Ben Minicucci

In January, a door plug issue on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 led to increased scrutiny and a second grounding order from the FAA. This situation prompted Boeing to address the problem and improve their safety and quality practices. Boeing has developed a comprehensive Product Safety and Quality Plan to tackle these challenges. Key actions in the plan include: 1. Enhanced Safety Management System (SMS): Boeing is improving its safety reporting system and ensuring all work is completed before moving aircraft to the next production stage. 2. Simplified Processes: The company is streamlining its procedures to make them clearer and easier to follow. 3. Better Supply Chain Oversight: Boeing is intensifying its monitoring of suppliers to ensure parts meet safety standards. 4. Expanded Training: Additional training is being provided to new and existing employees to boost their skills and knowledge. 5. Improved Production Compliance: Boeing is focusing on key areas like debris control and adherence to work instructions, with enhanced daily reviews and audits. 6. Increased Employee Engagement: Boeing is fostering a stronger safety culture through regular quality reviews and involvement teams. 7. Refined Installation Instructions: The company is simplifying complex work instructions to improve safety and clarity. The FAA has reviewed Boeing’s new plan and expressed confidence in the company's commitment to safety. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg has decided to work from Seattle to stay close to production and development efforts. These steps position Boeing to enhance its safety practices and restore its reputation in aviation. #aviation #aircraft #boeing #airbus #mro #airline #overhaul #FrontierAirlines #TravelDeals #AviationNews #AirlineIndustry #TravelMore #FlightDeals #LowCostTravel #ExploreMore #MRO #Wanderlust #CheapFlights #EngineAviation #BusinessTravel #VacationMode #Traveling #AirportLife #JetSetter

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This recent National Business Aviation Association article highlights the critical need to combat maintenance complacency with double-checks, engagement, and accountability — values that align directly with Veryon. ✅ Our aviation maintenance solutions are designed to empower operators with real-time insights and ensure every task is documented, tracked, and verified, so nothing gets missed. ✅ With seamless integrations and 24/7 support, we're committed to helping Part 135 and 91 operators prioritize safety while streamlining their workflows. ✅ Our long-term partnerships further underscore our dedication to operational excellence. Let’s work together to set the bar higher for safety and reliability in aviation! Read the full NBAA article: https://bit.ly/41lIqNs Learn more about how we can support your operations: https://bit.ly/3ZFeElx #LetsGetYouMoreUptime #AviationMaintenance #SafetyFirst #Accountability #NBAA

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Completeness & accuracy of flight data matters......check out our White Paper on how Collins Aerospace FlightAware's Neural Network produced predictions can enhance airport operations ✈

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Alaska Airlines names new vice president of maintenance and engineering Alaska Airlines has named John Wiitala as its new vice president of maintenance and engineering. In this principal leadership role, Wiitala will lead professionals throughout the division who maintain the highest levels of safety and compliance with more than 237 mainline Boeing aircraft across multiple maintenance bases. #alaskaair #aerospaceinnovations https://lnkd.in/ewhAmFVZ

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Gilles Fossecave, CEO of the MRO division of Vallair features in the July issue of AviTrader Aviation News, discussing how best to prepare for the narrow-body heavy maintenance season and sharing how Vallair navigate the industry to tackle the unique challenges the MRO sector faces. Fossecave comments "Regular 'intermediate checks' with smaller work packages can help reduce the downtime of narrow-body aircraft, however, the effectiveness of this solution depends on the age of the aircraft. For instance, if an aircraft has structural damage due to corrosion, a shorter turnaround time may not be feasible. in such cases, more time may be necessary to ensure the aircraft is still released on time." To read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eNdz9t3c David Dundas #Vallair #OneWorldOfExperience #AviationNews #NarrowbodyMaintenance #MRO

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Will I see you at the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC) Space Supply Chain Conference? If so, let's chat about the innovation Slingshot Aerospace is bringing to commercial space.

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The FAA has granted a Part 141 flight school certificate to Joby Aviation, clearing the California-based eVTOL aircraft manufacturer to train and certify pilots for commercial air taxi operations. Read more: https://hubs.la/Q02-zRZQ0

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Update and a hold on the "Moss Interpretation": #aviation #mro #maintenance #information #faa #airframe #powerplant #mechanic #directorofmaintenance #aviationindustry #businessaviation #airplane #aircarft #aviationnews AVweb.com

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Read S.W.A.T's first ever blog: "Addressing the AMT Shortage with Southwest Aerospace Technologies" written by intern Ananya Khanna "The aviation industry is facing a significant challenge: a growing shortage of Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs). As the demand for air travel increases, the need for qualified AMTs is more pressing than ever...." Read more on our website using the link below: https://lnkd.in/gc2kHCfp

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PIA Managed Co-Ownership Program Features: #5 - WELL-DEFINED TERMS The PIA Co-Ownership Agreement includes defined and transparent terms for: How you own the aircraft How you share the aircraft How you exit, continue or upgrade How you are protected from default Schedule a consult at https://buff.ly/3cJ94sb to get your questions answered. #privateaviation #businessaviation #terms

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This Boss’s Day, we’re honored to spotlight Larry Hinebaugh, the driving force behind Vision Aircraft Records. ✈️ From his journey in the aviation records field to his thoughts on leadership and the future of the industry, Larry shares his unique insights. 1. What motivated you to focus on advancing electronic recordkeeping in aviation? I began scanning and OCRing documents in the early 2000s to use to text search for information I needed as a maintenance rep on pre-purchase inspections and 135 conformities. After seeing how easy it was to use electronic recordkeeping, I just naturally realized that it should become standard for us in the aviation industry 2. How has your experience in aircraft maintenance influenced your work at Vision Aircraft Records? Working with many different aircraft and aircraft records over the last twenty years demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that electronic recordkeeping was the way to go. I started Vision because I knew what other aircraft maintenance people were going to need in an electronic recordkeeping system in order for it to be an effective tool for aviation. 3. What are the biggest challenges and opportunities in the transition to electronic recordkeeping for aviation? I think the two biggest challenges in our industry are: To learn that electronic recordkeeping is not hard and provides a better way to do the recordkeeping that is required of us. To scan the existing paper records of so many aircraft in order to take advantage of having those records electronically. 4. What trends do you see shaping the future of aircraft documentation and records management? We need to embrace two major things in the aircraft documentation world: We need to move into electronic recordkeeping as a common way of keeping aircraft records, and We need to standardize aircraft records, especially Part 43 records, so that recordkeeping joins the many areas of aviation we’ve already realized add safety and efficiency to our operations. 5. What advice would you give to professionals looking to improve aircraft recordkeeping practices? Move into electronic recordkeeping now. You’ll be glad you did! 6. What do you love most/least about being a Boss? (Or, at least about being OUR boss?) 😉 The thing I like most is to see the creativity of the people we hire. Given the freedom to do so, people will come-up with their own ideas for a project or task. And most of the time, those ideas are better than were expected and, so, the results are also better than expected. #BossesDay #AviationLeadership #AviationAppreciation

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#Boeing Boeing has committed to implementing design changes across its 737 Max fleet within 12 months following a mid-air incident in which a door panel blew out on an Alaska Airlines flight. Elisabeth Lund, Boeing’s Senior Vice President for Quality, testified before the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), revealing that engineers are working on modifications to prevent doors from closing unless properly bolted. This commitment comes as investigators released 3,800 pages of documents related to the January incident, highlighting the rushed and pressured environment in which the plane was completed. The NTSB’s investigation determined that the door plug on the Alaska Airlines flight was missing four bolts, which caused the panel to blow off at 16,000 feet, depressurizing the cabin and forcing an emergency landing. Boeing acknowledged that no documentation exists to explain the removal of these bolts, a lapse attributed to low morale, high staff turnover, and poor communication between Boeing and its supplier, Spirit AeroSystems. The testimony also revealed that Boeing employees were under intense pressure, leading to hasty repairs and overlooked safety procedures. The incident has underscored ongoing concerns about Boeing’s safety culture, with NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy expressing the need for significant improvements. The traumatic experience for the 171 passengers and six crew members aboard the Alaska Airlines flight was detailed in the released documents, with flight attendants recalling the chaos and fear that ensued after the door panel's blowout. The incident further damages Boeing's reputation, already tarnished by two fatal 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, which resulted in Boeing facing criminal and regulatory scrutiny. In addition to the design changes, Boeing is also dealing with the repercussions of its safety failures, including a guilty plea to conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and a settlement of up to $487 million in fines related to the crashes. The leadership shakeup continues as Dave Calhoun steps down as CEO, with Kelly Ortberg set to take over. Boeing is also reacquiring Spirit AeroSystems for $4.7 billion in stock, a move aimed at improving the quality of its supply chain. *Author: Bevan Hurley, The Times, August 6, 2024*

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It's all about safety: Last Thursday, the FAA launched an official communication titled: "FAA Continues to Hold Boeing Accountable for Implementing Safety and Production Quality Fixes | Federal Aviation Administration" https://lnkd.in/d969YVGz The article in a nutshell: The FAA continues to hold Boeing accountable for addressing safety and production quality issues following a comprehensive review of the company's action plan. This includes strengthening Boeing’s mandatory Safety Management System (see FAA communication dated 22.April also), simplifying processes, enhancing supplier oversight, and increasing employee training. The FAA says it has implemented increased oversight, including more safety inspectors and halting production expansion, and will conduct regular reviews to ensure Boeing’s compliance and effective implementation of changes. So the intention of the FAA’s efforts is clear: They aim to enforce a systemic change in Boeing's safety culture. And the list of measures listed in the release sound promising, covering many different areas. The question is whether they will finally achieve this: It will depend to the biggest extend on Boeing Top Management and if they REALLY implement a safety management system that works, throughout all levels of the hierarchy and across all areas of the company. Due to its importance, I would even see a control task not only for FAA but for the MoD and even the US government. And it will depend on FAA itself, whether it is capable and willing to exercise the necessary controls and - through effective audits and controls - force the system to work effectively. The last years have shown a big lack of control power by FAA in front of Boeing, so we can only hope the FAA will re-position itself again as the required independent regulatory and control instance. What do you estimate: After all that happened, how long will it take until airline passengers stop being afraid of sitting in a Boeing aircraft again? (see article: Some travelers are changing flights to avoid Boeing airplanes (nbcnews.com)) FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said "Systemic change isn't easy but in this case is absolutely necessary, and the work is never really done when it comes to the safety of the flying public". Let me now your thoughts... #Safety #aviation #Boeing #FAA

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GPS disruptions force airlines to reroute flights, delay schedules. This leads to significant economic losses, ranging from $500m to $1b per year. For an industry already operating on tight margins, #spaceweather resilience is becoming increasingly critical. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e9KVDTYc

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Camex Airlines plans to put its first Boeing widebody freighter into service as soon as this week as it prepares to add another in 2025. https://hubs.la/Q02Zr-xN0

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After visiting over 130 airline operations control centers and working with 350+ airlines since 2002, I've come to a startling conclusion: the airline industry is stuck in a time warp, and not the fun Rocky Horror Picture Show kind. Picture this: It's 2024, and while you're booking your flight on a sleek smartphone app, behind the scenes, airlines are running on IT systems old enough to be your grandparents. One US airline's system could legally retire, another US airline's IT is experiencing a midlife crisis, and other US, European and Asian airlines might as well be powered by hamsters on wheels. But why change? After all, nothing says 'reliability' like a system that predates the moon landing, right? When disruptions hit, it's like watching a game of high-stakes whack-a-mole. Ops controllers juggle more screens than an octopus with ADHD, desperately seeking that one crucial piece of info hidden in the digital haystack. Meanwhile, management's go-to move? Blame the weather, ATC, or perhaps Mercury in retrograde. Anything but admitting their tech is older than most of their pilots' first solo flights. The irony? Airlines spend fortunes on planning optimization, crafting schedules so perfect they'd make Michelangelo weep. Then reality hits, and it all goes out the window faster than you can say 'delayed due to technical issues.' But hey, why fix what's (barely) working? Change is scary, especially when you've hired an army of system loyalists who'd rather wrestle a live bear than question the status quo. So next time you're stuck in an airport, watching the departure board light up like a Christmas tree of delays, remember: somewhere, in a dimly lit room, there's an overworked ops, crew and hub controller trying to save the day using #technology that remembers the Cold War. Welcome to the airline industry, where the only thing not taking off is progress. #leadership #aviation #innovation #airtravel

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