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!

The Aeronautical Repair Station Association (ARSA) is offering association member prices to PAMA members for its library of online training content. PAMA joins Airlines for America, the Alaska Air Carriers Association and the Aviation Technician Education Council on the list of allied industry organizations provided special consideration for ARSA training.

ARSA’s online training library has more than 80 hours of on-demand content available for immediate viewing; registrants get unlimited access for three months, in addition to copies of all session materials and a certificate upon completion.

While every session is valuable for maintenance professionals, PAMA members holding Inspection Authorization should take advantage of ARSA training to meet their annual renewal requirements under § 65.93(a)(4). The association currently has 22 hours of training accepted for IA credit by the FAA – including its entire Human Factors series – and is working on supporting documentation that would assist a mechanic in seeking acceptance for any session.

In addition to member price benefits, all ARSA training sessions are currently discounted 50 percent to support personnel development needs during the pandemic.

For more information and to register for online training, visit arsa.org/training-resources/.

Air crash investigators Greg Feith and John Goglia have seen too often that the safety of general aviation aircraft can be compromised by lack of maintenance. Their special guest this week has an hourly cost maintenance program to address that.

PistonPower™ is a comprehensive protection program for piston aircraft. Guest Remi Szymanski, Vice President for Business Development, discusses how the program works. With a fixed monthly cost, PistonPower creates a predictable maintenance budget for business and personal flying. 

Turbine aircraft have had programs that cover maintenance costs for a long time. Now piston aircraft can have the same type program. 

Listen to the episode to explore the details from John’s perspective as a wrench turner, Greg’s as a pilot, and both of their experiences as accident investigators.

Viewers can also learn more at the PistonPower website, https://pistonpower.com/.

Join us as the JSfirm.com team discusses the current aviation job outlook and review how the most popular features on JSfirm.com can help you (now, more than ever) land a job during the current climate.

The live event will take place on Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 4:00 PM EDT
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Register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8623737285451642636

Flight Safety Detectives Greg Feith and John Goglia tap their network of aviation experts in this episode that focuses on pilots.  Brian Schiff, a pilot with more than 40 years of experience in the cockpit, is the special guest.

Shiff is a commercial pilot and flight instructor who is recognized for his enthusiasm and ability to teach in way that simplifies complex procedures and concepts.  He is the creator of a webinar on the impossible turn (returning to the departure runway following an engine failure soon after takeoff) to the possible turn.

John, Greg and Brian talk about the state of the airlines, general aviation, and pilot training. They offer predictions on how aviation will rebound post COVID-19.

As always, the focus is on safety and avoiding accidents. They look at the deliberate steps that pilots and airlines should take as flights resume.

Charles Taylor was the first aircraft mechanic and the original unsung hero of aviation. He worked for the Wright brothers in their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. When they could not find a company to build them an engine for their glider, Charlie made one from scratch in about 6 weeks.

In honor of AMT Day, hear a little more about his story at ​https://vimeo.com/420492939/e8535aa90a (brought to you by the Mechanical Dragons).

COVID-19 requires airports and airlines to rethink procedures. Air travel involves crowds and shared spaces. Cleaning and other processes from curb to curb need to be adapted to ensure the safety of the flying public. 

Lisa Kay, COO Environmental Health Services Group, NV5, leads a team that works with organizations to ensure cleaning procedures are done properly based on CDC, EPA and other guidance. She talks with Greg and John about current and emerging options that can help make airports and airplanes safe. 

From air filtration, to approved cleaning products, to anti-viral coatings, to emerging technologies, the discussion covers the issues faced. Even the right solutions need to be applied properly by trained staff equipped with the right PPE. 

John and Greg raise important considerations and use their experiences as passengers to look for the best solutions.  

​Most aircraft are not getting used as often due to coronavirus-related restrictions. The Flight Safety Detectives explore the safety issues created by parking and storing airplanes of all sizes.
 
Airplanes are machines that like to be used. Counter-intuitively, there is actually greater potential for things to break with lack of use.
 
Greg and John bring two experts into the conversation: Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants, and Ken MacTiernan, PAMA board member and a 32-year aviation maintenance technician for American Airlines.
 
These veterans of daily use and maintenance as well as safety investigations highlight how to prepare aircraft for short term parking as well as longer term storage or “pickling.” The biggest enemy is moisture and corrosion.
 
Listen and learn what needs to be done to ensure airplanes can be operated safety after storage. For large airliners doing it right means 60-100 man hours of effort!
 
Once again, Greg and John talk about the issues impacting commercial, business and general aviation that are otherwise overlooked.

​As the world looks to get back on track, front and center is the need to maintain protections to prevent the spread of coronavirus. This is a challenge for the aviation industry that does not yet have a clear answer.

Greg, John and guest Dr. Joe Kravitz explore some options. They outline what is known about preventing the spread of viruses and the very real challenges of ensuring safety of crew members and passengers in air cabins.

Dr. Kravitz discusses the science behind the protocols he uses to assure safety and hygiene in his dental practice. The conversation highlights the challenge of disinfecting aircraft, the downsides of solutions that are being discussed, and what’s needed to truly provide a measure of safety.

COVID-19 will change air travel. This is one in a series of episodes where Greg and John explore the many implications.

The FAA will publish a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) to provide relief for aviation mechanic inspection authorization (IA) holders with recent and upcoming renewal deadlines. IA holders that were unable to meet renewal requirements by March 2020 (as required by 65.93), will have until June 2020 to do so. 

The SFAR, prompted by industry groups, also extends deadlines for pilots, crew members, and flight schools.
 
The SFAR is scheduled to publish in the federal register on May 4. The version available for public inspection as of May 1 is linked below.