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Right now, the experienced mechanics for Northwest Airlines are locked out of their jobs and walking picket lines in front of the maintenance hangar on my project. The workers brought in to replace them do not have the same level of training. And when the dust clears from this particular labor dispute, I expect that mechanic wages will be between 15% and 20% below their former levels for those (Northwest) jobs. The airlines have overall been winning their fights with Labor, lowering wages and benefits. The NW pilots recently took a 15% pay cut.
So, from the perspective of folks who don't notice that it is people who do the job of maintenance, operation and safety, this is a good deal. It helps keep the price of a ticket down. From another perspective, one might say that the lowering of airline employee wages across the board, in double-digit chunks every couple of years, could have an impact on the safety, or lack thereof, of airline travel generally.
The Boeing 737 is arguably the most successful airplane in aviation history, and has an excellent safety record. But I'm not sure any of them have ever failed to operate perfectly when maintenance and operation procedures were followed.
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Man of Carbon Fiber (stronger than steel)
Mocha 1978 911SC. "Coco"
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