Non Engineering staff
 

Was told today that one airline is using non engineering staff to carry out pre flight inspections after they have arrived.No matter how much training the ramp staff have they will not and never have the knowledge to do what the trained enginnering staff have.

Wouldn't that be slightly illegal, and open the airline up to massive problems if there was an incident?

Not a business expanding decision if you ask me.

Ray

If you are referring to VB, your information is incorrect.

The ground crew are slowly taking over some pushback responsibilities and they walk around the aircraft to ensure it is clear and that hatches are closed - not inspecting the aircraft.

If it is another carrier - my apologies!

Ground staff are being trained in receipt and dispatch of aircraft on the headset, if there is an issue with the aircraft engineers will still handle that.

Well if it was illegal why would an airline train its staff to do it????

Unfortunately the almighty dollar rules the roost in todays world :(

That said, I'm sure no Australian carrier employs this practice.

It all comes down to better utilising your staff, why employ engineers tp recipt and dispatch aircraft when trained ground staff can do the same role, freeing up engineers to be down the hangars/terminal working as engineers???

Swaggy, it all depends on the operators Policy manual etc and the nature of the flights. DJ and JQ and other smaller airlines don't require a engineer to walk around the aircraft unless its a ETOPS flight. QF does due to the EPM. Its the way that they are going now days. Engineers are starting to have to justify their work in order to stay on the line.

Raymond,didnt Ansett do the same thing,that is have ramp staff do push backs.

Ramp staff drove the push back tugs but the whole push back was supervised by the engineering staff. That was the only role they played.