Tue, Sep 09, 2003
Required Maintenance
Training Necessary
The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) is
calling on maintenance professionals and others in the aviation
industry to recognize the need for required training programs and
training regulations for all aviation maintenance professionals.
These requirements will ensure a higher level of professionalism,
bolster respect for maintenance professionals, and overall minimize
maintenance error.
Calling for FAA Intervention, Testing
The Federal Aviation Regulations are quite specific in training
requirements for pilots, flight engineers, flight attendants, and
dispatchers. Professionals in those positions must receive approved
training at the time of their employment and regular recurrent
training thereafter. These universally accepted standards of
professionalism are appropriate, but missing for maintenance
technicians. PAMA President Brian Finnegan is calling for the
completion of the circle of aviation safety: "It is necessary to
equally apply these standards to aviation maintenance professionals
as well."
PAMA points to three
recent aviation accidents as examples: Alaska Airlines Flight 261,
Swissair Flight 111 and Air Midwest Flight 5481. In each of these
tragedies, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pointed
to specific problems with maintenance. In Flight 261, improper maintenance left a
critical jackscrew without proper lubrication. The NTSB said that
poor training contributed. In Flight 111 (recovery photo
shown), wire bundles were clamped improperly. The Flight 5481 crash in Charlotte appears
to be the result of improper on-the-job training. Finnegan
emphasizes, "It's clear that the time is right for FAA to apply
standardized training requirements to ensure the airworthiness of
our fleet and the safety of our passengers."
PAMA asks that all maintenance technicians and other industry
professionals assist FAA in achieving this important safety goal.
Industry and government representatives have gathered to rewrite
some of the operating regulations that govern commercial aviation.
An Aeronautical Rulemaking Committee (ARC) has been convened to
review FAR Parts 135/125. The far-reaching impact of this review
will also affect many other regulations, including Parts 121, 91,
119, and 25. PAMA is a member of the both the ARC Steering
Committee and Airworthiness Working Group.
PAMA solicits the supportive input from all aviation
professionals in assisting FAA to achieve this ambitious goal.
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