This special episode celebrates the legacy of Charlie Taylor as the father if aircraft maintenance. Taylor built the first aircraft engine used by the Wright brothers in the Wright Flyer. He set the professional standards followed by aircraft mechanics today.
Special guests are:

• Ken Mactiernan, Director at the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians Association
• David Supplee, President/Directing General Chair at Air Transport District 142, IAMAW
• Chris Moore and Bob Fisher, International Representatives, Airline Division at International Brotherhood of Teamsters

The professionalism defined by Taylor has served as the foundation of aviation safety as the industry has evolved. Looking to the future, aircraft mechanics are playing important roles in SpaceX, Virgin Galactic,  and unmanned drone flight.
The discussion covers many ways professional excellence is fostered today. The Aerospace Maintenance Competition held in ​in conjunction with Aviation Week Network’s MRO Americas lets current and future maintenance professionals showcase their abilities and see how they stack up against peers across the country. The FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics, including John Goglia.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University students get real about their school and their education. Hear how COVID and online learning impacted them. Be prepared to be wowed by their passion for aviation!

John and Greg talk about the many opportunities for people with the skills taught at ERAU – in aviation as well as other fields. They talk about current needs as well as what the future might hold with developments like drones, travel to Mars and more.
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If you have a passion for aviation, this episode will get you excited about the next generation of leaders.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University masters students share details from their research into safety issues in aviation. Greg and John make connections between the research and their own experiences.

They go in depth on the issue of carry-on bags in cases of aircraft evacuation. Research has generated quantitative data on how passengers impact safety when they avoid the advice to leave carry-on bags behind.

Other research highlights the importance of safety management systems in all areas of transportation. SMS make safety a core value and provide an effective tool for managing any kind of business.
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The students also reflect on their paths to pursuing interests in aviation and safety.

Live from the campus of Embry-Riddle in Daytona, Florida! John, Greg and guest Bob Joyce talk about the focus on safety, quality and professionalism in all aspects of the university.

The curriculum at Embry-Riddle covers the operation, engineering, research, manufacturing, marketing, and management of modern aircraft and the systems that support them. Bob Joyce is the university’s director of aviation safety.

Greg reflects on his time as a student and how the safety-first approach has influenced his career. Embry-Riddle has strong safety management systems (SMS) and leads in bringing a safety culture to all aspects of aviation.
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Flight Safety Detectives is sponsored by Avemco Insurance. Mention the Flight Safety Detectives podcast and receive a 5% discount!

PAMA President John Goglia, and directors Ken MacTiernan and Greg Feith visit with new PAMA director and host of the Florida Aviation Network Ben Coleman at SUN 'n FUN, to talk about PAMA, the Aerospace Maintenance Competition and the Flight Safety Detectives podcast.

PAMA Vice President Ken MacTiernan will represent the trade association on NASA's Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Ecosystem Working Group (AEWG). The NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate is currently soliciting interested parties to participate in the initiative with the mission to accelerate the development of safe, high-volume AAM flight operations by bringing together the broad community involved in developing AMM.

The primary purpose of the AAM ecosystem working groups is to share input, information and opinions to enable NASA, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the AAM community to supplement the existing efforts in the industry, focusing on understanding the viewpoints of a diverse group of stakeholders and an understanding of the ecosystem as a whole. 

NASA will host periodic virtual working group meetings to facilitate community engagement and information related to the AAM ecosystem. Working group registrants will be added to the distribution list and informed of all meeting times. For more information and to register to participate, visit nari.arc.nasa.gov/aam-portal/rfi/.

As a participant, MacTiernan, who also serves on the board of numerous non-profits and has three decades of service as a mechanic at American Airlines (see his bio on the Leadership page), will have the opportunity to closely collaborate with NASA and other government organizations in discussions relating to standards, policies, and operationalization of AAM.

Earlier this year, the board elected Ben Coleman to join PAMA leadership.

Mr. Coleman is a former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Air Safety Investigator and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Safety Inspector.  He is a seaplane/commercial multi-engine instrument rated pilot with thousands of hours flight experience. He is a certificated mechanic with inspection authorization, and a senior parachute rigger.

Ben served as a Safety Officer for a helicopter diplomatic security detail in Iraq for the Department of State “Airwing”.  Having represented several international aircraft manufacturers and ISR platforms as technical advisor and demonstration pilot, he is well versed in international affairs.  

Ben is the creator and anchor host for an aerospace safety televised talk-show called “Plane Time” and feels media/advertising is a key component to our aerospace maintenance safety message.   During his spare time he is restoring a 1941 Interstate ‘Cadet’ aircraft to be used for ‘tailwheel’ endorsements.

The board thanks Mr. Coleman for committing the time and resources necessary and look forward to his service. See a directory of all our volunteer leaders at www.pama.org/leadership.