Ricardo Rivera is known for asking difficult questions, working to find solutions and pushing the boundaries of his aviation knowledge, then sharing that knowledge with others.
“Asking the hard or unpopular questions is the fun part,” Rivera said.
Tough conversations can lead to a better solution or shed light on a larger problem that needs addressing, he said.
Rivera began working for Southwest Airlines (SWA) as an Aircraft Maintenance Programs Compliance Analyst.
Within a year, he moved to his current role as an AD Assurance Auditor under the Maintenance Program Compliance umbrella. This team is responsible for ensuring continued compliance and airworthiness of SWA's Boeing 737 fleet. Rivera is responsible for FAA-issued aircraft systems Airworthiness Directives (ADs) and Notice of Proposed Ruling Making (NPRMs) notifications, and it is his job to ensure that SWA is made aware of all ADs and NPRMs as soon as they are published. Rivera is also responsible for notifying and collaborating with all applicable departments to ensure a compliance plan is created and implemented in a timely manner.
“Watching an AD compliance plan come together and go live is something special,” he said, adding a highlight of his job is the people.
“I love having the ability to interact with the many groups ranging from engineering, Boeing and the FAA to name a few.”
His educational achievements include a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, private pilot certificate, Exec Aero LLC AMT apprenticeship, and HondaJet and Daher TBM initial systems training.
Working for Turbine Aircraft Logistics, Rivera developed an aircraft maintenance support program centered around Daher’s TBM and the HondaJet HA-420. Here, he also helped develop an FAA Part 145 repair station program. He simultaneously worked for AirMobile Flight Department, providing maintenance management and support for owners of Cirrus, HondaJet and Embraer aircraft.
