D.O.M. Blogs

 Contributed by Diane Heiserman, Blog Administrator

Mr. Wayne Bailey sent an email to me after the July/August issue of D.O.M. came out stating he was amazed how I come up with subject matter for my editorial column. Here are what I think are the two most important factors that help me write my columns. First of all, I am an A&P mechanic. I have worked in the industry since 1988. Second – I pay attention. Whether it is at a trade show or touring a maintenance facility, I try to listen and observe.

July marks the third anniversary of the launch of D.O.M. magazine. Guess what? It’s true – time really does fly when you are having fun!

I have had the privilege to interview many diverse professionals over the past three years. These aviation maintenance managers have shared their experiences and knowledge with our readers. One theme that seems to repeat itself in each interview is the importance of education. “Never stop learning,” is a mantra many successful directors of maintenance share.

I was in San Diego, CA a few weeks ago attending NBAA's Maintenance Management Conference (MMC). On the last evening of the conference, I was approached by Brad Townsend, chairman of the NBAA maintenance committee, saying that a meeting had just been held between key members of the NBAA maintenance committee, AMTSociety and the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA). I was told that an agreement had been reached in relation to working together towards common goals and that an official news announcement would be sent out in the near future.

As I write this blog, ABC World News with Dianne Sawyer is airing a series of reports  titled “Made in America.” On March 1, it showed a family who agreed to have everything that wasn’t made in the U.S.A. removed from their home. They would sleep in the house for one night and have their house furnished the next day with nothing but U.S.-manufactured furnishings.

In the Jan/Feb issue of D.O.M., I discussed “actively engaged” as it pertained to Inspection Authorization renewal. If you haven’t read it yet, you can read my editorial column by clicking here.

There are a few more thoughts I wanted to share regarding the FAA’s effort to more closely interpret “actively engaged.”