TSA Opens Comment Period for Proposed Rule Making on Security at Repair Stations

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced publication in the Federal Register of a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) to strengthen the Aircraft Repair Station Security program. The proposed rulemaking would establish security requirements for maintenance and repair work conducted on aircraft and aircraft components at domestic and foreign repair stations certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
"This proposed rule supplements FAA requirements that protect aircraft undergoing repairs from terrorist threats," said TSA Office of Security Operations Assistant Administrator Lee Kair. "By enhancing repair station security, this rulemaking guards against the potential threat of an aircraft being destroyed or used as a weapon."
The NPRM requires FAA-certificated foreign and domestic repair stations to adopt and carry out a standard TSA security program to safeguard the security of a repair station, the repair work conducted, and all aircraft and aircraft components at the station.
The program will require certificated stations to implement strict access controls, provide security awareness training, and allow for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) inspections.
The NPRM is long overdue and fulfills the Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act's requirement for DHS to put forth security regulations for domestic and foreign aircraft repair stations. The public has 60 days to comment on the NPRM once published in the Federal Register.

Teamsters Support Tighter Security at Foreign Repair Stations

The Teamsters Union said Wednesday that there should be a single security standard for aircraft repair stations in the U.S. and overseas.

The House Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection heard testimony today from the Teamsters about security at overseas repair stations.

The Transportation Security Administration proposed a new security rule this week. The rule leaves out 21 foreign non-certificated stations that do work critical to the airworthiness of the aircraft, according to the Department of Transportation inspector general.

“It’s long past time to tighten security at overseas repair stations seven years after an aircraft repair technician who belonged to al-Qaida was arrested in Singapore,” said Teamsters Airline Division Director David Bourne. “Though we applaud the Transportation Security Administration for proposing a new security rule, we think that it should include all foreign air stations.”

Bourne further said that all security standards need to be equivalent to those in the U.S., including background checks.

Chris Moore, a Teamster airline mechanic, testified that he had witnessed lax security at the Aeroman facility at El Salvador International Airport, which now handles four lines of heavy maintenance for Southwest Airlines. Moore, who has worked for Continental Airlines at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston since 1986, visited Aeroman in June.

Moore told the subcommittee that Aeroman had no electronic card reader to verify that escort badges are valid. In Houston, a card that fails to be verified by electronic card readers will immediately draw a law enforcement officer.

TSA conducts surprise inspections of mechanics in the United States, though Moore saw no such inspections in El Salvador. Further, he saw no patrols of the perimeter, though many other businesses were patrolled by armed guards.

“Is there real control over who is actually working on our aircraft in a developing economy?” Moore said. “When the aircraft is stripped bare and there are literally thousands of places where explosives or other contraband can be hidden, are we willing to take that chance?”

Submitted by Richard Negri


To watch the hearing or read the transcripts click here.

Negotiations continued

Negotiations continued in Chicago on November 12th and 13th. Day one centered entirely on Benefits, with the Company's Benefits Department making various power point presentations that outlined the direction the Company wants to go in terms of health benefits.

The presentations were followed by an official health benefits proposal from the Company. The Union negotiating committee asked various questions to clarify the proposal, but informed the Company that our official response to the proposal will come after an exhaustive analysis by the experts at the IBT Benefits and Legal Departments in Washington D.C.

On day two of negotiations, the Company presented their third proposal on Article XXI, General and Miscellaneous. After a review, the Union submitted a counter proposal on the Article. Article XXI will be discussed again at the next negotiation session in the first week of December.

Accelerating Negotiations
The parties have agreed to accelerate the negotiation process. The result will be an extremely aggressive negotiating schedule in December and January that will involve a significant time commitment from the Union negotiating team.

Upcoming Negotiations Dates
December 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in SFO, and December 8th and 9th in SFOFurther dates in December and January will be forthcoming.
You can view all negotiation updates at www.IBTUALNegotiations.com

Is the Flying Public Protected?

On Wednesday, November 18, @2 pm EST the House Subcommittee on Transportation Security has scheduled a hearing on “Is the Flying Public Protected? An Assessment of Security at Foreign Repair Stations."

This hearing will evaluate security vulnerabilities associated with foreign repair stations and help Subcommittee Members assess the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) proposed security programs, risk analysis, and forthcoming rulemaking for oversight of security procedures at foreign repair stations performing maintenance on commercial aircraft.

Chris Moore Chairman, Teamsters Aircraft Mechanics Coalition has been invited as a witness. This is a very important step in telling Congress about our concerns over security of foreign repair stations.

You can watch the hearing live via the web by click here Nov 18th 2pm EST.

Jock

FAA Enforcement

For the first two quarters of this year, there has been $8,416,525 fines imposed on US airlines for maintenance. Most of the fines went to Southwest Airlines at a total of $7,500,000 and for United Airlines $56,250 this year.

To help to reduce maintenance errors always have your MM’s with you and read carefully. Night shift workers are most likely to commit errors between 3 A.M. and 5 A.M. know the symptoms of fatigue and keep an eye on your coworkers.

For more information on fatigue here are some links.
National Sleep Foundation
Sleep Education

A Day to Remember

Happy Birthday Columbia State?

In 1852, a group of people drafted a memorial to Congress to express their desire to be granted statehood to the Union under the name of Columbia.

During the Convention, it was thought to be too confusing of a name because of the District of Columbia so renamed the soon to be 42nd state Washington after President George Washington. Washington joined the Union on November 11,1889.

So Happy Birthday Washington State.

Delta Drops 20-Pound Engine Part

On Thursday, a 20-pound engine tail cone fell from a Boeing 777 plane headed from JFK Airport to Tokyo and onto the front yard of Michelle Russell in Roosevelt, Long Island. The Delta crew only realized the four-foot piece of metal was missing after it landed in Tokyo"14 hours later. While airline officials say the tail cone isn't necessary for the plane to operate (it helps with fuel efficiency), Russell said, "I'm a firm believer if you take off with something you should land with the same parts you took off with."
According to the Post, the tail cone "smashed through a tree outside [the Russell] home, bounced off the pavement and came to a halt up against the family's car Thursday afternoon." Russell said, "It looked like a piece of sheet metal, until my husband went to move it. At that point, it looked like a giant ice cream cone that was silver," adding, "If you think about it, the kids could have been outside playing, someone could have been walking down the street. I mean, that's beside the fact that it could have come thorough our roof."

Delta is conducting an investigation. And one of the Russells' neighbors decided to find a silver lining, "Well I'm hoping it's a sign of blessings coming from heaven."

BYLINE: Jen Chung

Green River

If you live in the Green River Valley around Kent and Auburn Washington, you really need to look into preparing for flooding.

Last night, I was invited to a conference call “Town Hall” meeting with Congressman Dave Reichert and Congressman Adam Smith along with Colonel Anthony Wright of the Army Corps of Engineers.

There were discussions on how to be prepared for homes and businesses. They also talked about the current repairs of the dam and how much is leaking by. Colonel Wright said that they are keeping the dam as low as it came be without dumping silt into the river. They had all stressed how critical it is if you live in the potential flood zone, you should get flood insurance through the Federal Government also knowing the evacuation routes. All of the affected cities are offering free sandbags for your homes just go to your cities website to find the locations.

For more information, follow the links below.
Here are some links that show the potential flood zones for each city.
Green River Valley — Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila

http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan.aspx
http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan/GreenRiverValley.aspx

Jock

On this day today

November 4th, 1920: Air mail service has opened between U.S. and Canada. The first route had been planned from Seattle, Washington to Victoria, B.C. The pilot of the plane was scheduled to meet all boats arriving and departing from the British Columbia capital area.

November 4th, 1979: Militant student followers of the Ayatollah Khomeini storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran taking 90 hostages. The students were enraged that the deposed Shah had been allowed to enter the United States for medical treatment and they threatened to murder hostages if any rescue was attempted. No diplomatic solution could be found and President Carter ordered a rescue mission in which eight U.S. military personnel were killed and no hostages rescued. The hostages were held in captivity for 14 months and were eventually released when the US Government released $3 billion in frozen Iranian assets and promised $5 billion more in financial aid.