice if it was in all the local papers so everyone would know all of our stories, and the truth behind what goes on.
I have never heard of Porter before.

talkinghead · Post by **talkinghead** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:32 am

V1 wrote: I have never heard of Porter before.

.............

talkinghead · Post by **talkinghead** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 5:54 am

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Conten ... ?pagename=
thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1150408210262&call_pageid=
970599119419

Airline aggressive on safety
One of the first in North America to begin implementing several safety-related innovations
Jun. 16, 2006. 01:00 AM

Economics trumps safety: Jazz staff

June 12.

Air safety at risk, workers say

June 15.

I feel compelled to respond to what is now a train of articles on aviation safety in Canada in order to bring some balance and objectivity to the reporting that has been offered to date by the Toronto Star. Having worked for Air Canada Jazz in the past, partly during the period that was referred to by some of its current maintenance staff, I can speak with first-hand knowledge.

Several of the examples being cited in the article are not only extremely dated, they are not factual. Having been the director responsible for maintenance quality and engineering at the time, I was heavily involved in the follow-up to the leading edge incident. The writers also characterize the results of a Transport Canada audit completely erroneously. The fact is that the audit results reflected only minor deficiencies that were mostly administrative in nature. I also find it telling that the maintenance staff quoted in the article actually admit they knowingly released aircraft they considered to be unsafe or out-of-limits.

Jazz was one of the first and most aggressive airlines in Canada and North America to begin implementing several safety-related innovations, such as human factors training and non-punitive safety reporting. These things are hallmarks of a healthy safety culture. The airline also treated safety with prominence within the senior ranks of the organization and formalized the monitoring and reporting of safety issues in many ways.

Of course, there are always improvements that must be pursued in any organization, but it should be acknowledged that Jazz has always been ahead of the regulatory curve by implementing safety-related policies and processes well before they were mandatory. Jazz has also been a true partner with Transport Canada, which has itself been very innovative and proactive in regard to industry safety.

Even other aviation jurisdictions across the world recognize that Canada's approach to aviation safety ranks among the best, along with countries like Australia and the United Kingdom.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this reporting is that it soils the reputation of perhaps the highest calibre aviation maintenance workforce in the country (coast-to-coast). Aviation maintenance professionals have fought very hard for many years to be seen as what they are — highly trained, motivated, critically important and conscientious professionals. The pilot, in-flight, and other staff who work at Jazz are the same, true professionals who put safety first. The individuals who offered this misleading information have done a great disservice to their colleagues who have a lot to be proud of. I, for one, would put the safety of my family and friends in the hands of Air Canada Jazz any time and I am proud to have been associated with it.

David T. Deveau, Lucasville, N.S.

prop2jet · Post by **prop2jet** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:01 pm

In my opinion the biggest problem with this Series, as with many other in-depth studies by media outlets is that in order to attract the attention of the reader they need to have catchy headlines and good stories to tell. Who is going to be interested in reading about an uneventful trip from A to B or the fact that Company XYZ has a perfect operation going.

Many of the stories that are being told are events that took place, were investigated by the TSB, TC and any other bodies involved. As is normally the course of action, reccomendations are made to which the air carriers must act on.

Any new air carrier is going to have it's growing pains and one can say it is a credit to any Flight Operations Dept. to undergo a preliminary audit without any findings.

To even attempt to explain to the average person anything about the aviation industry is going to take a long time and a lot of paitence. You need only think about how long it has to taken yourself to learn and understand the discipline you currently practice.

Perhaps the media should report on some of the accomplishments and challenges faced by many of us in this proffession and what we do on a daily basis and do with safety in mind. How about explaining to the public that a first year pilot with AC, WJ or Jazz earns less than a plumber (no insult intended), or that Flight Attendants who are supposed to be responsible for passenger safety on average earn basically minimum wage for the hours they keep - or that the hours they work are not even regulated by TC.

Maybe they should do an in-depth study on what the true cost of aviation is... how much it should realistically cost to fly to a given destination, factoring everything... adequate profits for the investors... salaries etc. and determine a figure. I bet they will find that those $199.00 fares to Europe are a steal.

cyyz · Post by **cyyz** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 2:38 pm

CD wrote:
cyyz wrote:
socrates wrote: Doesn't anyone find it ironic that this article was printed a couple of months before Jazz's newest competitor will be taking to the skys.

I think if these guys get fired we all know what company they'll be headed to.

Who?

Porter Airlines?

But according to the A/C thread, they said that was the most junior base(ytz). I'm not sure if porter will be a major hit to Jazz.

The Hammer · Post by **The Hammer** » Fri Jun 16, 2006 9:16 pm

Duh!!!!Transport will wait three months because it's summer vacation time!!!! Why do you think a good portion of TC inspectors are at TC. Cause they couldn't get summer vacation at a real job!!