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.
Washington's re-work of the MD-11 electrical system, kicked off as the probe into the crash of Swissair flight 111 deepened, has continued this year with 16 rules or proposals by early March. More moves could be on the way if a pending report from Swissair gets attention from regulators.
FAA's recent policy statement on limited 207-min. extended range twin-engine operations (ETOPS) for certain U.S. carriers might seem like an operations-only issue on the surface, but buried within the document are some points that should get the attention of maintenance planners and suppliers.
Seven more MD-11 airworthiness directives hit the streets yesterday, continuing a trend of correcting electrical system shortcomings that started soon after the crash of Swissair flight 111 18 months ago. The latest ADs give MD-11 operators up to one year from the ADs' March 23 effective dates to make several inspections and upgrades. Parts covered by the rules include battery ground cable installations, avionics compartment terminal strips, two wire bundles, circuit breakers, ramp deflector assemblies, and the 90% brake pedal position switch.
