SAE International and PAMA/SAE Institute Webinar will Highlight New Aviation Maintenance Course and Certification Programs

WARRENDALE, Pa. (July 2, 2008) A free Webinar will show how PAMA/SAE Institute Aviation Maintenance Certification and the SAE Aviation Maintenance Fundamentals course can help aviation maintenance professionals and their employees stay a step ahead in an ever-changing industry.

What: SAE Aviation Maintenance Fundamentals Course and PAMA/SAE Institute Aviation Mainenance Certification Programs.

When: July 16, 1-1:30 p.m. (EDT)

Register: Online at http://www.sae.org/servlets/pdEvent?OBJECT_TYPE=PDEventInfo&PAGE=getPDEventInfo&EVT_NAME=C0815 or through SAE Customer Service at 1-877-606-7323 (724-776-4970 outside the U.S. and Canada) or CustomerService@sae.org


Participants in this Webinar will learn how:

Their operations can be more efficient and profitable;

To improve performance with standardized credentials;

How PAMA/SAE Institute aviation maintenance training can be offered at individual facilities;

How knowledge assessment can ensure the highest quality training;

To fulfill FAA-mandated initial and recurrent training plans.

- PAMA -

Hello All -

Thanks very much for all your patience as I "catch my breath" (to use Gary Brossett's words) to provide an update on our certification program. There is quite a bit happening and there is quite a bit of interest.

I would say we are in a "familiarizing" mode right now with several serious customers looking beyond the brochures to implementation of the AMS/AME certification and prep course. Just like with any purchase, the consumer has to clearly see the "What's in it for me?" before they will buy. However, individual states and the federal government will soon begin requiring certifications as validation of knowledge and skill transfer.

Because our certification program is "High Stakes," we made the fundamental decision at the outset that our program would be rigorous enough to withstand legal scrutiny. High Stakes, for our purpose, has two valid definitions. Our certifications are High Stakes because if the certified individual makes an error that causes damage or injury, the certification itself could come under scrutiny. A certification, properly developed, can only certify that a person has the knowledge, skill, and ability to perform a task - not that they actually did so in a specific situation.

The other definition for "High Stakes" is that employers and clients may use the outcomes of a certification exam in their decision-making process to hire or promote an employee or to award a work contract. If the outcome of a certification examination is negative, the certification must be able to withstand legal scrutiny.

That is why we use very high levels of rigor in our certification development process. Industry stakeholders, subject matter experts, industry surveys, beta testing and follow-up analysis of exam performance are examples of our rigorous process. Also, continuous education is the hallmark of any legitimate certification. Yes, there are fees involved, but one must maintain currency with one's profession if one is to remain competent and capable. It's a good lead question for you to ask when examining any certification: "Do you require recurrent training?" If not, it is not a certification - it's a certificate. This is what makes your PAMA/SAE Institute certifications valuable. They are strictly compliant with industry development standards.

As far as future programs go, I have received word that there may be funding for our Rotorcraft Master Technician certification forthcoming and we anticipate holding a joint military/civilian stakeholders program design meeting this fall. Stay tuned for details on that.

Composite Bonded Structure repair certification is on the front burner right now and I am looking forward to kicking that effort off this fall, as well. There are a few changes to the Program Design we just finished that must be incorporated before we can proceed. I hope to be able to release that final document by the end of summer.

Finally, we are looking hard at Avionics Certification and may have an announcement this fall, too. We have been approached by an industry partner and may be looking at ways to expand the skills and knowledge aviation maintenance professionals have across the board to other industries as well. (Wow...busy fall!)

We'll be needing Subject Matter Experts for each of these programs (Rotorcraft, Composites, and Avionics) and we will formally solicit those volunteers at that time. However, if you are interested and want to get your name on one of those lists now, please feel free to email me directly at bfinnegan@sae.org.

Thanks again for your great support in our historic program development efforts!

Skilled...Knowledgable...Capable? Prove it.

Brian

COMING IN 2008
THE FAA'S AMT AWARDS PROGRAM ON-LINE


The new on-line FAA Aviation Maintenance Awards Program will soon be available at www.FAASafety.gov.

What does this mean for you the AMT, AMT employer or training provider?

For the AMT

On-line training courses like the newly developed "Failure to Follow Procedures - Inspection" program.
No need to visit the FSDO or to mail in your proof of training
Training received can be recorded right in the on-line program
The training you, your employer, or a training provider records will become your permanent AMT Award Program training record that you can email to either a perspective employer, a school of higher learning for credit, or to your insurance company.
You will be able to make application and receive your appropriate Certificate of Training.
You can record your employer information, which will reduce paperwork and time spent by your employer in applying for their AMT Award of Excellence.

For the Employer of AMT's

Paperwork Reduction
Track your award application process on-line
(All of your eligible AMT's, both certificated and non-certificated must first, be registered at FAASafety.gov and secondly, registered in the on-line AMT Awards Program)
Ability to record training that you provide to each employee as it is received and not have to provide proof at the end of the year.
You may upload all in - house training for all employees registered for the program at the end of the year.
You may make application for your employer award on-line

AMT Awards Program Training Providers

Register as an AMT Awards Program Training Provider
Record available courses and contact information
You may record training that you provide for individual AMT's on-line as soon as the training is completed.

Please post an update on the AME certification program.

Have the numbers registering increased? How many have been certified to date?

Haven't seen much on the internet and in trade publications...is a promotion/marketing campaign in the works?

Here is a post I just put up on the JetBlog! Our colleages at American Airlines called and asked if I was aware of how different organizations celebrate Charles Taylor's birthday each year...and I wondered what better place to pose this question than on the JetBlast! Network and on JetBlog! Here is the post - please share your thoughts with us here or on the blog. Thanks! Brian

With the U.S. House of Representatives recent support for the goals and ideals of National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, we are wondering how our many industry colleagues rememeber Charles. E. Taylor. Some locations, like the Baker School of Aeronautics, hold an annual picnic in Charlie's honor. Several airlines make announcements on every flight on May 24. Some even bring one of their mechanics into the cabin and introduce them to the passengers. That always results in rousing cheers and applause. Its nice to be recognized for all the hard work and personal integrity.

Do you and your colleagues, or does your company, celebrate the women and men that maintain the airworthiness of your aircraft every May 24? Please share your activities, thoughts and ideas with us here on JetBlog! so that others may be inspired by your efforts, as well.

Stay Strong!

Hello all - and welcome to all our new JBN memebrs!

We are up to 254 members on this site as of today - over half way to our goal of 500 this year. You can help us achieve this goal by inviting the maintenance, engineering, and support professionals in your inner circle to join us.

On Saturday I received the Composites Repair Technician draft final report from our certification development consultants at Kryterion and I am quite pleased. I will be sharing it with our certification leadership committee over the next week and then pursuing industry partnership and funding to develop and launch Composites and Metal Bonded Certification for Technicians.

When we entered into this program design process, we knew that there is a great desire for standardization of processes in composites. This is still very much the case as companies struggle with a lack of industry standards in materials manufacturing. There is much we can do as the technical community to ensure we are followiing a recognized standard in designing and implementing repairs. However, it became clear in our conversations that without leadership support for ensuring the availability of proper facilities, equipment, and continued training, certified technicians will not be able to carry the full burden of operational readiness.

Also, as was made clear by a number of our participants, the development of our technical workforce in the repair and manufacturing of composite and metal bonded structures represents a technology and skills shift that will evolve - especially over the next 10 years. Clearly we need to get moving on the standardization of our skills and procedures now, but we should also expect to see significant evolution over the next decade and beyond.

Just as there were many vying for all the great aviation achievements of the past, there are a number of groups that have the same ideas we have about developing composite repair skills. However, as you might imagine, it is a very big deal to develop such a program. As others have gotten into the nuts and bolts of development - and begun pursuing the necessary stakeholder support to build consensus, they have increasingly come to the PAMA/SAE certification development effort to lend their support.

We must work together as an industry and we are the only such group that has personnel speciifically and exclusively dedicated to the development of technical certifications. We continue to solicit stakeholder support to join with the SAE International Commercial Aircraft Composite Repair Committee (CACRC), our standards development industry committee of subject matter experts. If you have an interest in participating in this exciting program, please write me directly.

I'll keep you informed here on our progress. Please don't hesitate to comment here with any thoughts or suggestions - or complaints - that you think we should know about and consider.

Best regards,

Brian

Well, I take my written test to acquire my power-plant rating this wednesday. I was fortunate enough to get a job as soon as I get out of the program. I graduate from Tarrant County College AMT program. It was a blast, I hate to see it go by, but its time to start my career in the aviation world. Im going to be employed by a company called Turbine Engine Specialists out of Meacham Airport. Anyone have any good advice for a neophyte like myself?

My name is Veit Marschner. I want to make a career change into aviation maintenance. It is my understanding that it is advisable to first obtain an A&P license. To that effect I have contacted several colleges. I have visited the Daytona campus of Embry Riddle University and liked their facilities. I wonder if anybody can comment on the quality of education at this location. Since I already have a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and many years of professional experience, I believe it would be best to just enroll in a Diploma program. I wonder what school has the most recognized name in the industry so I can make a better decision where to enroll. I would also welcome any comments regarding personal experience anybody could give me about the college he/she attended. In particular I would be interested to find out to what extent the curriculum reflects what the industry is looking for and the experience level of the faculty.

In case you have not been reading our JetBlog! Interactive, on Wednesday, April 30, the U.S. House of Representatives will vote on HR 444: Supporting the goals and ideals of National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, honoring the invaluable contributions of Charles Edward Taylor, regarded as the father of aviation maintenance, and recognizing the essential role of aviation maintenance technicians in ensuring the safety and security of civil and military aircraft (Rep. Filner - Transportation and Infrastructure.)

We have all worked very hard to achieve this important recognition for Charles Taylor and for the women and ment that keep our aviation fleet safe. Nice work everyone!

Stay Strong!

Brian

I know it's probably early to be asking, seeing that the first credentials went out in March, but does anyone have the facts on AME recert?

Nothing like planning ahead. The IA renewal season started the end of March, not the beginning of March in the 2nd year. I figure the thought of AME recert should begin now and not Mar 09, so I thought I would ask :)