This information AEI received from AMFA.
In the US the increased use of Maintenance and Repair Organisations (MRO), and not certified as well as certified repair stations is increasing so fast we can not maintain accurate data regarding percentages and scope of the work. The Government Accounting Office (GAO) just completed yet another audit blasting the FAA for lack of oversight and for allowing major work to be done where minor work is authorized. The FAA is not mandated to enact any
recommendations from the GAO.

With the Airlines ability to go anywhere they choose to have whatever
work done by anyone, it is diminishing our license to say the least.
They are on a mission to demonstrate that the only need for an A/P
license is a return to service signature. This is even more ugly because I
am aware from the FAA that the Companies want to have full authority
to sign for this return to service under their operating certificate.
Thus eliminating the need of an A&P. We all need to find a way to oppose
this, and soon.

Some success stories exist such as American and United Airlines, both
in-sourcing work under the auspices of their 145 repair station
certificate. However the companies are demonstrating an expectation for
us to work cohesively with the various vendors. This obviously sets off
red flags for me. That is because I feel once they have gained our
knowledge and know how to trouble shoot and repair, they will attempt
to do away with us. It is known as "Tribal Knowledge" and they have
gone so far as to ask for us to write these best practices down for
them, to be shared with our own less experienced technicians. The
companies claim this would increase production and save costs resulting
in more work being brought in for us. Where are our assurances in all
of this that we will still be there at the end? Twenty-five years ago
as a shop steward I heard the same baloney. I cannot, nor will not in
clear conscience teach them how to do my or your job, only to be
replaced eventually with an unlicensed vendor.

Work to be done requires passing legislation requiring an A&P license
for all technicians at certified and non-certified repair
stations. Currently there is no requirement in place mandating even a
percentage of the workers have an A&P license at a 145 repair
station. Naturally this is very attractive to an airline for lower pay
scales, as well as no objections from the worker in how a repair is
accomplished, simply because they just do not know the difference. There
is an average of somewhere between 25-40% for the major carriers to
have their work performed at these cost cutting under regulated, under
inspected, non licensed facilities.

Read more about the situation in USA:

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