Fred Bruggeman’s Post

Part 2 Post Aviation Safety seriously under thread due reduced training standards of aircraft technical staff in many countries around the world. The many NAA's also hardly perform Quality Audits of a good level, due to the fact that most NAA staff often have no actual hands-on knowledge of the maintenance they are supposed to audit. The saying “you need a thief to catch a thief” is still true. I have seen very few audits related to actual hands-on check of the performed maintenance.   Authorities focus mainly on Paperwork and paper procedures. You can have wall of cabinets filled with procedures, but they tell you nothing about how the work is performed. Is the staff properly trained, do they use the right tools and materials? The proof is in the pudding, isn't it?   During our Covid period 2020 when tens of thousands of aircraft's were grounded worldwide, and most airlines were suddenly confronted with completely NEW maintenance tasks around the parking of aircraft while maintaining them serviceable and how to keep them airworthy.   I dare say, in my country, the Netherlands, none of the authorities even visit any of the airline maintenance departments for 1 minute. Let alone they have had any idea what was happening. I am pretty sure because of talking with my colleagues from many countries this has been the general situation in most countries. The authorities fail in their oversight of airlines and maintenance organisations, I have personally reported very serious safety problems (proof of large-scale fraud with documents) to my own authorities and surprise, surprise, during following audits has never been any of those reports investigated.   I have challenged my own Dutch authorities under the Freedom of information regulation about the audit results over the years 2008 till 2018. I have done this in November 2018. Officially the authorities have to answer such a request with giving access or a determination not to give access, due to a valid reason with 6 weeks with an extension of another 6 weeks. It is now November 2023 5 years since the request. I am still fighting for my rights. Lies, denies, failing to respond, not answering telephone recall, deny by false reasoning, went to court 2022, Then demand from judge to NAA to abide by the rules, still no result. You name it, they have done it.   We have rules, we have authorities who should check on those rules and standards, we have official inspections, but if our own authorities refuse to do their job, we are “ourselves” as technical staff the main line of defences of safety of aviation. Relying on authorities to help you is a waste of time I have learned that the hard way.   Mail me with comments at fred.bruggeman@airengineers.org