Flight Safety Information - June 30, 2022 No.125 In This Issue : Incident: Aeromexico B738 at Guadalajara on Jun 28th 2022, bird strike : Mil Mi-8MTV-1 Helicopter Accident (Russia) : U.S. watchdog to audit FAA oversight of Boeing 787, 737 production : Plane that crash-landed at Miami airport had previous landing gear problems, lawsuit says : FedEx pilots unhappy as UPS, United take lead on new contracts : Jet bridges at Cleveland Hopkins Airport need to be replaced : German Airliner Will Return the World’s Largest Passenger Aircraft to the Skies : POSITION AVAILABLE: Airworthiness Directive and Regulatory Compliance Specialist : Position Available: Airline Maintenance Controller : Position Available: Director of Safety – Bloomington, MN : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 1 : GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 2 Incident: Aeromexico B738 at Guadalajara on Jun 28th 2022, bird strike An Aeromexico Boeing 737-800, registration N957AM performing flight AM-652 from Guadalajara (Mexico) to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA), was climbing out of Guadalajara's runway 28 when the left hand engine (CFM56) ingested a bird and began to repeatedly surge. The crew stopped the climb at about 10,000 feet, shut the engine down and returned to Guadalajara for a safe landing on runway 28 about 20 minutes after departure. The occurrence aircraft is still on the ground in Guadalajara about 29 hours after landing back. https://www.avherald.com/h?article=4fb00976&opt=0 Mil Mi-8MTV-1 Helicopter Accident (Russia) Date: 29-JUN-2022 Time: Type: Mil Mi-8MTV-1 Owner/operator: Polar Airlines Registration: RA-25116 MSN: 95732 Fatalities: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 23 Other fatalities: 0 Aircraft damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair) Location: Aldan region, Yakutia - Russia Phase: Unknown Nature: Passenger Departure airport: Destination airport: Narrative: A Mil Mi-8 crashed under unknown circumstances, injuring several occupants, some seriously. The helicopter was carrying three crew members and twenty passengers. https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/279838 U.S. watchdog to audit FAA oversight of Boeing 787, 737 production (Reuters) -The office of the inspector general of the U.S. Transportation Department will audit the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) oversight of Boeing 737 and 787 production, it said on Wednesday. The watchdog said it would review the FAA's processes for "identifying and resolving" production issues and "addressing allegations of undue pressure within the production environment." The aircraft maker declined to comment. The FAA did not immediately comment. Boeing suspended deliveries of the 787 Dreamliner in May 2021, after the FAA raised concerns about its proposed inspection method. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) said since 2019 "a number of concerns have been raised regarding production of the Boeing 737 and 787 aircraft - the two production lines with the largest number of aircraft on order." The OIG noted in December 2021 that the FAA had mandated inspections on some previously delivered 787 aircraft due to reports of missed requirements during assembly. The OIG added that the top Democratic and Republican lawmakers on the Transportation Committee and aviation subcommittee in November asked it to conduct a review of the FAA's oversight of the production of the Boeing 787. House Transportation Committee chair Peter DeFazio and aviation subcommittee chair Rick Larsen said in a statement late Wednesday the audit "should be thorough and unsparing to help prevent a repeat of safety issues previously identified by FAA and to ensure the manufacture and production of safe aircraft." In February, the FAA said it would not allow Boeing to self-certify individual new Boeing 787 planes. Then FAA Administrator Steve Dickson said the FAA needed from Boeing "a systemic fix to their production processes." The FAA also said at the time it would retain the authority to issue airworthiness certificates until it is confident "Boeing's quality control and manufacturing processes consistently produce 787s that meet FAA design standards." A December U.S. Senate report said the FAA must do a better job overseeing Boeing and the certification of new planes, as well as review allegations raised by seven industry whistleblowers. "FAA's certification process suffers from undue pressure on line engineers and production staff," the Senate report said. Boeing's 737 MAX was grounded globally in March 2019 after deadly crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia killed 346 people and did not resume flying in the United States until December 2020 after software modifications and additional pilot training. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/u-watchdog-audit-faa-oversight-035043562.html Plane that crash-landed at Miami airport had previous landing gear problems, lawsuit says Four passengers are suing discount Dominican carrier RED Air after they say last week’s crash-landing at Miami International Airport caused them “fractured bones, orthopedic injuries, spine damage, and psychological injuries.” The lawsuit was filed Tuesday night, more than a week after Flight 203 crash-landed at the airport because of a landing gear malfunction. The MD-82 passenger jet skidded off a runway, the wing erupting in flames. Three people were injured among the 130 passengers and 10 crew members aboard. The lawsuit also alleges that the aircraft’s service and maintenance logs show “several prior incidents” involving the landing gear “breaking, cracking, not extending, structurally failing, or not functioning properly.” “We have seen firsthand the severity of their injuries and trauma. We believe this was a preventable incident for which RED Air needs to be held accountable,” Miami attorney Kent Burlington, of the firm Goldberg & Rosen, said in an email. “The hard, violent landing, and landing gear failure should not have occurred on this commercial flight.” According to the complaint, RED Air’s flight crew “failed to take actions to evacuate passengers in a timely and safe manner, and chaos broke out as the terrified passengers rushed to free themselves through an exit door.” RED Air, which began operations late last year, also failed to hire pilots with enough experience and skill, according to the suit. The passengers suing: Tamar Kalach, Sarkis Okhdjian, and cousins Anabella Perez, 15, and Camila Destefano, 19. Perez told WSVN-7 that she blacked out while trying to exit on the plane’s emergency slide, and she woke up on the grass by the runway. She believed the plane was going to explode. “I was just dragging myself with my hands, trying to drag myself through the grass, just trying to get away from the plane, because I was like, a few feet away from it since I fell from it,” she said. Perez suffered a torn ACL and meniscus, and fractured her tibia. It was unclear Thursday if RED Air has retained attorneys yet. In a statement after the crash, RED Air said the plane “had technical difficulties after landing” but did not provide additional details. “At RED Air we express our absolute solidarity with the passengers and crew of the aircraft,” the airline’s statement said. RED Air is a low-fare airline based in the Dominican Republic that launched in November 2021 and, for now, only flies between its home base in Santo Domingo and Miami International Airport. Hours after the June 21 crash, a RED Air mechanic told the Miami Herald he suspected pilot error, saying the landing gear had been properly maintained. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, which caused the shutdown of two of the airport’s runways. https://www.yahoo.com/news/plane-crash-landed-miami-airport-141304098.html FedEx pilots unhappy as UPS, United take lead on new contracts Busy contract year for US airlines and pilot unions unfolds amid tight labor conditions Pilots for FedEx Express are frustrated that they don’t have a new collective bargaining agreement in hand after more than a year of talks, while counterparts at UPS and United Airlines are on track for substantial compensation increases in pending contract agreements. In fact, all of the major U.S. airlines are negotiating new contracts with their pilots. And with a tangible shortage of pilots contributing to flight cancellations and schedule cutbacks, many pilots can choose where they want to go, experts say. A group of pilots picketed in front of the FedEx Express Air Operations Center in Memphis, Tennessee, on Tuesday to show their dissatisfaction with the pace of negotiations on a new labor deal to improve pay, retirement benefits and quality-of-life issues. The union members, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), say they have put themselves in harm’s way to keep the airline moving critical goods, such as face masks and vaccines, during the pandemic and are a big reason behind FedEx’s extraordinary profits the past couple of years. ALPA said talks started in May 2021, six months before the contract was eligible to be amended, with a mutual goal of reaching an employment agreement by May of this year. “Throughout the pandemic, while many were shutting down and working virtually, FedEx pilots were flying across the globe keeping the world economy intact. We have earned an industry-leading contract through these remarkable efforts and now is the time for FedEx to deliver,” said Capt. Chris Norman, chair of the FedEx Master Executive Council, in a news release. ALPA said the group conducting the demonstration numbered in the hundreds, but the figure could not be independently verified. FedEx (NYSE: FDX) last Thursday reported a record $93.5 billion in revenue for its May fiscal year, with a 12.5% increase in adjusted net income to $5.5 billion. On Wednesday, FedEx outlined new financial targets for fiscal 2025, including 4% to 6% compound annual revenue growth and 8% to 9% adjusted operating margin for the FedEx Express unit. The Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations in the airline industry, limits the ability of airline workers to pressure management until a lengthy series of negotiating procedures have been followed. Informational pickets are designed to raise awareness for customers and other stakeholders and unify union members. “FedEx remains engaged in productive negotiations with our pilots’ union. These negotiations are a normal part of our business and have no impact on our service, as we continue delivering for our customers around the world. We will continue to negotiate in good faith with our pilots and are committed to reaching an agreement that is fair to our pilots, our other team members and all other stakeholders,” FedEx said in a statement provided to FreightWaves. The renewed push for a labor settlement follows an agreement between UPS (NYSE: UPS) and the leadership of the Independent Pilots Association that includes unspecified wage increases and enhanced pension benefits. Rank-and-file members have until Aug. 3 to vote on the deal. United pilots set bar Meanwhile, union leaders representing 14,000 pilots at United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAL) announced they had approved a tentative agreement to modify terms of their contract. If ratified, the deal will add $1.3 billion of value for United pilots over a two-year period, including a retroactive raise that will boost pay $190 million in 2022, with three pay rate increases totaling more than 14.5%. It also includes enhanced overtime and premium pay, improved trip scheduling to combat pilot fatigue, more schedule flexibility, a new eight-week maternity leave and other benefits. The two-year duration of the contract is half of what’s customary in the industry. The deal will set the bar for upcoming pilot negotiations at Alaska Airlines (NASDAQ: ALK), American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL), Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), as well as for United mechanics and flight attendants, J.P. Morgan equity analyst Jamie Baker said in an investor note. He estimated that a 12-year captain on average will get an industry-leading $294 per hour for flying a standard Boeing 737, depending on the model. Pilots flying bigger aircraft will earn even more. Equally significant, United didn’t seek changes to the contract’s scope clause, which limits the number and size of aircraft that can be flown by the airline’s regional affiliates. Scope provisions are intended to preserve union jobs by preventing outsourcing to lower-cost providers. United and some of its mainline rivals have capped their regional airlines’ jets at 76 seats for the past decade. United subsequently limited CRJ-700 aircraft to 50 seats. As part of a revised agreement in 2020 designed to avoid furloughs and leave United better prepared for the snapback in travel, United agreed to reconfigure 76-seaters to 70 seats. The new deal doesn’t appear to change the number of permitted 76-, 70- or 50-seat regional jets. There is also no change in the weight of the aircraft allowed. That eliminates the possibility of using more efficient Embraer E-175-E2 jets, which are heavier and are powered by a cleaner-burning Pratt & Whitney engine, according to aviation news site Leeham News & Analysis. It is now highly unlikely there will be scope changes at Delta and Alaska, where pilots are also represented by ALPA, it said. Delta pilots last week conducted informational pickets at several U.S. airports and have more demonstrations scheduled on Thursday. The last contract was signed in 2016. It has been 2.5 years since the contract became eligible for changes and 3.5 years since Delta pilots got a pay raise, according to ALPA. Pilots complain the company is overscheduling them to make up for crew shortages, leading to fatigue. In addition to seeking improvements in pay, retirement, and job protections, the union is also demanding changes to pilot schedules. In recent letters to Delta customers and the Delta board of directors, ALPA pointed out alleged missteps that could have mitigated ongoing flight disruptions. In June, the Delta Master Executive Council passed a vote of “no confidence” in the management teams of Delta’s Flight Operations, Crew Resources, and Flight Training & Standards departments because of the scheduling issues leading to flight cancellations. “Demand is back, and pilots are flying record amounts of overtime but we are still seeing management cancelling, leaving our customers stranded and their holiday plans ruined. Unfortunately, this mismanagement continues. And it extends to a complete lack of urgency to resolve our issues at the negotiating table,” said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chair of the Delta ALPA Master Executive Council, in a statement. The Delta pilots’ union recently opened a strike center at its Atlanta office to begin preparing pilots for scenarios permitted under the Railway Labor Act. “Our goal is to achieve an industry-leading contract. But if management doesn’t get serious, we’ll go the distance to get the contract we deserve,” said Ambrosi. Pay, benefits and work rules are also key agenda items for American Airlines’ pilots. Eric Ferguson, the president of the Allied Pilots Association representing American Airlines’ pilots, recently urged management not to wait for United and other carriers to complete contract talks. He also criticized American for giving a temporary 50% pay increase to regional pilots at Envoy Air, Piedmont and PSA to keep regional schedules intact. “In typical American Airlines management Band-Aid fashion, the big pay increases are in effect only through August 2024. Apparently, management intends to weather the immediate crisis and — once the regional pilot supply has stabilized — they believe they will be able to turn around and roll back pilot pay at the three carriers. You won’t find that on anyone’s short list of best business practices, and it’s easy to predict just how toxic the effect will be on labor-management relations if the pay increases are rescinded down the road,” Ferguson said in a June 14 blog post. On Monday, Envoy Air began offering pilots triple pay to pick up uncovered trips in July and help avoid flight disruptions. The rapid and unexpected surge back to profitability makes it possible for United to offer more generous labor terms to its pilots. Baker said strong airline performance coming out of the pandemic trough will pull forward contract renegotiations from 2024 by a year or more. https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fedex-pilots-unhappy-as-ups-united-take-lead-on-new-contracts Jet bridges at Cleveland Hopkins Airport need to be replaced With passenger traffic rebounding and other positive signs of recovery, Cleveland's airport still faces challenges as it looks toward building a new terminal. CLEVELAND — With air travel soaring, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport is on pace to see nearly ten million passengers come through the terminal this year. That’s near pre-pandemic levels. But headwinds remain on and off the airfield. Airport chief Robert Kennedy, kept on by new mayor Justin Bibb, is leaving as the city pushes forward with a $2 billion, 20-year terminal reconstruction plan he helped craft. Also, years of ignoring maintenance and upgrades to critical airport equipment are now adding to financial pressure just as the airport finds its financial footing. 3News has learned the airport needs to replace many of its jet bridges - the accordion-like walkways that connect the terminal to planes. Some are a decade or more past their recommended lifecycle. “We've been putting money in it,” Kennedy told 3News recently. “Capital money that we get from the carriers are being used to rehab them until we can replace them, [Jet bridges] are way past their useful life.” A 2018 report obtained by 3News examined five jet bridges previously owned by American Airlines. The carrier unloaded the bridges to the airport for $1, Kennedy said. The report found the jet bridges were in bad shape and posed safety concerns because of “improper use and a lack of maintenance.” The report documented corrosion, damaged cables, leaks, worn wheels, loose handrails and missing safety features. (You can read the report below.) “Well, let me start out by saying they will never be in service if they're unsafe,” Kennedy said. “Safety -- if we're not safe, we're not an airport. So, we always make sure that they're safe. We have spent a lot of money repairing them. We took this over five years ago.” The airport owns 25 jet bridges. Kennedy says many of them need upgrades. When jet bridges are out of service, they can lead to flight delays. Kennedy says some breakdowns can be traced to mishandling by airline employees or their contractors. The airport has installed cameras to watch the jet bridges to help prove the point. “If that airline damages it, we send them a bill or tell them they can fix it,” Kennedy said. A new jet bridge and installation cost more than $1 million, Kennedy said. The airport is proposing to spend around $3 million a year to maintain or replace them. The money comes from fees airlines pay to use the airport. But those fees – already among the highest in the industry – are also needed to help pay for other airport operations. In addition, before the airport can build a new terminal, the carriers will have to agree to additional fees to pay for it. “The beautiful thing about the bridges is once we redo our terminal, we can rehang them on the new terminal,” he said. “So, it's not something that will be a lost cost.” Kennedy said good airport management during his tenure and increasing passenger traffic have allowed the airport to cut landing fees for airlines for the first time in decades. He said this will make it easier for airlines to agree to new spending for a terminal reconstruction plan. “We have a facility that was designed, built and opened when the propellered aircraft was the dominant aircraft in the air,” he said. So, our world of aviation has changed a lot, and our airport needs to do it as well to serve the future.” Kennedy said he believes negotiating with airlines about the terminal master plan can begin earlier than the city hoped. “I think we're going to get it done by next spring,” he said. “So, that allows us to go out to the bonding market at the end of next year or beginning of the following year. What we need on that first phase is $780,000,000 and once we get that, then we can start designs. We could see a shovel in the ground in 2025 or 2026.” https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cleveland/cleveland-hopkins-airport-jet-bridges-need-replacing/95-afffd5e9-82b4-4d42-a051-12e8516cef9f German Airliner Will Return the World’s Largest Passenger Aircraft to the Skies After grounding the Airbus A380 in “deep storage” in 2020, German airliner Lufthansa plans to bring the long-haul aircraft back next year. Lufthansa had been selling off the excess planes, but is now turning to them as a solution for high travel demand. Delayed aircraft deliveries are a reason to put the A380 back in service. After the COVID-19 pandemic paused air travel in 2020, Lufthansa parked 14 Airbus A380 jumbo aircraft in Spain and France for long-term “deep storage.” The German airliner eventually sold off six of these huge planes, considered the world’s largest passenger aircraft. But now we can expect at least some of the remaining eight to make a comeback; The airline announced Airbus A380s will return to the fleet in summer 2023. “We decided today to put the A380, which continues to enjoy great popularity, back into service at Lufthansa in summer 2023,” the company’s executive board announced in a news release on Monday. At 329 feet long and 78 feet high, the A380 is truly huge, and Lufthansa is taking advantage of the space inside. It has configured the A380 to seat 509 passengers in a 3-4-3 setup in economy class. With such a large passenger load, the airline obviously believes the cost of operating the plane will be offset by demand. And Lufthansa isn’t the only airline still on the superjumbo bandwagon. CNN reports that Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Korean Air, All Nippon Airways, and British Airways all still fly the A380. British Airways had stopped using the A380 in March 2020, but brought it back in October 2021. Lufthansa’s return to the A380 comes as a “response to the steep rise in customer demand and the delayed delivery of ordered aircraft,” the executive board says. It’s likely that Lufthansa is referencing the Boeing 777X delivery delay, now slated for 2025. While Lufthansa is still assessing how many of the eight aircraft will make a return and exactly which destinations the airline will fly to, the long-haul aircraft is part of a trend in reshaping airlines. In addition to reenergizing the A380, the Lufthansa board says it will also modernize the fleet in the next three years with 50 new models of the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and Boeing 777-9 long-haul designs, along with 60 new Airbus A320 and A321s. Emirates has been the leader in A380 use worldwide, with over 100 planes in the airline’s quiver. In 2019, Emirates canceled an A380 order of 39 planes, leading Lufthansa to cease production of the plane, although it still delivered its final model to Emirates in 2021 to fulfill previous orders. Then came the 2020 pandemic, which made oversized aircraft superfluous for travel. The grounding of the plane led to a sell-off for the German airline. The demand isn’t waning any longer. Emirates has called the A380 a “flagship product” (the showers on the plane are an added bonus for those who can enjoy that class of service), and Singapore Airlines flew it in 2021, highlighting customer appeal. While each airline has its own specific setup within the spacious confines of the Airbus A380, airlines all over the world seem to have renewed their belief that the long-haul Airbus is a good future investment. https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/german-airliner-return-world-largest-213600169.html POSITION AVAILABLE: Airworthiness Directive and Regulatory Compliance Specialist Job Description At Republic Airways, our vision is to be America’s regional airline of choice, and our 6,000 associates work together each day to achieve that by providing a safe, clean and reliable flying experience. Whether the role is on the aircraft or in the office, every person at Republic contributes to our success and our family-oriented work environment. Since our founding in 1974, we’ve grown to become the world’s largest operator of the Embraer 170/175 jet, flying more than 1000 flights daily for our partners, American Airline, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Beyond our operations, we’re focused on sharing our time, talents and treasures with our community—both locally and globally. Join Republic Airways where you will find opportunities, reach new heights and be part of something bigger than yourself. Republic Airways, opportunity elevated. #WhyRepublic POSITION PURPOSE Reviews Airworthiness Directives (AD) process to ensure continued compliance. Conducts investigations of non-compliance and potential non-compliance with regulatory standards. Reviews Republic Airways policies and procedures for regulatory compliance and system safety. ESSENTIAL DUTIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Conducts investigations at maintenance bases and contract vendor facilities into regulatory non-compliance issues and on behalf of the ASAP ERC when necessary. • Conducts investigations of reports regarding potential non-compliance with regulatory standards or other safety risk controls established by the company through the SMS process. • In instances of non-compliance/identification of needed improvement areas, works as a team member with appropriate management to ensure compliance or implement global improvement corrective action. • Performs risk assessments to mitigate modifications to post Airworthiness Directive configurations. • Establishes and maintains fleet Airworthiness Directive (AD) master list and aircraft specific AD compliance listings. • Coordinates with Engineering to create Engineering Orders to comply with Airworthiness Directives and monitors changes to the airline’s maintenance program to ensure continued compliance. • Reviews and approves Material Control Evaluation (MCE) for PMA parts to ensure effectivity and AD compliance. • Manages Part Restrictions in RAMCO to ensure materials restricted by Airworthiness Directives are not acquired and installed on Republic aircraft. • Coordinates with the Senior Manager of Inspection to create Inspection Checklists for Receiving Inspectors to identify parts restricted by Airworthiness Directives during the Receiving Inspection process. • Monitors the FAA website for new Airworthiness Directives, AD NPRMs, CFR changes, CFR NPRMs and Advisory Circulars. • Performs other duties as assigned. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE • Bachelor’s degree (B.S. / B.A.) or equivalent in aviation, regulatory compliance or similar field or a combination of education and experience. • At least 3 years of related experience, preferably with air carrier quality and/or safety program management. • Must have the ability to handle multiple time sensitive tasks and work well under pressure while maintaining a meticulous attention to detail. • Proficient with Microsoft Office Applications. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE • Understanding relevant 14 CFR and FARs. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. DECISION MAKING Makes day to day decisions used to support strategic direction. Decisions often require some thought and are somewhat structured. Decisions tend to be short term and usually moderate cost. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to move about the work environment. Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, talk and hear. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Typically not exposed to extreme environmental conditions. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Ability to travel up to 10% of the time, including overnight and weekend travel. APPLY HERE Position Available: Airline Maintenance Controller Job Description At Republic Airways, our vision is to be America’s regional airline of choice, and our 6,000 associates work together each day to achieve that by providing a safe, clean and reliable flying experience. Whether the role is on the aircraft or in the office, every person at Republic contributes to our success and our family-oriented work environment. Since our founding in 1974, we’ve grown to become the world’s largest operator of the Embraer 170/175 jet, flying more than 1000 flights daily for our partners, American Airline, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Beyond our operations, we’re focused on sharing our time, talents and treasures with our community—both locally and globally. Join Republic Airways where you will find opportunities, reach new heights and be part of something bigger than yourself. Republic Airways, opportunity elevated. #WhyRepublic POSITION PURPOSE Oversees the quality and quantity of all line maintenance work performed by Company and on-call maintenance provider vendors. ESSENTIAL DUTIES To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. • Establishes and oversees the completion of assignments by maintenance associates working on active aircraft at gate and hangar operations. Redirects work assignments as required. • Authorizes the use of and supervises on-call maintenance provider vendors contracted to perform maintenance and return aircraft to service. • Provides technical knowledge and logistical support to Maintenance and flight crews for active fleet maintenance discrepancies, Minimum Equipment List (MEL) issues, configuration deviation lists and res-schedules to determine proper and timely corrective action. • Coordinates with Maintenance, flight dispatch, maintenance planning, materials, engineer and QA inspection, providing current and continuing follow-up to ensure positive corrective action is made as promptly as possible for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. • Oversees and coordinates aircraft ferry flights as needed. Assesses when aircraft charter services are needed to recover aircraft grounded at outstations and to relocate parts for aircraft requiring maintenance. • Collects and provides information on all daily cancellations and delays resulting from maintenance or materials related problems to complete daily Flight Interruption Reports. • Ensures MEL Deferred Item status is current and within time limits authorized by the MEL. • Updates other controllers and Maintenance Control Coordinators on progress of work performed. Assists with completion of shift turnover reports in accordance with procedures in the GMM. • Completes all department internal company forms, maintenance records, documents, work orders, etc. including performing maintenance computer system transactions as required. • Provides coaching and on-the-job training as directed. • Adheres to recurrent training. • Performs other duties as assigned or required. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability necessary to perform this job. EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE. • High school diploma or equivalent with an FAA Airframe and Powerplant license and at least one-year related experience in Maintenance Control or similar area. • Possess basic computer skills with experience using Microsoft Office applications. PREFERRED EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE • Previous experience in Maintenance Control, as an A&P mechanic or airline experience. • An FCC license is preferred. LANGUAGE SKILLS Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and technical maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of associates of the organization. REASONING/PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions. DECISION MAKING Makes day to day decisions used to support strategic direction. Decisions often require some thought and are somewhat structured. Decisions tend to be short term and usually moderate cost. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Able to sit for prolonged periods. Able to use hands to finger, handle and feel, reach with hands and arms at least 90% of the time. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Able to work nights, evenings, weekends and holidays to support 24-hour operations. TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS Able to travel up to 10% of the time, including overnight travel. APPLY HERE Position Available: Director of Safety – Bloomington, MN Who Are We: Life Link III is a premier, nationally recognized air medical transport company, known for our clinical excellence, superior aviation program, and reliable response in providing care to critically ill or injured patients. Our priority is to do everything possible to give every patient their best chance for the best possible outcome – demonstrated by our unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of care to our patients while on-board safe, state-of-the-art aircraft. We continually focus on innovation and work to put cutting edge technology and education in the hands of our flight medical crew, pilots, mechanics, operational control specialists and communication specialists so we can provide uncompromising care to the communities we serve. We do this work while living out our core values of safety, customer focus, excellence, integrity, innovation, and collaboration. Position Summary: At Life Link III, we believe that safety is interwoven in everything we do. We look at our leaders as agents of change, investing their talents to push the boundaries of the status quo and strive for excellence in air medical transport. The Director of Safety is a key leadership position and ideal for an experienced visionary, looking to utilize their experience and skill set in safety and apply to an industry-leading air medical program. This position engages directly with Life Link III’s CEO, Board of Directors, consortium members, while also serving as a trusted resource and safety advocate for all employees. The primary focus of the Director of Safety is the promotion of a strong safety culture and prevention of harm to people, property, and the environment. The Director of Safety will be expected to lead in areas of Safety Policy, Safety Risk Management, Safety Assurance, and Safety Promotion. To accomplish this, the Director of Safety will provide technical assistance in identifying, evaluating, and controlling hazards in a variety of contexts throughout the organization. The Director of Safety is responsible for the continuous development & implementation of the Life Link III Safety Management System (SMS) and administration of Life Link III Safety Management Programs (SMPs). The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader who embodies the mission and values of Life Link III. Position Highlights: · Under the direction outlined by the SMS – assist in implementation, management, modification, and additions to SMP · SMP implementation, oversight, management, and training, including day-to-day management of the following components: · Hazard Recognition - identify conditions or actions that may cause injury, illness, or property damage · Inspections/Audits - assess safety and health risks associated with equipment, materials, processes, facilities, or abilities · Fire Protection - reduce fire hazards by inspection, layout of facilities and processes, and design of fire detection and suppression systems · Regulatory Compliance - ensure that mandatory safety and health standards are satisfied · Maintain knowledge and awareness of all safety components of the FAA, OSHA (MN, WI, and Federal), EPA, airport authority, CAMTS, EMSRB, WI DHS, and others as applicable · Serves as the safety liaison for regulatory and accreditation site surveys · Health Hazard Control - control hazards such as noise, chemical exposures, radiation, or biological hazards that can create harm · Ergonomics - improve the workplace based on an understanding of human physiological and psychological characteristics, abilities, and limitations · Hazardous Materials Management - ensure that dangerous chemicals and other products are procured, stored, and disposed of in ways that prevent fires, exposure to or harm from these substances. · Environment - control hazards that can lead to undesirable releases of harmful materials into the air, water, or soil · Accident and Incident Investigations - determine the facts related to an accident or incident based on witness interviews, site inspections and collection of other evidence · Record keeping - maintain safety and health information to meet government requirements, as well as to provide data for problem solving and decision making · Review incident reports of a safety nature · Track, trend, and analyze data to identify concerns · Appropriately triage risk of concerns identified and proposes actionable plans for correction · Assist in development and regularly review site emergency plans for all Life Link III locations, including, but not limited to hangars, crew quarters, administrative offices, supply rooms · Emergency Response-Manage, administer, and facilitate the exercise of Life Link III’s Emergency Response plan. · Collaborates and engages across all departments and with external stakeholders for plan accuracy and plan updates. · Facilitates across departments for drill planning, drill execution, and evaluation. · Manage, administer, and provide training for the emergency notification software platform. · Security - identify and implement design features and procedures to protect facilities and businesses from threats that introduce hazards · Identify opportunities, gap analysis, and facilitate cross departmental collaboration about SMP · Training - provide employees and managers with the knowledge and skills necessary to recognize hazards and perform their jobs safely and effectively · Provide content for annual safety training for all Life Link III locations including, but not limited to, hangars, crew quarters, administrative offices, supply rooms. Document and provide senior leaders updates about annual training · Attend new employee orientations and provide an overview and expectations of safety at Life Link III · Participate in safety education to external stakeholders such as hospitals, law enforcement, and EMS agencies · Collaborate with Marketing and Outreach to coordinate consistent messaging of a safety nature to external stakeholders · Coordinate with Clinical Services, Operations, Human Resources, or others as needed to assure that action plans are carried out when appropriate · Create, maintain, and updates policies as appropriate · Outline and update procedures appropriately to reflect current practices · Coordinate and lead safety sub-committee meetings · Coordinate the enterprise safety meeting · Ensure accountability and consistency of area and base representatives and/or designees · Lead the selection of base safety representatives, provide work direction and feedback · Maintain good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders · Provide safety related education and/or materials as requested or needed · Promote a culture of safety through collaboration and partnerships that maximize the success of the program · Serve as a liaison on a wide range of safety related issues, and partner with content experts to ensure quality in the guidance given. What We Are Looking For: · Bachelor's degree in safety, industrial engineering, quality or emergency management, aeronautics, registered nursing or similar · 7+ years of experience in coordinating safety and loss prevention activities in a setting translatable to the services provided by Life Link III · Professional or equivalent safety certification (i.e. ASP or CSP) · Proven success collaborating across an organization to implement change · Experience leading collaborative teams, committees, or other working groups with internal and external stakeholders · 5+ years demonstrated leadership progression in enterprise-wide safety role(s) · Ability to adjust tasks quickly as circumstances dictate · Ability to communicate clearly and effectively · Ability to travel on short notice within the Life Link III system · Ability to respond to emergency events with limited notice Preferred Qualifications: · Master’s Degree preferred · Experience with rotor and/or fixed wing operations · Emergency Medical Services experience · Certification(s) in CPPS and ARM What We Offer: · We are committed to developing your talents through engaging work and access to an annual Professional Development Fund · Opportunity to grow · Competitive salary · Competitive Health Benefits · Employer Matching HSA on qualified plans · Employer Matching Retirement Plan with no vesting schedule · Competitive Paid Time Off to foster a work/life balance To Apply Please Go to https://www.lifelinkiii.com/careers/job-openings/ Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements: To maintain the health and well-being of our fellow co-workers and the patients we serve; all Life Link III employees are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 prior to their first day of employment. Compliance/HIPAA: Must perform work in the manner prescribed by documented work process in order to ensure compliance with all rules and regulations, accreditation standards and laws that apply, specifically work processes that involve billing practices, for avoiding activities that constitute fraud and abuse. Employment Status Requirements: Life Link III does not sponsor employment visas of any kind. As a pre-condition of employment, all applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. APPLY NOW GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 1 Dear Participant, When you know that, during a conference on cybersecurity organized by the US Air Force, hackers succeeded, at the invitation of the Pentagon, in infiltrating the control system of an F-15, you understand the importance of cybersecurity issues, particularly in the aviation industry. As today's world becomes more and more digital, the contemporary aircraft is equipped with semi-autonomous computer systems which make aviation one of the first sectors potentially vulnerable to cyberattacks. You are being asked to participate in a research study on cybersecurity threats in aviation. This study is expected to take approximately 10 minutes of your time. In order to complete this study, you must be at least a student pilot and at least 18 years old. You may choose to opt-out of the study at any time. Please click on or copy and paste the URL below. We appreciate your time in completing the study. Link : https://forms.gle/VpADSAhXuoeY6hNP7 GRADUATE RESEARCH SURVEY - 2 Dear Participant, I am a B777 Captain for FedEx involved with ALPA-FDX Safety for several years and as the ALPA-FDX Accident Investigation Chairman since 2018. As part of my current Masters in Aviation Safety with FIT, I am doing a study on fatigue. The survey as you see will take less than 5 minutes. https://questionpro.com/t/AVsbXZtJoT Thanks for your help, and please let me know if I can be of any help in the future. Best regards Ian Carrero Curt Lewis