​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.

​Greg and John take a deep dive into the accident investigation process related to engines with guest Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants in Eagle River, Alaska.

Jason shares his experiences in two roles. He was the air safety representative for an engine manufacturer. He also served with the FAA. He shares first-hand accounts of how engines are assessed and analyzed from the first moments of an investigation.

Listen as Greg, John and Jason tear down engines, looking for the important details that contribute to an accident. They also talk about the safety insights and enforcement actions that can result.

NTSB and FAA investigators are not deemed “essential” for the purposes of coronavirus guidance. That’s a huge concern for John and Greg as well as special guest Jason Lukasik, president of JL2 Aviation Consultants in Eagle River, Alaska.

Investigations of new accidents are all but on hold. Only basic information is being collected as personnel work from home. This even though investigators have biohazard training, proper protective equipment and the knowledge to conduct onsite investigations in a safe manner.

Perishable information is being lost as accidents are cleared and witnesses go without being interviewed. The NTSB and FAA say they plan to take up the backlog when operations get back to normal, but the work is sure to be much harder – and less insightful – as time passes.

There’s another wrinkle for the long term – the aviation industry role in providing expertise to crash investigations is dwindling. In the early 2000s, most manufacturers staffed up to have dedicated experts that contributed to crash investigations. This helped everyone identify root cases and safety issues more quickly.

Even before the heavy economic impacts of COVID-19, strapped manufacturers have not been back-filling investigator positions. That situation is certain to get worse as they deal with the losses from weeks and months of being all but shut down.
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John, Greg and Jason share cases from their personal experiences to illustrate the risks and impacts these changes can have on air safety. They discuss the certain and urgent need to shift to new ways of handling air crashes and safety issues.

The PistonPower™ referral program allows PAMA members to offer customers a variety of maintenance programs and receive a commission of 3% of the enrollment fee. Learn more about the program and how PAMA members can take advantage of the opportunity.

The program also funds a scholarship for individuals interested in a career as an aircraft maintenance
technician. More information about that opportunity is available at Scholarship.

The live webinar took place on Feb 12, 2020. Tune in to the recorded version by clicking the register button, below.

It is with sadness PAMA announces the passing of Arthur C. "Butch" Giessman.

Butch was a supporter of the local and national aircraft maintenance organizations and was a founder and early president of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA). He was an avid supporter of the A&P schools to include Parks College, Southwest Illinois College, Missouri Technical College, Gateway Tech, Spartan School of Aeronautics, and more.

Butch asked that we not mourn his death, but celebrate his life. A Celebration of Life Party will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Wings of Hope, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul Archdiocesan Council of St. Louis, and the American Heart Association.
 
​https://www.osfuneralhomes.com/obituary/arthur-giessman

Every year for more than 50 years, the General Aviation Awards program and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have recognized aviation professionals for their contributions to general aviation in the fields of flight instruction, aviation maintenance/avionics, and safety.

Recipients of the 2020 National General Aviation Awards included Dennis Robert Wolter of Cincinnati, Ohio, who was named 2020 Aviation Technician of the Year.

Dennis graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1969 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Design. After graduation, he taught engineering and aviation maintenance at Cincinnati State Technical College from 1970 to 1973. He received his mechanic airframe rating in 1972, his powerplant rating in 1984, and inspection authorization in 1999.

In 1973, Dennis founded Air Mod with the goal of designing, fabricating and installing interiors in general aviation piston aircraft. His company became known throughout the country as a premier aircraft renovation facility, bringing old-school craftsmanship and innovative design to every project. State of the art interiors, custom instrument panels, improved soundproofing, ventilation and lighting upgrades, ergonomic comfort, safety enhancements, and other modifications are all executed to the highest standards.

Dennis served on the board of the Great Oaks career and technical education school system in Wilmington, Ohio, serving on their aviation program development committee. Over the past four decades, he has presented numerous seminars about interior renovation, corrosion, aging aircraft issues and compliance with FAA regulations at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and at Sun 'n Fun. He has given similar presentations at AOPA and American Bonanza Society (ABS) conventions and Cessna Pilots Association (CPA) fly-ins. In 2019, at the request of the ABS Air Safety Foundation, Dennis gave a three-hour presentation on aging aircraft issues that was videotaped and placed on the ABS website as a tool to educate Beech owners how to keep their airplanes in airworthy condition.

The FAA will present individual awards to each National Honoree in July during EAA AirVenture 2020 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and their names will be added to the large perpetual plaque located in the lobby of the EAA AirVenture Museum. Also included in the prize package for each National Honoree is an all-expenses-paid trip to Oshkosh to attend the awards presentation and other special GA Awards activities.

“I am very excited to announce the selection of the National Honorees for the 2020 General Aviation Awards,” said GA Awards board chairman Sandya Narayanswami, “These awards highlight the important role played by these individuals in promoting aviation education and flight safety,” she added, “The awards program sponsors are pleased that these outstanding aviation professionals will receive the recognition they so richly deserve before their peers in Oshkosh.”

This awards program is a partnership and a cooperative effort between the FAA and more than a dozen sponsoring organizations from the aviation industry, including PAMA. The selection process begins with local offices. Panels of aviation professionals from within those four fields then select national winners from the pool of regional winners. 

For more information, visit ​https://mailchi.mp/1083da19cd6a/2019-regional-ga-award-honorees-named-3900262?e=e17da5bca4 

University of North Dakota Aviation Graduate Student, Robert Teal is conducting research for a thesis on continued education for airframe and powerplant mechanics. Robert is asking the PAMA community for input to support his study.

The purpose of the research is to determine the willingness of aircraft mechanics and aircraft maintenance organizations to employ recurrent knowledge based training requirements.

All certificated mechanics are asked to participate in a short, 5 minute survey to support the research. 

The survey will be open until March 15.

PAMA, in coordination with generous industry partners, has made available award opportunities for current and future aviation maintenance professionals.

Award winners will be announced at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition awards ceremony, taking place in conjunction with MRO Americas in Dallas on April 30, 2020.

Future AMT Professional Award, provided by PistonPower™ by AEPC™ (AeroEngine Protection Corp.) 

This $1,000 award is provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses.

Aviation Mechanic Student Award, provided by JSfirm.com

This $1,500 award is provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses.

John and Greg share observations from their recent visit to Boeing headquarters. During executive briefings they asked the same tough questions they pose in their podcasts, sometimes stumping the experts.

They share how the visit validated the observations they have shared about the LionAir and Ethiopian Airline crashes. They also found more details that are important to finding the answers that will lead to increased air safety.

This episode also digs into two Thanksgiving weekend general aviation crashes. John and Greg walk you through their initial observations and provide a detailed explanation of how investigators will determine the causes of both accidents.