David A. Lombardo
Contributor
Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.
Lombardo holds an A&P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.
Latest from David A. Lombardo
Accidents
King Air hits deer on landing
RAYTHEON BEECH KING AIR 90, ROSEAU, MINN., JUNE 27, 2002–Runway incursions took on a new meaning when the two pilots and two medical perso
Accidents
King Air Cowling takes flight
RAYTHEON BEECH KING AIR 300, NEAR TULSA, OKLA., JUNE 22, 2002–There were no reported injuries as a result of N224CR’s in-flight separation
Accidents
Rollover destroys Bell 47
BELL 47G4, NEAR GRAND LAKE, LA., JUNE 23, 2002–The pilot of the Bell 47G4 and one passenger received minor injuries while a second passeng
Accidents
Power loss leads to rough autorotation
ENSTROM F-28C, NEAR MEDICINE BOW, WYO., JUNE 10, 2002–N5694Z, operated by Falcon Helicopter and piloted by a commercial-rated pilot, was s
Accidents
Beeping noise heard before helo went down
BELL 206BII, NEAR NHULUNBUY, AUSTRALIA, JUNE 5, 2002–About 4 p.m.
Accidents
Nearly out of gas, then out of control; failure to verify fuel first link in crash
It is usually easier to find fault with a flight crew during an ensuing accident investigation than it was for the crew to make the right decisions instant
Accidents
Watch those fingers
DORNIER 328, WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 17, 2002–Failure to follow operational procedures resulted in a serious injury to a U.S.
Accidents
Hot refueling not such a hot idea
MBB BO-105S, SPARTA, ILL., JUNE 8, 2002–N660SL, operated by Arch Air Medical, sustained substantial damage when a static line broke loose
Accidents
Helicopter crashes on takeoff
GARLICK UH-1H, CLARK FORK, IDAHO, JUNE 21, 2002–The restricted-category helicopter, registered as N114DR, sustained substantial damage aft
Accidents
Wings snap off of Waterbomber
LOCKHEED C-130A, WALKER, CALIF., JUNE 17, 2002–Engaged in a firefighting mission near Walker, the four-engine turboprop broke apart during
Accidents
Conversion Malibu disappears from radar
PIPER PA-46-310P, OSTEEN, FLA., JUNE 14, 2002–The JetProp DLX-conversion Malibu (N9143B) disappeared from radar at 8:39 p.m.
Maintenance and Modifications
Maintenance innovations make life easier for mechanics and operators
Aircraft maintenance does not exactly move forward technologically at the speed of light.
Accidents
Sabreliner hits ridge
ROCKWELL NA 265-65 SABRELINER, MOLOKAI, HAWAII, MAY 10, 2000–At 2031 Hawaiian standard time (HST), both flight crewmembers and all four passengers o
Regulations and Government
ISO 9000 sets the bar for business
“ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, is simply going to be a requirement to do business in the future, especially in aviation,” Roger
FBOs
Priester profitably surfs changing charter seas
“Two years ago we were doing Wall Street road shows and rock band tours,” Andy Priester, director of charter operations at Chicago-based Priester Aviation,
Maintenance and Modifications
MRO Profile: Haggan Aviation
After a long stint working for other people, Geno Haggan, president of Englewood, Colo.-based Haggan Aviation, decided to open his own maintenance shop in
Maintenance and Modifications
New version of corridor maintenance software released
Continuum Applied Technology has released Version 8.5 of its Corridor aviation service software.
Maintenance and Modifications
Corporate Flight maintenance relocates facility
Smyrna, Tenn.-based Corporate Flight Management (CFM) has expanded its maintenance division’s capacity by moving it from two relatively small hangars to a
Maintenance and Modifications
CRS Jet Spares broadens and increases capacity
CRS Jet Spares is offering additional support for Premier I airframes.
Maintenance and Modifications
EADS Socata OKs Midcoast as Falcon 7X repair center
Midcoast Aviation of St.
Maintenance and Modifications
Ameco Beijing opens Asia's largest MRO facility
A joint venture between Air China and Lufthansa has produced one of the world’s largest MRO facilities.
Maintenance and Modifications
Cessna Citation service centers to offer mobile service units
Cessna Aircraft has begun serving Citation customers with a mobile service unit designed to save owners and operators time and money on their aircraft main
Maintenance and Modifications
Red River turbines builds T-9 milspec test cell
Turbine engine overhauler Red River Turbines has built the world’s first commercial T-9 military spec depot-level engine test cell.The $1.6 mil
Maintenance and Modifications
Dallas Airmotive Love Field offers PW300 hot sections
BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul’s Dallas Airmotive has added Pratt & Whitney Canada PW300 hot-section inspection service at its Love Fiel
Maintenance and Modifications
ERA Helicopters inks MX deal with P&WC
Pratt & Whitney Canada signed a fleet-management program contract with Era Helicopters of Lake Charles, La., to provide engine support for its fleet of
Maintenance and Modifications
Hawker Beechcraft service center opens in Delhi
InterGlobe General Aviation, a subsidiary of InterGlobe Enterprises, is opening a Hawker Beechcraft authorized service center at the Indira Gandhi Internat
Maintenance and Modifications
EASA approves Airwolf's Robinson blade fix
The European Aviation Safety Agency has granted approval of a recent FAA-approved rotor blade tape installation STC for Robinson R22s and R44s.
Maintenance and Modifications
Ametek to open MRO operation at Changi Airport
An 18,000-sq-ft maintenance, repair and overhaul facility was slated to open on Singapore’s Changi Airport before the end of last month.
Maintenance and Modifications
Embraer Part 145 service center opens in Paris
The EASA has issued a Part 145 approval certificate to Embraer’s new executive jets center at Le Bourget Airport.
Maintenance and Modifications
Western Aircraft receives fourth Diamond Award
For the fourth time the FAA has awarded Western Aircraft the Diamond Certificate of Excellence for the company’s commitment to technical training and exper
