industry alert

Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Summit
 
VENUE
Omni Shorham Hotel -- Washington, DC -- Monday, February 11, 2008 -- 9:00a till 12:30

WHAT
Business Travel Coalition (BTC) and International Brotherhood of Teamsters have partnered on an Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Summit to elevate a national discussion over the efficacy of current U.S. airline industry outsourcing practices with respect to maintenance firms in the U.S. and around the world. The Summit is designed to examine problems, secure stakeholder input and explore potential solutions. Proceedings will be broadcast live over the Internet.

CAPSULE
The U.S. DOT Inspector General’s office has documented many problems in this area over several years as have Congressional hearings and an investigative report by Consumer Reports, a publication of Consumers Union. The interests of business and labor are in alignment. The concern is over the further outsourcing of safety and national security-critical aircraft maintenance in the absence of a single, high standard, and an equally high level of FAA oversight. (Read the Consumer Reports article here, and a BTC Commentary piece here.)

AT ISSUE
Corporations that field millions of business travelers are increasingly alarmed over dual and vastly different maintenance and FAA oversight standards. Many solutions have been identified. What is missing is a sense of urgency at the regulatory level proportionate to the growing risk to airline passengers from below-standard aircraft maintenance practices and to the U.S. economy should terrorists seek to exploit a growing vulnerability.

WHO       
Keynote addresses from industry and government leaders, a Consumer Reports investigative briefing and expert panels will shed light on the threshold questions. All stakeholders have been invited to participate: Corporate travel buyers, airlines, maintenance technicians, FAA inspectors, FAA administrators, aircraft maintenance firms, DOT Inspector General’s office and Members of Congress and their staffs.

HOW
To register for this Summit, click here. There are no registration fees, but seating is limited, so consider registering straightaway. A confirmation will be sent to you along with additional hotel and agenda information.