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.
Rockwell Collins is benefiting from growing aftermarket demand, particularly in the air transport segment, even as the rise in aircraft retirements cuts into the company’s traditional support opportunities, company executives report. The company posted a 13% jump in commercial aftermarket revenue, from $208 million to $235 million, in the fiscal 2013 third quarter ending June 30. The air transport segment grew 17%, from $109 million to $128 million, on the strength of higher spares sales and retrofits such as cockpit display upgrades, says CEO Clay Jones.
Australian investigators are taking a close look at the accuracy, timeliness and delivery of weather information given to flight crews after a Virgin Australia Boeing 737-800 made an emergency landing in zero visibility because it was running out of fuel. The June 18 incident started with an unexpected weather change at Adelaide Airport, the flight’s destination. During the pre-flight briefing before departure from Brisbane, the Virgin Australia crew determined that adverse weather would not be an issue.
The FAA last week published a rule simplifying drug and alcohol testing program requirements for commercial certificate holders with separate tour operations, eliminating the need to have dedicated testing programs for each. The rule, effective Sept. 14, gives Part 121 and 135 operators the option of having a single testing program to cover both its commercial operations and Part 91 air tour businesses.
