Delay In Work At Pemco

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 6571

Posted by: RStokes
thehoustonnewspaper@yahoo.com
334-790-1729
Date: Nov 13 2009 8:25 PM

DOTHAN:      Rumors were circulating so tonight we went to the President of Pemco Air and asked.

Pemco Air employs a lots of people in this area. We were hearing rumors they had laid people off. Tonight I had a conversation with Kevin Casey, President of Pemco.

Two issues…one is during the holiday Delta puts all available planes in the air. That is their busy peak operating time so they want all assets in the air. After the holidays, in January 2010, Pemco expects more work, in Dothan. The planes will slow down and Delta will place the ones where work is needed with Pemco.

Issue two…The Dothan Airport installed a new navigation system through grants. The updated their electronics in a system called PAPI. This system has to be certified by FAA. The Dothan system has not been certified and will not be until next week.

On Thursday two places flew to Dothan for Pemco to work on them. With PAPI system not working, the planes could not land – as per their operating guides. This has caused a delay in the planes arriving in Dothan. Once the system is up and working, hopefully by Tuesday, the planes should return.

Until then, Pemco had about 100 employees sitting on their tool boxes with no work. A company can not pay the wages they pay with no work. Until the planes arrive, the workers have been sent home. Once the plane arrives they will be back at work.

Pemco expects 2010 to be a bright year. As in every business, things are rapidly changing. Without a viable “bottom line” on the spreadsheet, no one eats.

Mr. Casey assured me he likes Dothan. The customers of Pemco are happy with the performance of the Dothan workforce. They hope to have a long, happy and prosperous future here.

But…expect some delays over the holidays because their customers have flights in the air and not on the ground for work.

 

 

 

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