AMTSociety State of the Industry Address
With maintenance vehicles and aircraft towing, you have a lot of responsibility and a job to do and you also want to get it done right – right? This, in many cases, requires you to drive maintenance vehicles or move aircraft by taxi or towing in the airfield maintenance areas. Be proactive and learn the tower frequencies, especially the ground control frequency (jot them down), recognize and be certain that you understand the airfield markings and signs, and by all means, before you move, get authorization/clearance – and VERIFY!
Following this procedure each and every time will reduce your risk of: causing an unauthorized or unapproved movement within the movement area or an occurrence in the movement associated with the operation of an aircraft that affects or could affect the safety of flight resulting in a reported surface deviation incident – or causing any occurrence at an airport involving an aircraft involving an aircraft, vehicle, person, or object on the ground that creates a collision hazard or results in the loss of separation with an aircraft taking off, intending to take off, landing, or intending to land resulting in a reported runway incursion.
New mission and vision statements
Mission Statement: To honor the legacy of the aviation community while advancing opportunities for aircraft maintenance technicians to further their profession and ensure the future of aviation.
Vision Statement: To actively promote and protect the professional aircraft maintenance technician’s craft and profession, advance the future of our profession, and to provide resources and benefits to its members.
— Stay safe, Tom Hendershot
Additions to the board of directors
Thursday, May 17, 2012, three more individuals joined your AMTSociety Board: Gloria J. Cosby, EVP of the Diversified Group, Cygnus Business Media; Ronald W. Donner, Editor of AMT Magazine; and Michael R. Sasso, National Accounts Manager, AMT.
Gloria Cosby started as publisher at Cygnus Business Media in 1989. In 2007, she was promoted from Group Publisher to Brand Director. In 2011, she was promoted to one of just four Executive Vice President positions overseeing the Diversified Group. As EVP, she is responsible for managing strategy and implementation of print, digital and tradeshow brands in several top U.S. industries including transportation and aviation. She is a recognized expert on digital assets and integrating business-to-business platforms for advertisers and was previously named to MIN’s list of “11 Women to Watch.”
Ronald (Ron) Donner is an aviation professional having spent his entire life involved in aviation. He holds FAA certificates as an A&P/IA, commercial pilot, single and multi engine land, instrument airplane, glider, and is an airplane owner.
Ron began his aviation career working line service while attending aviation school. From 1975 until 1983 he held positions in general aviation as line service, technician, inspector, and charter pilot. He then began a long career with Northwest Airlines holding positions as a technician, supervisor, manager, quality assurance auditor and FAA liaison. His activity in the QA/FAA Liaison group gained him significant experience in regulatory compliance, safety, airport operations, and repair station/MRO activity worldwide. In January 2010 he left NWA and now uses his aviation experience as the Editor of Aircraft Maintenance Technology (AMT) Magazine.
Ron has been a volunteer member of the board of directors for Minnesota based Stanton Sport Aviation Inc. from 2000 to present, president from 2004 to 2009, and is currently vice president. He serves on the advisory committee for the annual Minnesota Aviation Maintenance Conference, is an FAA Safety Team Representative, and a member in good standing of many aviation organizations.
As a second generation A&P technician Mike Sasso started his aviation career in high school graduating from Aviation High School in New York with my Airframe and FCC License, graduating with honors and receiving a scholarship to attend Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK. He also received an AAS degree from Spartan as well as worked to complete a BS degree through Tulsa University.
He started in the industry as an avionics technician for United Airlines while completing his Powerplant certification at Solano Community College. He worked his way up at United from technician to overhaul maintenance supervisor managing the 727/737 heavy check Lines, the moving out to post check test flight management and then onto terminal operations and line operations including a stint as a station maintenance controller. Mike left United to move back to the Midwest and started at American Airlines as a sheet metal/structures mechanic, quickly moving up to run the 727 heavy check line once again and then moved to DFW where he managed the MD11 B check line operations.
After leaving American, he worked at Kitty Hawk as a MX controller and a second term as a base manager, as well as line maintenance manager for FedEx; station MX manager for Air Wisconsin; and a maintenance controller, then MRO Supervisor for Comair.
More recently, he was the manager of maintenance control for Mesaba Airlines, as well as the director of the SOC and then director of maintenance until the time it was purchased by NWA.
Upon moving out of the management realm, he was instrumental in the writing of the maintenance electronic logbook for the EFB for Teledyne Controls, and also spent some time with Jeppesen as a sales and service rep managing one of its largest accounts in NWA until it was merged with Delta.
He became active in his community starting and managing a local chamber of commerce which focused on community and b2b networking and sales and marketing training for small to medium businesses in the digital age. He still works with the Chamber at a local level in both Rockford, IL, and Minneapolis, MN.
Currently he has combined his aviation and sales knowledge at AMT Magazine and Cygnus Aviation where he is National Account. And he has started working with Rock Valley College, preparing to lead a summer program as an adjunct instructor in its A&P program.
Membership benefits
Once again this year, Snap-On Tools is helping AMTSociety in adding/expanding our membership by giving all NEW (first time) individuals a 6-inch ratcheting screwdriver with six different tips. The offer is limited to new members only, and is limited to shipment to North American members. While Snap-on is extending the offer, this offer is limited to 600 so become a member today!
The existing member who gets the most referrals during this offer extension will win a toolbox, KRa4107, in a color of their choice. If the winner donates it to a school, a scholarship award, or fundraiser which is appropriate (related to the mission of AMTSociety, etc.), Snap-on will add $2,500 in tools of the recipient’s choice. The next nine existing members who have the most referrals will win a ratcheting screwdriver.
Thank you Snap-on!
IA renewal schedule
We’re still working on next year’s schedule but the first IA event will be held Sept. 8, 2012 at Crimson Technical College, 8911 Aviation Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90301. Watch the web site, AMT magazine, and newsletters for further schedule updates.
Keep us updated
AMTSociety wants to make sure you are receiving all the benefits of your membership. When you renew your membership you automatically receive a packet with valuable information inside, including your new membership card. Unfortunately, if you have changed your mailing address without notifying us you may never receive all the benefits your membership entitles you to.
If a move is in your future, or you have changed your email or phone number, please take a moment to update your information at www.amtsociety.org.
We value your continued support in making the AMTSociety a Success!
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