Mechanics' Union Statement as UAL Grounds Seven 747 Aircraft

SAN FRANCISCO--(Business Wire)--
The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), the union
that represents mechanics at United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA), today
learned that United Airlines grounded up to seven of its 747 aircraft
due to safety concerns. FAA inspectors discovered that improperly
maintained test equipment was used to test safety-sensitive aircraft
systems.

The faulty test equipment was used to calibrate altitude and air
data aircraft computers to a precise level that permits flying in
Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums (RVSM) airspace. The aircraft
were all repaired overseas at a facility operated by Korean Airlines
in Busan, Korea.

"The problem discovered with the Busan aircraft confirms AMFA's
view on outsourcing and passenger safety," said Joseph Prisco,
President of AMFA Local 9 in San Francisco, the location of UAL's
large maintenance facility. The FAA found that the equipment was out
of calibration while the aircraft flew in revenue service.

"United Airlines will probably brush this off as an example of how
quickly they respond to problems," adds Prisco, "but the problem is
one that all airlines contribute to. When the decisions of the last
two decades have been made based on airline economics at the expense
of maintenance, this is where the system starts to break down."

AMFA has always argued that all United aircraft should be
maintained by UAL mechanics. AMFA opposes all outsourcing of this
work, both domestic and international.

"AMFA consistently informs the public and the U.S. Congress that
these vendors are not up to the task," said Prisco, "nor are they held
to the same exacting standards as U.S.-based mechanics."

Most U.S.-based mechanics have licenses and, as Prisco points out,
"We maintain that the last eyes and the only eyes that should look at
the aircraft are trained and certified eyes. The United States rule of
law and its network of non-punitive Aviation Safety Awareness Programs
(ASAP) also ensure that mechanics can and do report safety
deficiencies without fear of management retaliation.

"In the end, this may be dismissed as a close call. FAA and UAL
management will quickly point out that this problem is being fixed.
UAL, however, outsourced this work in the first place and the FAA,
woefully understaffed and underfunded, are not up to the task of
monitoring and inspecting domestic vendors, much less facilities that
span the globe.

"AMFA stands as a guardian of the traveling public's safety. We
call for a full review of how United and all airlines maintain,
monitor and inspect aircraft repairs," he said. "The flying public
needs to know that 'Safety in the Air Begins with Quality Maintenance
on the Ground.'"

AMFA represents over 9400 active and furloughed mechanic and
related employees at UAL and belongs to the 30,000-member UAL Labor
Coalition.

AMFA Local 9
Joseph Prisco, President, 650-826-1405

Copyright Business Wire 2008