Aero Engineers National Convention 2018

This year's National Convention (Natcon) was held at the Hotel Jen on November 10, 2018. The theme of the event was "Cultivating the Holistic Aeronautical Engineer and Its Implications in Professional Practice."

Below is the Keynote Message delivered by the Chairman of the PRB of Aeronautical Engineering.

Engr. EB Ferreras Jr. delivering the keynote address

“Holistic is the Word”

  

My fellow colleagues in the profession, guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning to you all.

First of all, I would like to extend my warmest greetings to the Society of Aerospace Engineers of the Philippines or SAEP for holding this year’s National Convention. Once again, kudos to SAEP for taking the extra mile.

This year’s National Convention has the theme, “Cultivating the Holistic Aeronautical Engineer and Its Implications in Professional Practice.”  With this theme our profession is taking the next level. Nag-lelevel up na tayo. Many words have very powerful meaning and one of these is “holistic.” The key word is HOLISTIC. You just have to say it once and the word conjures something magical in your mind.

It has become a meme and many people are talking about it. The word is most commonly used to describe a new approach in medicine. Holistic medicine, to be exact. It refers to a technique in medicine in which it attempts to treat both the mind and body in curing sickness and eradicating diseases. Holistic in the sense that the parts are being treated in relation to the whole. The treatment is not only dealing with a specific part of the body but attempts to treat both the mind and the body. In other words, ito ‘yong kabuuan ng isang tao, hindi lang katawan, kundi pati isipan.

Why do I say this? Applying this principle, this concept to our profession, I say all areas of practice in our profession must be considered in order to move forward. I say we should strive to be more globally competitive by enhancing our competencies, upgrade our knowledge in aero engineering technology and appropriate regulatory laws. Don’t just say I want to be updated in technology and engineering principles but, together with this, I say keep up with the latest in regulation. Technical skills or knowledge in technology is good but we need to back this up with knowledge in aviation regulation and laws. Kung ang alam mo lang ay tungkol sa engineering o technology at wala kang alam sa batas, may kulang. Parang katulad ka ng isang sundalo na sasabak sa pakikipaglaban na walang dalang armas o baril.

As professional aero engineers, we must adapt to the rapid change in technology. Well, to be able to know and understand the technology as they are installed and used in the aircraft, is a joy in itself. Knowing gives us a sort of satisfaction, especially if you like aircraft very much. You can trace the progress of aircraft design and systems through the years. Just for example, as I learned in Airbus, just one example, mabanggit ko lang, is the use of flaps. I know as most of you know perhaps, that flaps are inhibited to move or activated during cruise for obvious structural reasons. This I know in the Airbus A330 and A340 and in Boeing 737 Classics and Next Generation. However, in the A350 flaps can move during cruise and they are used to improve aircraft performance, especially to adjust the location of center of lift. Not only that, flaps can move differentially, meaning one flap surface on one side can move while the other remains stationary.

Once you are hired and work in a company, you will be surprised to know that there are many things in the aviation industry you don’t know about but should learn. Company policies, maintenance and engineering practices and procedures, aircraft software and programs, these are what you need to be able to perform in your job well. These you need to train. THERE ARE SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN in the field of aero engineering. Ang dami pang dapat matutunan sa profession natin.

But you say, we have been educated in schools, we graduated and successfully passed the licensure examinations. I say institutions, colleges and universities helped us prepare for the work and jobs in the aviation industry. It doesn’t matter where you work in one of the four areas of aero engineering practice: research & development, aircraft manufacture, aircraft operations & maintenance, or education & training. The education we obtained in schools had prepared us ONLY for initial entry into the world of aviation. ‘Yong mga school at college ay inihanda lang tayo para makapasok at makakita ng trabahao.

That’s why you attend seminars and workshops and conventions like this. You should undergo training to prepare you for the new tasks in the workplace. Remember, we are in the aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering business and more often than not we are required to do or perform functions for which sometimes we lack training. Minsan, mararanasan mo na kulang at ‘di sapat ang training mo pero pinapagawa sa ‘yo ang isang task at kailangan tapusin mo ng maayos. Of course, you can follow the manuals, AMM, TSM, WDM, service bulletins, ADs, etc., but there are gray areas which need expert interpretation. Ito ‘yong mga bagay na hinahangad naming mabigyan ng kasagutan sa mga seminar at workshop na ini-offer ng SAEP through CPD.

How many of you here have performed a task in engineering or maintenance for which you have no formal training? Anong naramdaman n’yo habang gumagawa kayo? I say you feel lack of confidence, and if this continues, this will ultimately lead to errors or faulty execution and implementation and later on, will cause unnecessary accidents which could have been prevented in the first place. All because of lack of knowledge. For example, sa AMM, matanong ko lang, anong kahalagahan na mabasa at masunod natin ang sinasabi ng Warnings, Cautions at Notes? We should heed Warnings to prevent accidents or even deaths and injury, we should observe Cautions to prevent damage to aircraft and equipment, and read and understand Notes, para mapadali ang trabaho, pero hindi minamadali.

Just imagine how easy it is to finish the task once you know the reason behind it. Madali ang trabaho kung alam mo ang dahilan kung paano nangyari at bakit mo ginagawa ito in the first place. See, it pays to be knowledgeable and updated in the technology we are working with, especially in the aircraft.

I need not tell you that this is one of the dirty dozen in human factors as applied to maintenance practice in aviation. And this is true to other areas of aviation as well, especially in engineering.

This is exactly we, the Board and SAEP are striving to accomplish. We want you aero engineers to be confident in your work, and in so doing achieve a level of excellence which makes us all useful and profitable to the company we work for. Our objective in the seminars and workshops and conventions that SAEP are conducting is that you get or obtain what you really need to bring to your work place and help you in your job. We want to be the connection between the schools you graduated from and the company you are working for. Ang aim natin dito ay dapat makinabang ang ating mga kompanya sa mga impormasyon na makuha natin dito sa mga seminar at workshop. Magagamit n’yo kaagad sa trabaho. We are looking forward to the day that your company is willing to pay your seminar fees because it knows that the knowledge and info you get here are useful to the company.

Of course, you can get this in the training and courses that your company sponsors or buys for you. Well, lucky for you if your company sponsors or pays your training. I think some of you are sponsored by your company to attend this event. Grab the opportunity to be trained and educate yourself. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, kunin n’yo lahat ang training na ini-offer sa ‘yo ng kompanya mo. It’s an opportunity. Consider it an investment.

The other key factor in the theme is Regulation. Knowing new technology and its application without knowing the appropriate governing regulatory provisions limits our capacity to deal with it. Regulation has legal responsibility and knowing new regulatory practices contribute to advancement of our competency, skills and knowledge. This includes particular company policies and practices of aircraft operators. Regulation also helps build up confidence, and knowing the law, keeps us away from doing malpractice in our profession. Be proficient what EASA, FAA, CAAP rules and regulations are applicable in the maintenance and engineering areas. So knowing the legal aspect of our professional practice makes us holistic in our approach to our career. May alam ka na sa aero engineering at technology, may alam ka pa sa batas ng aviation. At pwede mo pa magagamit kung gusto mo sa areas ng continuing aircraft airworthiness o quality assurance.

So let’s all be adequately trained in the latest technology and keep abreast with the present regulatory practices in the industry.

I challenge the Society to face the tasks at hand by being holistic in its approach. I think this is the best way to work towards the common goal of uplifting our profession. Let us not forget that foremost in our minds is how we should contribute to maintain safety in aviation and help improve quality as well.

Before I close, I want to say that CPD is still in effect. With all this debate raging in the social media about the pros and cons of having CPD, I say leave it to the senators and congressmen to decide whether to abolish or continue the CPD program. It’s election time next year, and the noise of the debate is getting louder, but the CPD is alive and we will continue to implement it. Along the way, we will find means to address the complaints and concerns hurled against CPD. And PRC is doing something about it. The Commission is very flexible in its approach in the execution and implementation of CPD.

CPD implementation is just in its first year. This is the time for testing it and find ways to improve the services of CPD providers. Most common complaints against CPD as aired in the social media are the exuberant fees in attending CPD programs and the irrelevance of the topics or presentations. We are looking for solutions to these concerns, being to charge only reasonable fees for the events and look for topics which are really useful in the workplace.

Rest assured that the Board of Aero Engineering and your Society are prepared to handle the tasks set forth in the years ahead.

Thank you, and mabuhay.