November 21, 2022

Aviation Safety InfoShare is a semi-annual (Spring and Fall) conference where safety concerns and best practices are shared in a protected environment. The overall goal is to enhance safety through the sharing of experiences and resulting improvements.

Participants include government agencies, labor groups (aviation maintenance, dispatch, cabin, ground operations, air traffic, and pilots), university aviation departments, trade associations, aircraft manufacturers, domestic airlines, international airlines, regional airlines, corporate operators, and rotorcraft operators. 

The conference always begins with a plenary session for the first half of the first day. The second half of the day and the following days are breakout sessions classified by work group (maintenance, flight ops, rotorcraft, ground ops, dispatch, and cabin). Within the maintenance sessions, some of the subjects presented were:

• Workforce Shortage
• Safety Culture
• Training the Next Generation of Maintenance Professionals

The field of Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) has been facing shortages for years, and furthermore, an insufficient supply of qualified AMTs coupled with the accelerated rate of retirements due to the COVID-19 pandemic is leaving the industry shy of the demand. This is also the case with qualified pilots. With the strong return of airline travel demand, those challenges continue to increase and thereby place greater stress on the existing workforce.

The increased stress on the existing workforce can have an impact on an organization’s safety culture. As professional AMTs we must adhere to practicing safety and remain compliant. Our companies must support that practice, but it starts with our AMFA front-line professionals. When you have concerns, use the safety reporting system or file a report within the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP). In extreme instances, the FAA Hotline Report is another tool.

Utilizing those tools as ways to practice safety and compliance demonstrates to the next generation of AMTs what our role is within the safety culture. Experienced AMTs must take the time to show the new generation how to safely navigate through this craft.

These last couple of years have presented unprecedented challenges in our industry, and the InfoShare conferences were not spared - some were cancelled, while others were greatly restricted. This most recent Fall Conference hosted over 1500 participants and there is a strong interest in the next one set for March 2023.

Scott King
National Safety & Standards Director