Posted on 03/13/2005 12:18:46 PM PST by Happy2BMe
GREENSBORO -- Air safety advocates are troubled by TIMCO's use of illegal immigrants to work on airplanes at Piedmont Triad International Airport not only for fear of terrorism, but also out of concern for mechanical errors that could put the flying public at risk.
The company's use of undocumented immigrants could lead to a maintenance flaw with serious in-flight consequences, said Gail Dunham, president of the National Air Disaster Alliance/Foundation.
"TIMCO hired them because they are cheap," said Dunham, a Summerfield resident whose Washington-based group claims to be the nation's "largest grass-roots air safety organization."
"When people's lives are on the line, they should be hiring the very best people, not the cheapest," she said.
Dunham said that the use of workers with uncertain backgrounds and with possible gaps in technical knowledge is part of a general decline in the air industry's safety net.
In a written statement, TIMCO disputed that perspective, saying the arrest of 27 people at its PTI plant Tuesday was "an immigration issue, not a safety or security issue."
"All work performed at TIMCO, including work performed by the individuals detained by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) was supervised by properly certificated TIMCO employees," the statement said, referring to Federal Aviation Administration licenses intended to ensure aviation mechanics are properly skilled.
TIMCO added that "all critical work" is then double-checked by the company's inspection department.
Meanwhile, the first criminal charges were unveiled Friday against several of TIMCO's alleged illegal immigrants, one of whom is a Greensboro resident charged with lying to the FAA to receive the type of federal certification TIMCO mentioned in its statement.
The criminal complaint against Percy Alberto Vega, 53, of 127 Meadowood St., says he lied about his experience and qualifications to take the test for an "air frame and power plant" certification from the FAA.
"Percy Alberto Vega's experience ... would not meet the required amount of time nor level of experience needed to qualify him," said Megan K. France, senior special agent with the U.S. Department of Transportation's office of inspector general. FAA is part of federal DOT.
The FAA's Web site shows that Vega was awarded the so-called "A&P" certification in September. The license entitles a mechanic to service, repair and overhaul aircraft, including engine work.
The criminal complaint also accuses Vega of having two pieces of fraudulent identification and overstaying the November 2002 expiration of the work visa that entitled him to be in the country.
Two others detained Tuesday at TIMCO now also face criminal charges, Martin Freitas Cuevas, 38, also of Peru, and Alvin Feliciano Cruz, 35, of the Philippines. Both are charged with possessing fraudulent identification cards.
It is unclear whether Vega, Cruz and Cuevas were permanent, full-time TIMCO employees or worked for one of 10 labor contractors who provided the company with temporary workers.
Investigators from ICE, DOT, the Social Security Administration and the FBI arrested the 27 on Tuesday morning about 9:30, holding all on noncriminal immigration violations at jails in Winston-Salem and Charlotte.
Federal agents said criminal charges would be filed against those who had used fake documents, especially in efforts to defraud the government. The rest were to face administrative proceedings in Atlanta that could lead to deportation.
Initially, TIMCO asserted that none of the detainees were "direct" company employees, but worked instead for one of the 10 labor contractors.
After the News & Record published the names of those facing immigration charges Thursday, TIMCO said that six were permanent, full-time TIMCO employees who had been on the payroll for between 22 months and six years.
A spokesman for the company said the mistake happened because TIMCO executives did not have a list of which workers the federal government had rounded up until seeing it in the newspaper.
Federal authorities said that only a few of those arrested on immigration charges had FAA licenses. The rest worked under the supervision of licensed mechanics on airplane interiors and less critical ares, according to a spokesman for DOT's of inspector general office.
On the status of Vega, the Peruvian with the A&P license, it's unclear whether the FAA knew it was licensing a Peruvian mechanic.
The A&P mechanic's license didn't mention Vega's nationality. But he also was certified by the FAA in another license issued in 1994 as "a foreign based" commercial pilot rated for both single- and multi-engine aircraft, "valid only when accompanied by Republic of Peru license number 741."
Both licenses bear his Greensboro address. The complaint against him says he has been living in the United States off and on since March 1994.
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The criminal complaint against Percy Alberto Vega, 53, of 127 Meadowood St., says he lied about his experience and qualifications to take the test for an "air frame and power plant" certification from the FAA.
TIMCO HR Person: "Are you sure you have the necessary experience?"
Vega: Si Senor
TIMCO HR Person: "You have the certification?"
Vega: Si Senor
TIMCO HR Person: "Wecome to TIMCO"
The employers that ignore our laws and continue to hire illegal immigrants are holding the rest of this country hostage. We need to encourage our leaders to stand up to them.
Pinging
Of course!! LOL.
And, if it bothers us that our health care system is adversely impacted, then the answer is simple - we should quit providing health care.
And, if it bothers us that our public school system is adversely impacted, then (again) the answer is simple - we should just close our public schools.
And, if it bothers us that American employers who obey our laws have difficulty competing with those who won't, then (again) the answer is simple - the law abiding employers should either find another way to make a living or begin breaking our laws.
And, if it bothers us that that illegal immigrants are camping in the bushes in our back yards, then (once again) the answer is simple - we should just sell our back yards to someone who isn't so sensitive.
;-)
But did he pass the test?
Amazing
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The ragheads who flew their own airline on 9/11 didn't pass the test either.
I think this guy was a Mexican.
"And, if it bothers us that our health care system is adversely impacted, then the answer is simple - we should quit providing health care."
Shoot, I can solve the nursing crisis. As a healthcare recruiter I can recruit Mexican nurses and illegally place them using fake credentials. As long as they can do the job cheaper I don't think anyone would mind...and I can make millions.
Not to worry, the criminal illegal foreign alien mechanics only work on engines that American mechanics won't work on.
You know, I don't think there has ever been a more costly crime in the history of America than what we see now in the illegal hiring of illegal immigrants. What criminal conduct in our history was ever this costly?
Like I said, this group of employers who refuse to abide by our immigration and employment laws are holding this entire country hostage. How long will it be before someone stands up to them?
Well, of course, you're absolutely right. These employers may not have much respect for our laws, but they respect political power and they obviously have a lot of clout. That's why it's so hard for some of our leaders to stand up to them. Our leaders need to know that most of the American peoplw will back them in this struggle.
It's about leadership and guts. ;-)
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