Editor's Notebook

Welcome to the New
Aviation Maintenance

The aviation aftermarket is undergoing extraordinary change. And Aviation Maintenance magazine is changing, too. This designed November issue of Aviation Maintenance reflects the trends in the aftermarket, adapting to meet the needs of the maintenance workforce and the influx of technology.
Chief among the changes is recognition that in the civil sector, aviation is comprised of two key segments, commercial aviation (airlines) and general aviation (business aviation and light aircraft). While these two segments of the aviation aftermarket might seem unique, with little crossover, there is a huge amount of sharing between both commercial and general aviation.
Typically, the commercial aviation and general aviation industries operate on separate economic cycles. As the airline industry suffered following the 2001 recession, the general aviation segment dipped slightly but then resumed robust growth. Business travelers voted with their seats and shifted to the convenience and security of general aviation after experiencing the challenges of post-9/11 airline travel. Light aircraft and business jet sales are at record highs, with second-quarter 2005 billings up 31.6 percent, and sales of business jets up 36.6 percent.

The airline industry struggles with a business climate that demands simpler fare structures, reliable safe service, and costs that are too low for airlines to make a reasonable profit margin.
It's been estimated that airlines have eliminated more than 80,000 jobs since 2001, and thousands of these were from the ranks of the estimated 160,000 active aviation maintenance technicians in the U.S. Of course, many of those jobs, while they don't exist at the airlines anymore, have shifted to independent maintenance providers that are now performing more than 50 percent of airline maintenance, according to U.S. government research.

While all this airline cost-cutting has been accelerating, aircraft and engine manufacturers continue to build more reliable and cheaper-to-maintain products. General Electric's new GEnx engine, for example, is the fifth generation in the GE90 family, and its planned on-wing time is expected to last for three typical engine overhaul intervals. (See story on page 34.)
To meet the needs of the modern commercial and general aviation aftermarket, Aviation Maintenance is addressing issues unique to both segments and products and technology that maintainers need to know about for both commercial and general aviation maintenance.

As modern aircraft feature more electronics systems, Aviation Maintenance will help readers navigate the new terrain with a monthly column called Avionics, Etc. by avionics maintenance expert Marijan Jozic. This column is not just hypothetical wishful thinking, but reflects Jozic's vast experience shepherding large modification projects through the hangar and out the door on time and within budget. Another new column, Industry Insights, features issues germane to the maintenance shop and it will be written by a variety of contributors, beginning this month with FAA safety expert and former NTSB investigator Steve Carbone.
The new Change Agent page, which will always be found on the last editorial page of the magazine, features industry experts and personalities who are influencing or managing great changes in the aircraft maintenance industry.
Our talented design team, including Rob Hudgins, who led the redesign effort, and staff designers Lisa Czaplicki, senior graphic designer and Rhonda Scharlat Hughes, group art director have done a wonderful job updating the look of Aviation Maintenance.
As always, the Aviation Maintenance team looks forward to serving the needs of the aircraft maintenance industry. Whether your company maintains or operates airliners, helicopters, business jets, or light aircraft, Aviation Maintenance is your source of information on the aviation aftermarket.
We welcome your feedback on Aviation Maintenance's new design and on the editorial content. Please feel free to contact us at:

Matt Thurber - Editor

E-mail: mthurber@accessintel.com