Well they say slow is safe right? Maybe that's driving. Hmmmm.
Jim T.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Jeremy Davey
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Carb heat mod - Oil Thermostat mod
--> <europaflyer_3@msn.com>
Time for me to put my PFA EC member hat on, I think...
Perhaps it's because I'm all calm and relaxed after an excellent Xmas, and
hence I'm in a more mollifying mood than my usual 'rottweiler on the prowl'
mode, but I feel disinclined to growl at anyone on this at present - either
Engineering or membership...
So let's just look at the facts :-)
We've had a long-running problem in Engineering with a workload backlog.
That has been a function of resources vs. incoming work and has led to slow
processing of items. I accept that some folks also contend that excess
thinking is put into some jobs. Concentration has hence been put on things
like permit renewals at the expense of mods, but by the middle of the summer
even the mods backlog was under control.
We've also had some long-running problems with process - acknowledgements
really SHOULD be sent, incomplete paperwork should be advised as such by
return and not sat on for three weeks, consistent advice should be given on
what is approved and what is not. This one, I contend, is
workload-independent, and poor performance in this area adds to workload
rather than reduces it.
So what are we doing about it?
The first attempt to fix both was to recruit a Head of Engineering. That
helped with some of the process issues and workload backlog, but by no means
all of it. The second was to recruit another Engineer. Now, after two years,
the HoE has decided to emigrate back to Australia, and we haven't had a
suitable applicant for the Engineer role yet, so we're two men down.
On the up side, Barry Plumb (many UK folks will know Barry) was in the
recent EC intake and has the energy (and time) to invest in improving
Engineering. He's doing the thinking and work to get us over this difficult
period - both in terms of recruiting new staff and ensuring that the
processes are working well.
So what can we expect in terms of service levels in the near future?
I'm really worried about this one. Tough decisions are going to have to be
made about what work is done and what is set aside until new folks have
joined us. I'm sure that everyone will understand that that is unavoidable.
What CAN be done is to ensure that members aren't left with the impression
their submissions have simply vanished into a black hole - so if that
happens to you, please let me know what you submitted, when, what you heard
back, and also please confirm that you checked on the PFA Web Site to make
sure you were using the correct forms and all the correct forms. If there is
a genuine problem, I will take it up.
Finally, a half-a-growl to keep in character... I'm in the middle of a
succession of house moves so my personal time is limited. If you've
submitted your Europa biplane mod on the back of an old electric bill, with
half a sketch and three lines of explanatory text, please don't get in
touch!
Regards,
Jeremy
Jeremy Davey
Europa Monowheel 537M G-EZZA
Europa Club Vice-Chairman, Webmaster, PFA NC Representative PFA EC Member
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, then it is
possible you haven't grasped the severity of the situation."
Tail done
Standard XS wings with mods underway
CM installed in fuse (with airbrakes fittings) 1430 build hours to date
Intended fit:
Rotax 914 turbo, Airmaster CS fully-feathering prop Lots of lights, buttons,
switches, gizmos, and alarms -----Original Message-----
From: owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-europa-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Mike Parkin
Subject: Re: Europa-List: Carb heat mod - Oil Thermostat mod
--> <mikenjulie.parkin@btopenworld.com>
>> I will TRY and progress both oil and water but getting any reply,
>> even confirmation that they have received a message, has been taking
>> weeks recently.
>
> They are overworked and too busy flying replica Spitfires ! They are
> very slow to respond and sometimes they don't.
> And the response to my query has been shown in this case to be
> inaccurate.
>
> I refuse to goad myself into making any comment about this.
>
> Richard
Richard,
I sympathise entirely with your frustration. I have several versions of the
same T-shirt. Is there nothing we can do about the poor service offered by
the PFA Engineering Dept. Perhaps a complaint from the Europa club would be
appropriate. Is there any pressure we can bring to bear, or are they
totally omnipotent - like Mr Blair.
On the other hand, perhaps we malcontents are in the minority and most
people in the Association are happy with the service provided - I don't
think so though!!!
What do think Dave Buzz/Jeremy.
I am still very interested in the oilstat mod.
regards,
Mike
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