What is the "Maintenance Mega-Conference"?
This is the first-ever maintenance-focused safety conference held here in Hawaii. It's the biggest aviation airworthiness event to be held in Hawaii for over a decade. It's called a "Mega-Conference" because the attendance is expected to be huge. It will be the first of five aviation maintenance conferences given in the Western-Pacific Region. If you miss this one, you'll have to go to the mainland to catch it.

When and where is the Mega-Conference being held?
Write this on your calendar Friday, January 30, 1998, and Saturday, January 31, 1998. It will be held on the seventh floor of the Interisland Terminal Building. Registration will be from 7 to 8 A.M. and the conference will go until 4 P.M. each day. There will be an evening social at the Hickam Officer's Club at 5:30 P.M. Friday evening where AMT AWARDS and Charles Taylor Awards recipients will be recognized.

Who should attend?
This event is a "must attend" for everyone and anyone who cares about aviation maintenance. FAA Airframe and Powerplant mechanics, repairmen, avionics repairmen, airline mechanics, mechanics with Inspection Authorization, Designated Mechanic Examiners, air taxi mechanics, people who are considering a career in aviation maintenance, pilots, and aircraft owners. If you're an aircraft owner and you can't come yourself, be sure that your Mechanic/IA is there. All Aviation Safety Counselors should be there. If you're a flight instructor, ground instructor, or maintenance instructor, you should be there. If you're a student aviation mechanic or student pilot, you should be there.

Why should someone attend?
It's an opportunity for pilots to meet with mechanics, mechanics to meet with other mechanics, and pilots and mechanics to meet with some of the major equipment suppliers in the industry. It's an event where people can ask maintenance questions and get answers. Bottom line is that it's a chance to improve safety in aviation maintenance by participating.

IA's can use their attendance as a basis for renewal of their authorization (must attend both days). Attendance can be used as a basis for the FAA AMT AWARDS program (one day eligible for Phase I - Bronze and both days eligible for Phase II - Silver).

It's a chance to network; get to know the names, faces, and expertise of A&P mechanics, FAA inspectors, vendor representatives, and industry employers. Who knows, your next job might be working with or for someone you meet at this conference.

Who will the speakers be?
Mr. Bill O'Brien, FAA HQ, Washington DC
Mr. Dave Tuttle, Flight 2000, Washington DC
George Peterson, NTSB
Champion Aviation Products
Teledyne Continental Engines
Textron Lycoming Engines
General Electric Engines
Frank Young, Goldwing Aviation Supplies
Snap-On Tools

How much will it cost?
You must invest your time. Parking in the Interisland terminal will cost you about $3.50 per day (with parking validation stamp). You will be responsible for your own lunch - there are lots of restaurants in the surrounding area.

Who can tell me more about the "Mega-Conference"?
Contact Jim Hein at 837-8335 or Tweet Coleman at 837-8307.

Pilot Safety Wings Meeting - Maui
Date: January 14, 7-9 P.M.

Scott Allen and Tweet Coleman will discuss what an FAA Surveillance Team is, what they do, and why they are important to aviation safety.

Pilot Safety Wings Meeting - Oahu
Date: January 29, 7-9 P.M. at the FAA FSDO, 135 Nakolo Place.
This will be a special meeting with two guests from the mainland. Bill O'Brien from FAA Headquarters will give a talk entitled "Putting Your Name On The Line." George Petterson from the NTSB will give a talk entitled "Preventing You From Becoming An Accident Statistic". Both of these talks are sure to be very educational and interesting. Contact Tweet Coleman (837-8307) for more information.

Aviation Maintenance "Mega-Conference"
Date: January 30-31, 7 A.M.-4 P.M.
7th Floor Conference Rooms - Interisland Terminal Building
See information in this issue for descriptions. Contact Jim Hein (837-8335) or Tweet Coleman (837-8307) for more information.

AMT AWARDS and Charles Taylor Award Recognition Social
Date: January 30, 5:30 P.M.
Hickam Officer's Club
This will be a ceremony to recognize all of the people who have participated in available initial and recurrent maintenance training/courses. Ceremonies will also recognize recipients of the prestigious Charles Taylor "Master Mechanic" Award. Everyone is welcome to come and support those mechanics who have fostered safety in aviation maintenance. Contact Jim Hein (837-8335) or Tweet Coleman (837-8307) for more information.

 Q. How can I find out about the safety record of an airline?

A. For those with Internet access, FAA's website at www.faa.gov has aviation safety information in several formats. Other websites of interest are. www.ntsb.gov, which has airline accident information, and a commercial site, www.landings.com. The FAA does not give safety ratings on airlines.

Q. Where can I get help with problems I am having with an airline?

A. The FAA has a Consumer Hotline (800-322-7873) for citizens with complaints about aviation safety issues within the FAA's jurisdiction.

Q. Is the accident/incident rate going down for general aviation?

A. Yes, the good news is that general aviation flying is getting safer. In 1996, a total of 1,675 accidents occurred. Of these, 328 were fatal. That translates to an accident rate of 8.06 per 100,000 flight hours, and a fatal rate of 1.51 per 100,000 hours.

Hawaiian Flyers Toastmasters invites anyone interested in improving their listening and speaking skills to attend our fun-filled meetings. We meet on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Honolulu FSDO office. For more information, call Mark Stefanov at 522-3039.

If you missed the Aviation Safety Counselor training, and you still want to become an ASC, you'll be glad to know that there are still some opportunities. Jim Hein has openings for some airworthiness ASC's. If you're interested, call Jim at 837-8335.

The following technicians are recognized for their participation in the AMT Awards Program at the indicated level of training during the 1996-1997 period.

Phase I: The following technician is recognized for meeting the minimum requirements of 6 hours of training. He will receive an FAA Certificate of Training and a Bronze Award tie tack/lapel pin.

Robert Ross

Phase III: The following technicians are recognized for meeting the minimum requirements of 26 hours of training. They will receive an FAA Certificate of Training and a Gold Award tie tack/lapel pin.

Larry Abilla
Craig Arakaki
Ronald Cabanada
Robert Chang
Joel Collins
Jon Healy
Kelly Kap
Gordon Ling
Daniel Loucks
Sean Panee
Guy Panek
Wilson Piros
Eric Shiigi
Alan Terada

Phase IV: The following technicians are recognized for meeting the minimum requirements of 60 hours of training. They will receive an FAA Certificate of Training and a Ruby Award tie tack/lapel pin.

Michael Ambrosio
Jaime Berdal, Jr.
Bartley Centeio
Paul deLaveaga
James Fagg
David Francis
Eduardo Gonzalez-Ortega
Stephen Greig
Erik Hirata
Roy Kunishige
Richard Leong
Jeffery Linker
Thomas Lishman
Alberto Masaquel
Alfred Nahale
Lester Nakamura
Charles Partin
Robert Pistorino
Patrick Rivera
William Sanchez
Glenn Torikawa
James Torres
Alan Villanueva
Richard Virga
Joseph Williams
Welton Wong
Jon Yamada

Phase V: The following employers are recognized for their participation in the AMT Awards Program with 25% or more of their employees receiving AMT Awards during the 1996-1997 eligibility period. These companies will receive a Phase V, Diamond Certificate of Excellence.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters
United Airlines - Honolulu Line Maintenance Station

Mr. Robert E. Ross is recognized for having been employed in the aviation maintenance industry for at least 50 years. He will receive a Charles Taylor Award lapel pin and a certificate of appreciation signed by the FAA Administrator. In addition, Mr. Ross' name will be included on a "Role of Honor" that will be kept in a prominent place at the Federal Aviation Building in Washington, DC.

Congratulations to all of the above-mentioned awardees.

WINGS PROFICIENCY AWARD PROGRAM

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