MANAGEMENT • OPERATIONS • INSIGHT

www.AviationPros.com

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

CONTENTS: NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

F E AT U R E S

MANUFACTURING INNOVATIONS

6 Attention: High Voltage! The first in a series on E-FlightBy Marino Boric

FROM THE FAA

16 What is the Right Stuff for Aviation Maintenance ProfessionalsBy Dr. Bill Johnson

ATEC INSIGHT

20 Industry and Educators Come Together in WashingtonBy Crystal Maguire

PROFESSIONALISM

52 Lead Through ServiceBy Christine Hill

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

2017 International Air Safety SummitBy Ronald Donner

Read their stories beginning on page 24

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s AMT Next Gen 40 Under 40

Awards. Their passion and dedication to continually learning and contributing

to the aircraft maintenance industry ensures the safety and growth of the

industry.

C O L U M N S

EDITOR’S VIEWPOINT

04 Young Professionals

and Emerging TechnologiesBy Ronald Donner

ARSA INSIGHT

54 Don’t Hold for

ApplauseBy Brett Levanto

WAI INSIGHT

55 Scholarships

Change LivesBy Dr. Peggy Chabrian

GAMA INSIGHT

58 Job Well Done: Recognizing Our Industry’s TalentBy Pete Bunce

D E P A R T M E N T S

57 CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

57 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

C O V E R S T O R Y

www.AviationPros.com 3

24 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY

Matthew Ackroyd,

Vector Aerospace

Nathan Alvar, Cirrus

Aircraft Factory Service

Center

Steven Barrett, Vector

Aerospace

Gary Chappell Jr., U.S.

Air Force

Tyler Clukey, C&L

Aviation

Estefania Collazos,

Endeavor Air

Holly Czupich, Chimera

Air Inc.

Peter DeSutter, AAR

MRO Services Duluth

Stephen Dodd, Cirrus

Aircraft Factory Service

Center

Nikolay Drobkov,

Hageland Aviation

Nathaniel Blake Eller,

Camtronics

Matthew Franklin,

Lewis University and Air

Methods Corp.

Travis Geist, Duncan

Aviation

Joshua Gibbs, JEM

Engineering

Johnny Gomez, Banyan

Air Service

Katie Gray, Vector

Aerospace

Jamie Harder, Duncan

Aviation

Kasey Harwick, Duncan

Aviation

Jamie Hill, ExpressJet

Airlines

Luke Jean, Heritage

Aviation

Joshua Knowlton,

Hillsboro Aviation

Jonathan Lincoln,

Endeavor Air

Jan-Philipp Loos,

Lufthansa Technik AG

Richard Lytle, Mente LLC

Timothy Murray,

Aviation Institute of

Maintenance

Fabio Nascimento,

Aircraft Propeller Service

Matt Neisler, West Star

Aviation

Diarmuld O’Shea,

Hongkong Jet

Erik Peterson, Bismarck

Aero Center

Travis Petet, Leonard

Green & Partners

Lauren Quandt, Western

Michigan University

Jay Scott, Cathay Pacific

Airways

Olebile Sekwababe,

Botswana Defence Force

Alan Sikarskie, Parker

Aerospace

Collin Stannard,

Constant Aviation

Mark Steinbeck, Traxxall

Technologies

Adam Thacker, AAR

Aircraft Services –

Indianapolis

William Tsao, U.S. Air

Force

Daniel Walker,

StandardAero

Seth Weide, Hallmark

University

Here is a list of the winners and the companies they represent:

Congratulations to this year’s winners of the AMT Next Gen 40 Under 40 Awards.

And also to those who recognized your achievements by nominating you.

The attributes that make up this year’s winners all have a passion for

aviation, whether it’s maintenance, education, executive management, general

aviation, business aviation, rotorcraft, military, MRO, or airline, they all love

what they do and want to keep improving themselves and the industry. Thank

you for the solid future you provide. And if you started as a child who wanted to

know more about aircraft or wanted a better future for yourself by committing

to the aviation later in life, we’re glad you’re a part of the Next Generation of

aircraft maintenance professionals.

There is no one path to success in aviation. Sometimes you grow in one

company, other times it requires moving around to take advantage of what the

industry offers or which direction your interest takes you. Take a look at this

year’s winners to see the different paths that are available. And as always, share

your story to encourage others to follow.

Aircraft Maintenance Technology is proud to recognize this year’s winners.

Next year’s winners will be featured in the August/September issue.

www.AviationPros.com 37

DIARMUID O’SHEA Head of Maintenance, 36, Hongkong Jet, Tung Chung, Hong Kong

The love of engineering/mechanics and a fascination with

aircraft and flying attracted Diarmuid O’Shea to aviation.

O’Shea spent his first five years completing an apprenticeship

and obtaining his basic aeronautical engineering certificates with

Team Aer Lingus at Dublin Airport, Ireland. To expand his hori-

zons and to learn the trade he worked throughout Europe as a

contract engineer, traveling and experiencing all of the different

facets and branches of aviation.

He came to Hong Kong to continue his career path working

first with Metrojet. At the time, Metrojet managed approximate-

ly 28 aircraft. He then transitioned to Hongkong Jet and has

contributed and participated in its growth. In his current role

with Hongkong Jet, as head of maintenance, he is running the

maintenance department, putting the building blocks in place

to ensure the company can continue to grow.

O’Shea holds three aircraft maintenance licenses — EASA B1,

FAA A&P, and HKCAD B1/C.

Nominated by Mike Walsh, CEO, Asia Air: “Diarmuid has

worked with me for the past eight years in Hong Kong, with Asia

Jet being Hongkong Jet’s client. Diarmuid has always been our

go to for our maintenance issues, scheduled and unscheduled

and his commitment and knowledge of problem solving to keep

our aircraft in the skies with one of the busiest charter fleets

in Asia especially Hong Kong has been

second to none. He always answers his

cell phone 24/7 even on his days off when

he climbs mountains, a passion of his. I

think that in itself shows the character of

the man to face what seems impossible

challenges and find a way to push on and

get the job done in a safe and professional manner.”

O’Shea says,“It can sometimes be challenging for westerners

to move to Asia and settle into an engineering job given many of

the logistical challenges we face in Asia Pacific region. It requires

knowledge and patience beyond the task in hand, which only

comes from experience and trial and error. It can be somewhat

frustrating at times, with things beyond your control due to a

lack of understanding or suitable regulations that cater to non-

scheduled business aviation operations. We have also recently

seen initiatives by Asian Business Aviation Association to get

more involved in engaging young talent and encouraging them

to join our field so this is a direction I am looking to get more

involved in also.”

As for the future, he wants to continue to grow his knowledge

base through continuous learning, enjoying work, traveling, and

experiencing different cultures as he goes.