Aviationtoday.com: Power of Partnership

Okay, class, take a look at the blackboard: it reads 1 + 1 = 3. That’s the equation when industry experts engage in truly open communication. It’s the dynamic I saw unfold at the recent Avionics Maintenance Conference (AMC) in Phoenix.

Yes, I’m talking about synergy, which occurs when the sum of parts is greater than the whole.

Joseph Goebbels once said: "When I hear the word ‘culture,’ I reach for my revolver." I’m tempted to do the same thing when I hear the word "synergy," because it’s usually uttered by a consultant who’s trying to con me into something expensive but utterly superfluous. However, in the context of AMC, the word synergy actually has meaning. Let me explain.

Sponsored by ARINC, a provider of transportation communications, AMC is held every spring. The conference’s goal is to foster reliability and reduce operating costs in commercial avionics, through the open and uninhibited exchange of technical information.

AMC provides airlines, OEMs and suppliers the chance to openly and collectively discuss recurring avionics maintenance problems. Before the meeting, AMC staff solicits questions from airlines and suppliers; AMC then forwards the information to the relevant OEMs.

The questions and related discussion items form the basis of the conference agenda, which is mailed to 750 pre-registered attendees, comprised of avionics maintenance experts from around the globe. During the actual get-together, a moderator presents each question to the assembled group for discussion.

Speaking with me adjacent to his exhibit at AMC, Mike Maniscalco, head of commercial sales for Aero Instruments and Avionics, said a robust give-and-take and airing of grievances often ensues at this conference. "The discussion can get very frank, which is for the good of the industry," he said.

Participatory online events, such as Aviation Today’s Webinars, provide the same synergies. That’s because a multitude of freely expressive voices results in better solutions — better than anything that’s imposed in a top-down fashion, without debate.

During our April 11 Webinar, "Aviation Maintenance: The Trends that Will Affect Your Bottom Line in 2007," the roster of speakers challenged the aviation industry to do better, especially in regard to the outsourcing of maintenance. This viewpoint was best expressed by Webinar speaker John Goglia, a former member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). With more than 30 years’ experience in the aviation industry, he was the first NTSB board member to hold an FAA aircraft mechanic’s certificate.

Goglia said outsourcing is an unavoidable and even desirable trend, but it’s imperative the airlines step up to the plate and take responsibility. As he put it during our Webinar, there’s nothing wrong with delegating maintenance, as long as it doesn’t also entail the abrogation of responsibility.

"Outsourcing is nothing new," he said. "We’ve been outsourcing components forever; engines are nothing but components. [However], the responsibility for that work still rests with the air carrier. In the past, there hasn’t been enough oversight of the work being done."

The Webinar addressed the question, does increasing reliance on outsourcing adversely affect air safety? The FAA says there is no indication the margin of safety has been reduced because of outsourced maintenance, but some analysts suggest otherwise. Is the FAA too complacent in this regard? Are these safety concerns warranted, or exaggerated?

"The answer lies somewhere in the middle," Goglia said. "Outsourcing maintenance should cause no additional stress on the system, if it’s managed properly. That’s the real key. The trouble with the FAA is that there is no good definition of the procedures and processes to help the carriers manage outsourcing."

The Webinar was recorded and archived on our Web site; you can still register for the event and access it on demand.

John Persinos is publisher and editorial director of AviationToday.com. You can reach him at: 301-385-7211, or jpersinos@accessintel.com