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.
US Airways will pay $75,000 to settle FAA allegations that the carrier flew a Boeing 737 in an unairworthy condition. FAA charged US Airways with failing to ``properly classify'' damage uncovered during a scheduled maintenance check that required a major repair before the aircraft could be returned to service. During the check, done at the carrier's Pittsburgh maintenance facility, mechanics found a puncture in the left-hand elevator upper surface. US Airways operated the aircraft on some 247 flights between Feb. 24 and April 18, 2000, FAA said.
FAA last month issued an airworthiness directive (AD) mandating a new set of Boeing-recommended inspections on 767 elevator power control actuator (PCA) bellcranks. The immediate-adoptive rule (No. 2001-04-09) calls for a more detailed repetitive inspection than one currently required.
Reports of fuel leaks caused by improper harness bracket installations during CFM56-5C engine overhauls triggered an urgent manufacturer's bulletin calling for inspections of the parts by April 20 to verify that brackets are installed correctly.
