​When a Piper Aerostar collided in mid-air with a Bell 412 helicopter over an elementary school in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, in 1991 Greg Feith was among the first investigators on the scene. Greg and John revisit the investigation to highlight NTSB findings that are relevant for pilots today.

The accident started the NTSB discussion and definition of aeronautical decision making. ADM is an important component of safe flying, in the cockpit and the hangar.

In the 1991 accident, five people in both aircraft were killed, including United States Senator John Heinz. Two school children on the ground were also killed by falling debris. More people on the ground were injured.

Greg describes the heartbreaking scene as well as the challenges of recovering evidence from a large debris field. Calling this a tragic event resulting from a “series of simple errors,” Greg talks about the role of crew experience, pilot communication and other notable factors.

​The cockpit voice recorder is called the “electronic witness” by crash investigators. In this episode, John and Greg walk through the CVR recovered during the investigation of ValuJet Flight 592 that crashed in the Everglades.

The CVR captures conversations. It also documents ambient noises that offer clues, especially when aligned with information from the flight data recorder.

Greg and John offer insight into what was learned from the CVR. Routine discussions quickly changed with the call of “fire” at 14:10. The recording shows rapid-fire issues unfolding. It chillingly shows that all on board seem to have succumbed to smoke asphyxiation before the plane crashed.

This second-by-second analysis expands on Episode 30 addressing listener questions and interest in detailed CVR analysis.

A panel discussion from the campus of Vaughn College explores many aspects of a successful career in aviation. From formal education to soft skills, Greg, John and their guests explore the factors that lead to success.

Students discuss their plans and the options they are exploring to start their careers. Also featured are professor Capt. Emerson Allen, experienced pilot Capt. Chinar Shaw, and management department chair Dr. Maxine Lubner.

Highlights:

• Training options and career paths
• The role of women in all aspects of aviation
• Importance of communication and management skills
• Passion as a key trait

​Listen as panel members share their first-hand experiences and field questions from students.

Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is a private college in East Elmhurst, New York, specialized in aviation and engineering education. John serves as an instructor in the management program. This episode was recorded prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in the US.

Instructions on how to use the oxygen mask is a mainstay of the airline safety briefing. With passengers now required to wear masks, does the mask go over the mask?

The tried and true safety briefing needs to be revamped in light of COVID-19 prevention measures.

Greg Feith and John Goglia look at standard safety protocols that are disrupted by COVID-19 precautions. They talk about what it will mean for airlines to keep passengers safe.

What about airflow in cabins? United has announced changes that increase air intake during boarding and deplaning. The importance of onboard hepafilters has also taken on new priority.

They also talk about the 25th anniversary of the Air France Concorde crash. That tragic event resulted in safety lessons and forever changed supersonic flight.

​Greg and John are torqued! Too many accidents, too much pilot error and too little attention to safety lessons learned.

Greg and John are not happy with the state of the industry and propose that manufacturers step in to make sure aircraft don’t wind up in the hands of airlines and pilots not equipped to operate safely. It is time to put safety over profits.

This episode covers recent accidents, including a plane piloted by a former baseball player, a mid-air crash over Lake Croeur, and a Pakistan International Airlines crash. All, they argue, can be directly attributed to pilot error.

General and commercial aviation will not be the same after COVID-19. Greg and John say this is a perfect time to change up approaches to safety.

They’d like to see more incentives for pilots to actively maintain their training and safety skills. They call on manufacturers to collaborate to create standards that customers must meet in order to qualify to purchase aircraft.

Listen as they explore ideas to reinvent the industry to incentivize safety.

Greg Feith takes us inside his experience as the NTSB investigator in charge (IIC) of the ValuJet Flight 592 investigation. John Goglia was also involved. Together they talk through the launch of that investigation and share many behind-the-scenes experiences.
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• Creative procurement of resources needed
• A rental car that rolled into the water
• 3 am recovery of a wreckage “souvenir” at the home of a worker
• The special smell in the hangar where the wreckage was reconstructed

These memories are overlaid with recollections of the high stress, emotion and expectations of the seven plus months of investigation. The teamwork onsite created many lasting connections and relationships.

NORFOLK, Va. (July 21, 2020) – Aviation Institute of Maintenance, Norfolk campus (AIM) is proud to announce Harry Dugan as a recipient of a $2,500 scholarship awarded by the AMFA.  Each year, the AMFA awards two scholarships to Airframe and Powerplant students who stand out for their grades and application essay.  AMFA scholarship recipients must be currently enrolled in a program that is designed to prepare you to pass the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) test to obtain an A&P Certification, be U.S. Citizens, and apply with a 500-word essay about safety reporting in the aviation industry.  Winners are normally awarded scholarships in person, but due to COVID-19, this years’ plaques and checks were mailed, with campus visits to be scheduled at a later date.


Dugan, originally from New Jersey, enlisted in the Army in 2007 as a Calvary Scout. After serving, he decided to pursue a college degree, which lead him to the aircraft maintenance industry.  Megan Lewis, the AIM, Norfolk campus Veterans Affairs Officer, says, “Harry Dugan has a strong maintenance background and thrives on hands-on learning.  Harry is involved in the campus Student Veterans’ Organization, boasts perfect attendance, and has a 4.0 GPA.  We are so proud of what he is achieving.”  Harry is scheduled to graduate in 2021 and is excited to see projected growth in his chosen field. ​

On June 24, PAMA recognized its 2020 scholarship award recipients in an online, virtual webinar. While the announcement was scheduled to take place as part of the Aerospace Maintenance Competition awards ceremony in Dallas, the presentation was rescheduled to take place via webinar when the competition was cancelled due to pandemic concerns.

PAMA presented awards to the following recipients:

• Darnell Bahe is an honors student in the aviation maintenance technology program at Central New Mexico Community College with glowing recommendations from his instructors. Mr. Bahe has demonstrated the leadership qualities, teamwork, and high safety standards that will serve him well in his future career as an airframe and powerplant mechanic. Mr. Bahe’s military experience performing maintenance on helicopters has served him well in school labs where he consistently demonstrated superior performance. In the future, in addition to working in the field of civilian aircraft maintenance, Mr. Bahe plans to teach aviation maintenance at his Native American high school, supporting the Navajo Nation Airport and promoting aviation maintenance careers to Navajo youth. Darnell received a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of PistonPower™ by AEPC™.
• Christian Wood is majoring in aviation maintenance science at Embry-Riddle University where he maintains a 3.74 grade point average in the school’s honors program.   He is the recipient of the ERAU Honors Program Outstanding Service Award.  Not only has Mr. Wood distinguished himself academically but also in his extracurricular activities.  For example, he helped one of his professors operate a composite exhibition for over 800 school children at the Oshkosh AirVenture show in Wisconsin.  Mr. Wood so impressed his bosses during an internship at a major aircraft manufacturer, that he was asked back for another prestigious internship.  He plans to work in corporate aviation maintenance. Christian received a $1,000 scholarship, courtesy of JSfirm.com.
• JuliAnne Miller maintains a 4.0 grade point average in aviation maintenance technology at Lansing Community College in Michigan.  She is the recipient of the Mason, Michigan Experimental Aircraft Association Award for her professionalism and dedication to aviation.  Ms. Miller’s zeal and determination is exemplified not only by her academic excellence but also by her perfect attendance record despite a daily commute of 215 miles.  Upon graduation, Ms. Miller plans to pursue Inspection Authorization. JuliAnne received a $500 scholarship, courtesy of JSfirm.com.

PAMA's scholarship committee was joined by representatives of the Aerospace Maintenance Council who presented their annual student awards as well (more on AMC award recipients here).

Congratulations to all our award recipients. Visit the scholarship page for more information on the application deadline for 2021, and to contribute to the PAMA scholarship fund.

Roanoke, Texas - JSfirm.com remains committed to providing aviation professionals with the resources they need to successfully manage their job search, and has begun hosting free webinars to keep job seekers informed and up to date on the most effective ways to search for a job in the current climate. 

These informational webinars cover how to use JSfirm.com to maximize your job search efforts, along with resume and interview tips. Each webinar is customized to a different facet of the aviation industry, from pilots to mechanics to engineers and more. Individuals who are unable to attend the live webinar are able to sign up to receive a recording 24 hours after the event.

JSfirm.com has conducted 15 webinars with more being scheduled daily. As a result of this effort, there has been a 73% increase in new members utilizing JSfirm.com.

JSfirm.com Executive Director Abbey Hutter said, “We want to ensure all of our users know how to utilize the tools and features of our website when searching for job opportunities.” She continued, “Aside from our webinars, we are partnering with different aviation associations to deliver the same information to their members.”

To learn more about future and past webinars email: lauren@jsfirm.com. 

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About JSfirm.com
JSfirm.com continues to be the fastest-growing aviation job website with resume database access and has exclusively served the aviation industry for over 20 years. It is a free service for job seekers and an out-of-this-world place for aviation companies to advertise jobs and search resumes. For more information, please visit www.jsfirm.com or call 724-547-6203.

Flight Safety Detectives Greg Feith and John Goglia answer listener questions in this lively episode that shares details of air crash investigations. Get a rare look inside the NTSB command center and on-scene investigations.

• The NTSB bell rings signaling an air crash. What’s next?
• How does a systemic investigation happen amid the chaos of an accident scene?
• What are the qualifications of investigation teams?
• Who decides on the content of accident reports?

Hear about Greg’s bumpy ride to Guam, how John got in trouble while working at USAir, and more!