There are lots of awards, trophies, and recognitions in aviation, but the Collier is among the most historically significant and longest running of them all. This is going to be a departure from the usual fare, but a fun one! I recently read a magazine piece on the finalists for this trophy (see below) for the recent year which triggered this article. Since 1910 the Trophy has been given annually for: "…the greatest achievement in aeronautics or astronautics in America, with respect to improving...

Having worked for a major airline, the tragic memory of one of our aircraft crashing into the side of a mountain remains vivid. I was the senior QA member of management at the facility where this aircraft had all its major maintenance performed. I was off duty when the news broke. I called my on-duty staff and instructed them to sequester all the records for the aircraft in anticipation of the investigation review. As the sun rose the next day, the call came to hand these over. My thoughts immed...

You’ve been ‘listed’. That could be good or that can be bad! If you’re on a no-fly list, that’s bad, but if you’re on any of the following lists, consider yourself privileged. Whether you call it a Roster, Registry, or Listing of Authorizations, they all essentially mean the same thing: It’s a tabulation of names and the listing of tasks they are authorized to perform. Let’s amplify this, and by the way, regardless of what you call it, in this article I’ll use the generic term, Roster. In aviati...

I do a lot of work with Repair Stations/AMOs (Approved Maintenance Organization). For MROs (Maintenance Repair and Overhaul) which do business internationally, the customer’s national CAA (Civil Aviation Authorities) often require that maintenance performed on aircraft based there be performed by MROs certified to their nation’s regulations. Thus, it is common to see MROs with multiple certifications for all the nations they do business with. Each nation typically charges fees, and requires a de...

We need to have a frank talk about a continuing pattern of injustice and seemingly anti-competitive behavior in the aftermarket. I’ll start. Due to the current covid crisis, and perhaps to the delight of OEMs (herein manufacturers who are Production Approval Holders, PAH, or have Production Organisation Approvals, POA) who in recent years have made major forays into the aftermarket, there are many small independent MROs staggering on the brink of business failure. Aside from covid, are there any...