I am writing this blog on Wednesday, May 23. Tomorrow is Aviation Maintenance Technician (AMT) Day, the day we celebrate aviation maintenance professionals – the unsung heroes that keep aircraft flying safely.
Contributed by aircraft parts consignment experts, Bob Tooker and Susan Masek
Careercast.com has posted its list of 200 jobs of 2012 ranked best to worst. Software Engineers came in as the best job to have. Lumberjacks came in last.
So where do aircraft mechanics come in? Well, here is the ranking of the aviation-related jobs on the list:
#60 – Aerospace Engineer
#125 – Air Traffic Controller
#144 – Aircraft Mechanic
Pilots and Flight Attendants weren’t on the list.
Automobile Mechanics came in at #145, just below Aircraft Mechanics.
I was sitting down watching a NASCAR race recently and it struck me how the sport places a huge emphasis on its maintenance professionals!
Every NASCAR fan has his or her favorite driver. But their knowledge typically doesn’t stop with the driver. NASCAR does a good job of educating the public about the drivers’ crew chiefs – the top mechanics for the teams – at every opportunity it gets. As a result, not only does the typical NASCAR fan know who the crew chief is for their favorite driver, they likely know the crew chiefs for many of the drivers on the track.
The Helicopter Association International (HAI) Heli-Expo 2012 is next week. The staff of D.O.M. and HeliMx magazines will be there!
We will be in Dallas, TX February 12-14 attending Heli-Expo 2012. Heli-Expo is a great opportunity so learn about the latest helicopter maintenance-related equipment, products and services. Our team will be out in full force scouring the show floor for information relevant to our readers.
After spending the last hour and a half shoveling heavy packed snow and ice that the snowplow driver dumped all over my sidewalk and driveway (which I had already cleared the last time it snowed a few days ago), I am tempted to go on a rant and vent about how I think winter in Wisconsin sucks and share my theory that snowplow drivers are evil, sadistic people who relish making winters even more miserable for everybody.
Contributed by Chuck Zahnow, Airframe Tech Rep
The normal engine startup sequence for Citation 560XL aircraft removes power from the avionics system, causing it to drop offline. The reason for this is the avionics are isolated from the start system. SB560XL-24-14R2 allows the avionics to stay online by using the APU generator during engine start.
D.O.M. magazine is seeking nominations for its second annual Maintenance Manager of the Year and Above and Beyond awards!
The D.O.M. magazine staff introduced these awards in 2012 because it felt there isn't enough recognition for all the extra effort and professionalism that exists in our industry — in particular, there is not enough recognition for maintenance managers that deal with the day to day challenge of running an aviation maintenance department.
I recently asked a customer who logs many hours flying in international skies what he thought was most important when landing on foreign soil. His reply was simply, “make sure your SAFA manual is up to speed.” After a little bit of research and a quick Google search, I found the following link that does a good job explaining the EU Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) programme.
Contributed by Gary Harpster, Avionics Sales Rep.
There are 42 member states engaged in the EC SAFA.
Most of us in aviation are aware of FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt’s arrest this past weekend on drunk driving charges. Babbitt has been placed on administrative leave while FAA and DOT officials try to figure out what to do.
Contributed by Lanny Renshaw, Assistant Manger Turbine Engine Services
There are many reasons that your TFE731 engine may be leaking oil. The hardest part is determining where it is leaking and what to do about it. The following is a list of the most common places you will find oil leaks and their causes.
Thanksgiving has come and gone. The madness of Black Friday has passed. It’s time to get back to work.
I am writing this blog a few days before Thanksgiving. As I sit here sipping my coffee and taking a break from what has been a hectic week, I realize that I have a lot to be thankful for.
I am thankful to be gainfully employed. There are many good people out there who are struggling to find a job.
I am thankful to work with a great group of partners. There are many who are stuck working with incompetent, unprofessional or otherwise immature co-workers.
Contributed by Cary Loubert, Bombardier Airframe Tech Rep for Duncan Aviation.
One word can strike terror in the heart of any DOM and Chief Pilot: CORROSION, especially during a large maintenance event. But that is the purpose of these events, finding and correcting any structural deficiencies.
Contributed by Adrian Chene, Avionics Tech Rep, Duncan Aviation
Can your chosen MRO handle a workscope that goes off track?
As an aircraft owner / operator, you know as well as anyone, that an aircraft workscope can expand at a moments notice for any number of reasons. It can quickly go beyond the capabilities of the service facility performing the work.
I am at the Aviation Distributors and Manufacturers Association (ADMA) annual conference this week. This morning’s opening business session featured a presentation by Rick Farrell with Tangent Knowledge Systems titled “Sales Has Nothing To Do With Selling.”
Farrell says that effective sales people aren’t the ones who spend their time trying to sell their products or services. Instead, they focus on learning about the problems the potential customer has and then communicating how their products or services can solve that problem.
D.O.M. magazine is the premier magazine for aviation maintenance management professionals. Its management-focused editorial provides information maintenance managers need and want including business best practices, professional development, regulatory, quality management, legal issues and more. The digital version of D.O.M. magazine is available for free on all devices (iOS, Android, and Amazon Kindle).
Joe Escobar (jescobar@dommagazine.com)
Editorial Director
920-747-0195
Greg Napert (gnapert@dommagazine.com)
Publisher, Sales & Marketing
608-436-3376
Bob Graf (bgraf@dommagazine.com)
Director of Business, Sales & Marketing
608-774-4901