Inside Aircraft Maintenance: The Intricacies of Keeping Commercial Aircraft Safe

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Episode Description

Commercial airplanes are very similar to cars– not in size, but in the fact that they require routine maintenance and safety checks. In this episode, learn how Endeavor Air plans and performs routine and emergency maintenance on Delta’s Bombardier CRJ 200, 700, and 900 fleet. James McKinley, Base Manager for Endeavor Air at McGhee Tyson Airport, explains the detailed process they undertake to keep their aircraft flying safely. 

Guest in this Episode

• James (Jay) McKinley is the Base Manager for Endeavor Air at McGhee Tyson Airport. He has been in the aircraft mechanic industry for 27 years.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Endeavor Air: a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines
• ExpressJet
• Part 135 Operator: an operator provides air transportation of persons/property for compensation or hire
• Contour Aviation
• Delta fleet worked on at Endeavor:
  • Bombardier CRJ 200
  • Bombardier CRJ 700
  • Bombardier CRJ 900
• Three Ways to Get into the Aircraft Mechanics Industry:
  1. Military
  2. A&P School (closest one is in Morristown, TN)
  3. OTJ (aka On the Job Training)
• MRO, aka maintenance repair organization

Did You Know: Airplanes are required to be inspected at least every three days, but in most cases, mechanical inspections happen daily. 

Music in this Episode

• Birdy by KV https://soundcloud.com/kvmusicprod
• Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported — CC BY 3.0
• Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/dSCbsObNJo0