Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Maintenance Airframe; Maintenance Powerplant
Maintenance Inspector 13; Maintenance Technician 25
Communication Breakdown; Fatigue; Situational Awareness; Time Pressure; Workload
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Company Policy; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Staffing
One Inspector was here to work with 32 Mechanics and four [Aircraft] Cleaners. Four aircraft and a total of 36 people to watch over [by one Inspector] and safely inspect and oversee maintenance is next to impossible. We have talked to our Director and supervisors about the problem for months with nothing being done. The pressure put on these Inspectors is overwhelming. They feel pressured to cut corners to get the job done. The fear of overlooking a major step or procedure resulting in a major accident or fatality rides on all our minds. Safety is our number one concern. This happens almost every weekend. Please help the Inspection Department with this before we lose an aircraft or someone gets killed. Limit the number of people one Inspector can safely supervise at one time.
Reporter stated his Air Carrier recently added only one Inspector for the entire weekend while their Maintenance production department added 30 mechanics during the same period. Their Inspection Department refuses to call-in additional inspectors on overtime pay to address the increased workload from their Airframe (Sheet metal) mechanics. Their Maintenance policy is 100-percent Inspection; of all work accomplished starting with C-Checks and Heavier Maintenance Visits; which they also do on their aircraft. He has worked Maintenance and Inspection for 35 years; the last 15 years with the current Operator. But the workload on Inspectors has increased beyond reasonable.
A Maintenance Base Inspector reports their Inspection Department's policy of not increasing Inspector staffing during heavy weekend Mechanic overtime has made the workplace virtually impossible for one Inspector to oversee maintenance of 32 mechanics; six aircraft cleaners and safely inspect four aircraft on one shift.