The Maintenance Committee addresses the high-level strategic issues pertinent to the maintenance operations of NBAA Member Companies. The committee’s goal is to provide a forum for ideas and ways to connect NBAA Members with peer companies and regulatory agencies, and it is currently focused on several forward-looking initiatives. The committee has oversight of the Maintenance Conference and the Maintenance TRACS program. NBAA members can forward questions, comments or suggestions to the committee chairman or staff liaison.

Officers

  • James Huntoon, Viasat (Chairman)
  • Andrew Kiehl, Executive Jet Management (Vice Chairman)
  • Lee Brewster, ATP (Secretary)
  • Stewart D’Leon, CAM, NBAA (National Business Aviation Association) (Staff Liaison)

NBAA members may also review the full committee roster.

Information & Resources

New Maintenance Standards

The Maintenance Committee supports NextTech for NextGen, a new initiative intended to promote sweeping change in the aviation maintenance profession. In the face of the ongoing modernization of aircraft navigation, communications and surveillance equipment, maintenance technicians will need to be able to certify NextGen aircraft as both airworthy and fit for the mission.

NextTech will:

  • Create a new industry standard for those in the aviation maintenance profession
  • Ensure relevant educational and training standards are in place to develop a qualified work force
  • Engage regulatory authorities to amend outdated regulations
  • Promote business aviation maintenance to the next generation

Maintenance Committee Groups

The committee’s Regulatory Subcommittee is actively engaged in developing and implementing standards on electronic documentation, recordkeeping and signatures. It aims to become a global asset to regulatory agencies, OEMs and MROs and also to help owners/operators ensure regulatory compliance.

A Connectivity Subcommittee has been created to address the need for improved in-cabin connectivity standards for passengers and crew. The new group of pilots, IT specialists, flight attendants and maintenance professionals will work with manufacturers and end users to develop an industry-wide standard for integrating cabin electronic systems. Establishing common equipment, performance and serviceability standards are key goals of the new subcommittee, which will hold its first official meeting in December 2014.

The Training & Advance Education Subcommittee facilitates and monitors the activities of OEMs and training providers in relation to the recommendations set forth by the NBAA Maintenance Committee. The subcommittee’s current initiative is to address specific training for aircraft, engines and avionics through training guidelines and specifications for business aviation. The Training Advance Education subcommittee looks to find solutions to the aviation maintenance personnel needs through NextTech for NextGen, a career development path and certification effort.

NBAA Maintenance Conference – This annual conference brings together high-caliber educational programming, networking and a dynamic exhibit hall specializing in product and service providers for business aircraft maintenance, service and support. Attendees are the leaders and rising stars who are responsible for managing aircraft maintenance, who return year after year for valuable professional development and to get critical business done. The NBAA Maintenance Committee is responsible for developing the agenda for this conference. For more information on the conference, visit www.nbaa.org/mc.

NBAA Quick Turns – NBAA Quick Turns is the maintenance-focused section of Business Aviation Insider, the official Member magazine of NBAA. Published three times per year, the section covers tips, trends and best practices for business aviation maintenance professionals. Learn more about Business Aviation Insider at www.nbaa.org/insider.

Business Aircraft Maintenance Air Mail
– Available in both email list and web-based forum formats, Air Mail is NBAA’s Members-only social network for collaboration and discussion on topics of interest to business aircraft operators. The Business Aircraft Maintenance Air Mail forum was established for the discussion of maintenance issues.

Maintenance Technical Reward and Career Scholarship (Maintenance TRACS)
– The NBAA Maintenance Committee is dedicated to promoting technical education and professional development as a means for corporate maintenance technicians to enhance their careers. To support this position, NBAA has created the Maintenance Technical Reward and Career Scholarship (Maintenance TRACS), which offers current and aspiring maintenance technicians the opportunity to receive training courses for several aircraft and engine models, as well as professional development courses.

For more information on maintenance issues, visit NBAA’s maintenance resources at www.nbaa.org/maint.