Field Mechanics are at the bottom of the food chain. It even shows it on the corporate flow chart. Managers are not supportive and will harass you if you don't comply in a way they feel needs to be done. There is a lot of micro managing from a distance via phone and emails. The company handbooks are written in such a way that if you don't follow to the letter you will receive threatening emails although you can't get much accomplished by doing it according to the policy.
The purchasing department requires that orders are placed well in advance for parts but when you don't receive them on time and do a "status check" (which takes a couple days for them to respond) you are advised the part is unavailable. How can we keep the aircraft safe and abide by the regulations when we can't get support? We are responsible for record keeping and verifying the records department is doing their job. With over 3000 employees and a vast number f them working a corporate HQ it is VERY difficult to get anyone to answer a question or assist with a problem.
The SMS program recently put into place is a "dog and pony show". We are told to keep the aircraft safe but inspections continue to be placed into extension and parts or components are late to arrive. It's almost as though we need to turn a blind eye. There seems to be nothing done at the base level to actually promote safety rather than threats, new "policies" and more forms to fill out. The company places the majority of the responsibility on the mechanics and the pilots and is not afraid to throw you "under the bus" if something doesn't go well. They say your maximum day is 14 hours but look the other way when the aircraft goes out of service. Ten days on at 24 hours a day usually works out to 8 hours on then call outs at night. Overtime is severely frowned upon.
The bases are understaffed with no intensions of trying to bring them up to speed. OSHA training is provided but just try to get a new ladder to replace that old rickety one. During the 10 days on it is not unusual to be covering 2-3 bases and multiple aircraft because of vacation schedules and others days off.
Mr. Todd has said he will follow up on concerns brought to him but this isn't true. One thing that id true is Mr. Todd is good at making the company money.
I'll try to hang in there for a couple more years and drink some more Kool Aide until I can retire.
