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.

FMI: www.dms.gov; www.pama.org