Engineering, Maintenance & Materiel

• ATA Comments on a Proposed Regulation on Flight Data Recorders - ATA's response to a proposed rule on the Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) in Boeing 737 airplanes reflects our confidence in Boeing's redesigned rudder system for that airplane.  ATA member airlines already have installed the new rudder system in two-thirds of their total inventory, and all will be equipped within two years.  Our comments explain why the improved rudder system renders the proposed FDR additions unnecessary for in-service airplanes. (See Reuters article on FDRs.) 
• Aging Airplanes - In two recently proposed elements of FAA's Aging Airplane Program, airlines supported FAA's proposed consolidation and organization of efforts to ensure that airplane repairs and alterations are "damage tolerant", or capable of resisting fatigue.  However, a new proposal to better address widespread fatigue damage (WFD), a specific type of fatigue, should be further developed before implementation.  
  (See one reporter's comments on WFD.)  
• Regulatory Outlook  - a summary of additional, upcoming regulatory activity of specific interest to airline EM&M organizations.   

• 2007 Nuts and Bolts Awards Presented
  On April 24, 2007, ATA announced the winners of the 2007 ATA Nuts and Bolts Awards presented at the Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) Conference and Exhibition in Atlanta, GA.  Each year since 1967, the EMMC has presented two leaders in commercial aviation with this honor.  These prestigious awards, one for an airline notable and another for a leader in an organization that supports the industry, recognize sustained, outstanding services and contributions to airline engineering and maintenance. Awards are presented annually at the MRO.
• 2008 MRO  - The "MRO" is the premier exhibition and trade show for the commercial aviation Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul industry, including manufacturers, suppliers, and airlines.  The ATA and Aviation Week Magazine have partnered since 2001 to present this annual "must attend" event scheduled next for April 15-18, 2008, in Fort Lauderdale, FL.    
• 2008 MRO Sponsorship Opportunities - A link will soon be set up for information on opportunities to sponsor events at the MRO that are arranged solely by ATA and the EMMC.   
• Better Way Award  - An annual recognition of a government-industry team that has developed and applied an NDT technique, process, or policy advancing the technology.

EMMC Organization

• EMMC Industry Members - a list of companies that have recently joined ATA and expressed interest in  EM&M activities.
• Airworthiness Committee - chartered under the EMMC to provide technical assistance, advice, and coordination among the member air carriers.
• Groups, Task Forces, and Networks - a listing of industry groups, temporary "task forces," and standing cyber-communication "networks" chartered under the EMMC and Airworthiness Committee to meet the EMMC's objectives.  
• EMMC Organization Chart   - A graphic summary of the EMMC organization. 
• EMMC Charter, Mission, and Vision

• Joint Management Team - The EMMC facilitates a top-level government-industry team providing a forum for assessing policies and issues relevant to engineering and maintenance.  

• Flight Data Recorders  - a summary of the capabilities of flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders, or "black boxes", used in commercial transports.  
• Portable Electronic Devices  - a review of the growth of electronic devices and policies on their use onboard airplanes.