ATW Daily NewsFriday October 17, 2008 United Airlines said that 332 International Assn. of Machinists members have taken advantage of early out and voluntary furlough programs as part of UA's effort to reduce employment rolls by 7,000 positions, reducing the need for involuntary furloughs among IAM employees by 40%. UA sad more than 1,500 cabin staff represented by the Assn. of Flight Attendants around 200 pilots and 100 mechanics have taken leave so far.
Spanish Judge Javier Perez, who is overseeing a judicial inquiry into August's Spanair MD-82 crash, summoned three Spanair mechanics for questioning this week, including the pair who inspected the aircraft before its failed second takeoff attempt.
The third reportedly is the airline's head of maintenance. A court spokesperson told reporters that the mechanics could be charged with manslaughter. Spain's Civil Aviation Accident Investigation Commission earlier this month issued a report stating that the aircraft's flaps were not extended (ATWOnline, Oct. 13).Separately, the SEPLA pilots union said yesterday that it has reached agreement with Spanair on the layoff of 90 pilots and the closure of crew bases at Las Palmas, Tenerife, Alicante, Palma, Malaga and Bilbao (ATWOnline, Aug. 12).
