Sean Broderick covers aviation safety, MRO, and the hardware side of the airline business from Aviation Week Network's Washington, D.C. office.
Broderick's aviation career started in 1991, working for Airbus in Toulouse. His industry experience includes four years with an aviation consultancy, where he helped launch a U.S. Part 121 carrier; 12 years with the American Association of Airport Executives, where he served as editor of Airport Magazine; and 20 years in full- and part-time roles with Aviation Week writing primarily about safety and the aftermarket.
Broderick was named the 2020 Aerospace Journalist of the Year by the Aerospace Media Awards. He also shared in a 2020 Neal Award for Best News Coverage with Aviation Week Network colleagues. Broderick and Aviation Week colleague John Croft shared the 2015 Flight Safety International Cecil A. Brownlow Publication Award recognizing "significant contributions by journalists to aviation safety awareness."
He graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in Communications ('91) and earned an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications ('13) from West Virginia University.
United Airlines says the cost of swapping Boeing 737NG autothrottle computers will be higher than the FAA’s estimate of $85 per operator for an hour of labor, because avionics supplier GE will not provide the software upgrade free of charge “despite this being a safety and reliability issue.”
A recent U.S. Export-Import Bank press release touting financing of Brazilian carrier Gol’s engine maintenance contract with Delta Air Lines—which is suing the bank over financing of Boeing widebodies for some Delta competitors—turned some heads. Among U.S. MRO providers, it should have—but not for political reasons.
SkyWest has taken delivery of its first of 40 Embraer 175s (E175), keeping the airline on track for putting the type into service in United Express colors in May. The regional carrier plans to put 21 E175s into service this year—part of a 40-aircraft order placed in 2014 to support United Airlines. SkyWest E175s are scheduled to debut on United’s Chicago-O’Hare-Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport route on May 17 and, O’Hare-Boston two days later.
