Archives :: Aviation Maintenance Magazine :: Issue :: Special Report
Displaying 1 - 20 of 81 stories.
July 1, 2009
Hearing the acronym MSG might make some think of the preservative in some take-out food. But in the maintenance world, MSG-3 is the root of all inspection schedules in a process starting before an aircraft enters service. Here is a look at this fascinating process and how manufacturers and operators work to achieve the end result. The method that aircraft manufacturers, operators and regulators use to...June 1, 2009
In aviation, one thing is for sure — things change. New technologies, equipment and even shift changes can cause consternation. The best employees are flexible and adapt, but it’s not always so easy. As Franklin Roosevelt said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Politicians and corporate officers have used the powerful word "change" in recent months to convince...May 1, 2009
On June 10, 1990, British Airways Flight 5390, a BAC1-11, experienced a windscreen blowout shortly after departure from Birmingham Intl Airport (BHX) in the U.K. The left windscreen, which had been replaced prior to the flight, was blown out under effects of the cabin pressure when it overcame the retention of the securing bolts, 84 of which, out of 90 total, were of smaller than specified diameter. The...April 1, 2009
Within the next two decades, some 29,400 aircraft, ranging from regional jets to Boeing 747s and Airbus A380s, will be delivered to airlines around the world, according to Boeing’s "2008 – 2027 Current Market Outlook." Of those, 11,440 will go to airlines within the Asia/Pacific, Middle East, Latin America and African regions — areas where MROs are considered an emerging market...January 1, 2009
Export control regulations weigh heavily on the aerospace industry, even the relatively small PMA domain. One of the latest twists, which has raised eyebrows in the community, is a rule published by the State Department on Aug. 14, 2008. This purports to clarify how parts manufacturers can determine whether the Commerce Department regulates their components. Companies typically prefer the Commerce...October 1, 2008
Performance-based logistics aims to drive down costs while increasing efficienty. Can airlines find a way to use this military concept to save money? Performance-based logistics (PBL), the outsourcing approach now favored by the U.S. military to reduce aircraft support costs, stresses high-level objectives, alignment of goals between the government and the service provider, analysis of current cost...September 1, 2008
Founded by Herb Elliott in 1936 as Elliott Flying Services and operated for more than 50 years with his wife, Arlene, Elliott Aviation continues to be a family-run organization in a time when the aviation industry is awash with ownership changes, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations, joint ventures and spin-offs. The couple’s son, Chairman and CEO Wynn Elliott, now runs the company, which is...August 1, 2008
In the last several years, the current StandardAero facility in Augusta, Ga. has undergone quite a few name changes. Regardless of the name on the door, two things have remained constant at StandardAero Augusta. "Quality and people," says Chris Swan, VP and general manager. The business started as Capital Aviation in the ’70s but was purchased by the former Garrett Aviation. This relatively...July 1, 2008
AM: Larry Flynn leaves big shoes to fill. How will you live up to his legacy? Burns: It’s a big challenge. I am fortunate to have worked really closely with Larry for a long time. For 14 years we have had daily interaction. I know a great deal about what he brought to Gulfstream and I have had a chance to work in every facet of our business. I’ve worked in engineering, manufacturing...June 1, 2008
Allan T. Duffin is a freelance writer, television producer and veteran of the U.S. Air Force. As a maintenance squadron commander, he deployed to Southwest Asia for Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom and received the Bronze Star for outstanding leadership in a combat zone. Engineers, maintenance crews turn crippled aircraft into fleet workhorse. The gigantic cargo plane descended onto the...June 1, 2008
Helping soldiers keep battlefield tools up to date and ready for combat is the primary function of contract field service representatives. Battlefield logistics today are seriously challenged by the fact that while combat weapons have become highly sophisticated instruments of war, the battleground has remained a hostile environment of blowing dust, clinging mud, blazing heat and bitter cold, testing the...May 1, 2008
Insurance is figured into the cost of doing business, but with a limited number of insurers in the aviation industry, what’s a small shop to do? Whenever aviation mechanics or shop managers congregate, the subject of insurance almost always comes up. There are constant complaints about the cost, the lack of availability and the complexity of obtaining insurance. To really understand the problems and...February 1, 2008
What keeps employees safe, happy and efficient? A management team that understands the needs of its employees and that includes a job that allows for personal and professional growth. As the only aviation MRO to win The Wall Street Journal’s 2007 Top Small Workplaces Award, Summit Aviation has a lot to celebrate. The company was selected from more than 850 nominations. There were 35 finalists and...January 1, 2008
There’s no such thing as something for nothing. But sometimes, you can get more than you ever expected out of a bargain. PMA parts are a great example. They are generally much less expensive than parts sold by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). There are a number of reasons for this. Sometimes, the PMA holder is also the real supplier to the OEM, and therefore the so-called OEM’s...January 1, 2008
According to the FAA, "Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) is both a design approval and a production approval. It is issued for the production of modification or replacement parts, which includes materials, parts, processes and appliances." The concept is pretty straight-forward: The FAA says that as long as you don’t infringe upon someone else’s patent, you can make a part or system...October 1, 2007
The EU, European companies and institutions have embarked on a research project set to radically change the way commercial aircraft are maintained. A comprehensive and challenging approach that may garner great financial rewards. The time may come when airlines will take a holistic approach to aircraft maintenance, when health monitoring through advanced data analysis will not only allow for better...October 1, 2007
From their first flight in February of 2000, JetBlue Airways has been changing the way that airlines are managed and operated. Headquartered in Forest Hills, N.Y., "JetBlue is making an investment now, with an apprentice technician program, for the future of their company," said Frank Buratti, director of maintenance with JetBlue, "With a forecasted shortage of A&P technicians, this...September 1, 2007
Pratt & Whitney’s Customer Training Centers deliver a comprehensive learning experience to a global market of aviation students. Whether time allows for a two-hour interactive distance learning session or 20 days for a heavy engine maintenance training course, P&W offers an effective menu of maintenance, engineering, and leadership. Continuous education and certification are vital to any...September 1, 2007
It is much easier working on airplanes than managing the people who do the maintenance. Managing aircraft mechanics is a tough job and few people can do it well. The job is stressful but important and life-saving work. In examining the tough job of managing aircraft maintainers, Joe Farcht has come up with 12 techniques to manage more effectively, and identified a punch list of more than 30 items to guide...July 1, 2007
The aviation industry’s insurers, employers and maintenance providers recognize the benefit of employing certified professionals. SAE and PAMA are developing an advanced certification program that augments the FAA standards and develops multiple career paths for aircraft maintenance technicians. Depending on who you talk to, the aircraft maintenance technician (AMT) is either a vanishing breed or an...
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