Category: General Aviation

In the complex world of aviation, every component of aircraft maintenance plays a critical role in ensuring safety and compliance. After nearly a decade of experience in Part 145 maintenance, where the primary focus is on the operational integrity and airworthiness of aircraft, I’ve recently explored the essential functions of Part 21G Maintenance Manufacturing Engineers. This transition has revealed a crucial, yet often overlooked, segment of our industry.
While Part 145 engineers are tasked with the direct maintenance and repair of aircraft to ensure their operational readiness, Part 21G engineers focus on the upstream processes that lay the foundation for safe and compliant operations. Their responsibilities extend beyond merely producing aircraft components; they ensure that maintenance practices align with design specifications, thus facilitating a seamless transfer of knowledge and data between manufacturing and maintenance phases.
What Part 21G’ers Maintenance Manfacturing Engineers do?
1. Data Interpretation and Compliance: Part 21G engineers are responsible for translating intricate design specifications from the Part 21J design team into practical maintenance data. This includes ensuring that maintenance protocols adhere to original design intents and regulatory standards set forth by authorities such as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Their work ensures that every aspect of the aircraft’s design is honored during maintenance, significantly reducing the risk of non-compliance.
2. Validation Before Flight Testing: Prior to any aircraft being released for flight testing, Part 21G engineers conduct thorough validations to confirm that all components have been manufactured to specification and maintained in accordance with the established design data. This process not only ensures compliance but also serves as a critical safeguard, ensuring that the aircraft is prepared for the rigors of flight testing.
3. Collaboration with Part 145 Teams: A key responsibility of Part 21G engineers is to facilitate collaboration between design and maintenance teams. By working closely with Part 145 maintenance engineers, they ensure that the necessary documentation is complete and accurate. This collaboration is essential for implementing effective maintenance practices and ensuring that technicians have access to the precise information required for fault-free work.

It is Nice to Know the Integration Cycle
Recognizing the interconnected roles of Part 145 and Part 21G engineers is vital for enhancing aviation safety and reliability. Both groups contribute uniquely to the lifecycle of an aircraft, from design through manufacturing to maintenance and eventual operation. Understanding each role fosters a culture of collaboration, promoting a shared commitment to excellence in safety standards.
A Call to Recognize The Collective Impact
As we continue to navigate the complexities of aircraft maintenance, it’s important to acknowledge the often-unseen contributions of Part 21G engineers—the hidden knights of our industry. Their diligent efforts behind the scenes ensure that we, as Part 145 maintenance engineers, are equipped with the precise knowledge and tools needed to uphold the highest standards of airworthiness.
In a field where safety is paramount, recognizing the value of every role within the aircraft maintenance framework can help us build a more robust and resilient aviation industry. Let us celebrate these unsung heroes and the collaborative spirit that keeps our skies safe!

Since 2019, a small firm based in east Vancouver, Washington has been aggressively creating new opportunities for young people to access the pathways for careers in Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT). Aviation Maintenance Technicians are the professionals that are most needed at this time. According to aviation leaders, 500,000 new AMTs are needed to replace a retiring and overworked workforce nationally. Internationally the numbers are even greater!

Why are new Aviation Maintenance Technicians needed? SAFETY in the skies, which is what AMTs provide for all of us. Witness the many airline mishaps in the news recently. Shocking, because we’ve all taken airline safety for granted. Many of these hard-working professionals began their careers 30-40 years ago, with most coming out of the military where they gained training, certification and employment. Since the COVID pandemic layoffs, airline travel has more than rebounded. Given the even greater demand and stress, aircraft mechanics are retiring en masse. This means that an ambitious, coordinated effort is required to replace them, and that is what we have been working to achieve.

The new workforce being sought are middle and high school students who are currently trying to imagine their work opportunities after they graduate. Most are unaware that their penchant to “fix things” could lead to an incredibly stable and rewarding career in Aircraft Maintenance Technology. These opportunities allude them, because they have not been made aware through effective means.
Here are some of the successful initiatives that have been created by Ryan Strategies International so far:

• Creation of a brand-new AMT program at a regional community college bridging Oregon and Washington States, connecting students to airlines offering good starting salaries after 18 months of training and certification, along with the great benefits and travel opportunities.
• Sponsorships of money, training, surplus parts and expertise by successful aviation and airline leaders.
• Development of AMT career awareness and student outreach programs for elementary, middle and high school students.
• Building of new AMT career pathway relationships between industry leadership and educators.

• Outreach to government regulators and career facilitators to offer the proven approaches to recruit students to the profession. Especially highlighting where their skills are needed.

At a time when many young people are struggling with mental health issues and a sense of frustration and isolation, the promotion of AMT careers may offer them a sense of purpose and new possibilities. They will recognize the aging workforce can be reinvigorated with their enthusiasm for the new environmentally sustainable fuels, new flight technologies, flight guidance and safety instrumentation, and much more!

Robert Ryan, president of Ryan Strategies International, is passionate about creating this avenue for young people to have meaningful, properly compensated careers. He is motivated by his experience working as a business volunteer helping high school students to learn essential business skills, and by working one on one to help them graduate. Members of his own, and the co-founder’s family had been aviation maintenance technicians for part or all of their careers. He understands and values this field of work as a successful and rewarding career.

He envisions similar careers addressing the workforce needs in Unmanned Aerial Systems and Aerospace. “I was brought-up during the first Space Race, and now we are on to another thrust forward, into the future of global flight and exploration of the universe.”

For more information contact: ryanstrategies@aol.com: 503-250-2337

The annual Wings of Hope airplane raffle has gone live today, Monday, September 9, 2024 at 12am Central Time. There are only 5,000 tickets being made available. The cost for one ticket is $100 and three tickets is $275. Each ticket has a chance to win one of the following prizes:

1. Grand Prize: 1964 Piper Cherokee 235 (N8623W)

The 1964 Cherokee 235 is an example of Piper’s top of the line four-place, fixed gear design. It has the performance to carry four people, full fuel (84 gal in four fuel tanks), and more than a hundred pounds of luggage (via a large baggage door) with a cruise speed of 150+ mph. It can do this while still taking off and landing on short strips and having a service ceiling of 14,500’ (at gross weight)! The 235 is also known for its reliability incorporating a Lycoming O-540 engine with 2,000 hr TBO, a McCauley fixed pitch propeller, a quickly removeable top cowling, manual flaps, and a center-mounted hand brake lever. To top it off, this 235 has been totally updated including recent overall silver paint, 2-tone leather interior, all windows replaced, along with engine and propeller overhauled. Then avionics technicians and volunteers updated the avionics with the following all new Garmin equipment:

• G3X and G5 STBY
• GMA-345 Audio Panel
• GNX-375 GPS/Transponder
• GNC-215 NV/COM
• GTR-205 COM
• Remote Units:
  • GAD-27 Power Supply
  • GSU-25 ADAHRS
  • GEA-24 Engine Sensor
  • GMU-11 Magnetometer

1. Second Prize: a PPL or Advanced Training Scholarship
2. Third Prize: a Bose A30 aviation headset

In order to purchase tickets, go to the Wings of Hope website at https://wingsofhope.ngo/raffle/. Purchases can be made with any major credit card, no other forms of payment will be accepted.

Grupo EULEN announced the appointment of John Jones as vice president of aviation operations for the United States and the Caribbean.

In his new role, Jones will lead and support Grupo EULEN’s aviation division in the U.S., overseeing a team of highly skilled professionals who serve at ten airports in the USA and Jamaica. Jones will be responsible for driving the strategic growth plan to further expand the company’s aviation division.

“I am excited to join Grupo EULEN in the United States and work with such a talented and dedicated team,” said Jones. “My vision for this role involves a multifaceted strategy that focuses on building an exceptional leadership team in the U.S., where all leaders are equipped and motivated to nurture our most valuable asset: our workforce.”

Jones brings more than 27 years of experience as a leader in the aviation industry, known for building strong customer partnerships, forming successful leadership teams and promoting a culture of continuous and sustainable improvement. Before joining Grupo EULEN in the U.S., he held various leadership positions, including HUB director, regional director, senior vice president, and chief operating officer at Dnata USA. He also served as senior vice president of the international division at Aeroméxico (dba Aeroméxico Connect), overseeing the airline’s regional operations, commercial, marketing and personnel management in the U.S. His aviation career began at Conquest Airlines in Texas, where he served as director of stations, developing the company’s domestic and international network. Jones holds a degree in business management from Texas A&M University.

“We must provide development opportunities to help our leaders manage and support our workforce, genuinely showing our employees that we value them and care about their well-being,” said Jones. “We want to instill the concept of operational excellence and deliver a best-in-class service to our aviation business partners.”

In addition to optimizing current operations at the ten airports in the U.S. and Jamaica, Jones will focus on generating opportunities to expand Grupo EULEN’s aviation portfolio in the U.S., collaborating with both current and potential business partners.

“Challenges exist, as the aviation ground handling industry is highly competitive; however, Grupo EULEN has successfully built a new and solid leadership in the U.S. I am confident that our new management team is equipped with the skills and technology needed to achieve our goals of growth and operational excellence,” said Jones.

Jones is planning to visit each airport location in the coming weeks to meet with operational leaders and frontline employees, aiming to fully understand each operation and provide solutions to the specific complexities and challenges of each station.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) recognized U.S. Rep. Sam Graves (R-Missouri) for his bipartisan efforts, working with leaders in the House and Senate, to pass the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act of 2024, which was signed into law this past May by President Biden. The EAA recognition came during Rep. Graves’ annual congressional update to aviators held at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the world’s largest fly-in convention.

“In his role as Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Sam Graves conveyed to Congress the necessity of giving the FAA its roadmap for the next five years, so the agency can plan and execute its important mission of keeping the American aviation system the safest and most active in the world,” said Jack J. Pelton, EAA CEO and chairman of the board. “It is especially gratifying to see general aviation represented as an essential, stand-alone title within FAA reauthorization, a provision that exists because of the direction and support of Chairman Graves.”

The FAA Reauthorization Act includes the first-ever general aviation title, a specific section that encompasses numerous provisions supported by EAA that benefit general aviation growth. Of note, the bill mandates the expansion of BasicMed, increasing the size of covered aircraft to 12,500 pounds, the number of allowable passengers to six, and the number of seats to seven. Another provision provides a 24-month maximum deadline for the FAA’s completion of the MOSAIC final rule. While the rule is expected significantly sooner — likely in 2025 — a congressional deadline highlights the importance of the rulemaking.

Also included are sections that provide for the continued availability of avgas, direct a review of the process for reserving aircraft registration numbers to reduce unfair profiteering, and spur development of a suitable position reporting system for voluntary use in non-rule airspace. In further efforts to protect pilots from unfair enforcement, language is included that prohibits the use of ADS-B Out data by the FAA to initiate an investigation, and additional sections amend the Pilot’s Bill of Rights to ensure pilots have adequate time to respond to a letter of investigation.

A longtime pilot himself, Chairman Graves has emerged as a leading voice in Congress in support of aviation. He continues to be active at aviation events throughout the country and as a member of the EAA Warbirds of America board of directors, as that organization is dedicated to the preservation of historic military aircraft.