I am a skilled professional, with wide experience in selection, design and sourcing of Aerospace Test Equipment, tooling and fixtures. Strong analytical thinker, with a broad, deep knowledge base that allows creative, outside-the-box solutions. Capable of defining an appropriate measurement strategy, selecting and sourcing the required sensors and transducers, and integrating the selected components into a functioning sytem that meets all requirements. Familiar with the principles and recommendations of ARINC 668 and can produce acceptable equivalency packages for all equipment and tooling.
Major focus is on Aviation Test Equipment. The skillset required for success in this overlaps with many other fields, however, including digital and analog Electronics design and Reverse Engineering, Mechatronics, Automation, Programming, CAD, Technical Writing
I create, repair and reverse engineer tooling, test fixtures and adapters for aviation test equipment. I'm familiar with all of the major test stand types in wide use in aviation, and have developed hundreds of adapters, tooling and test fixtures for Avtron and other OEM test stands. I have been involved in the development and deployment of clean sheet pneumatic test facilities, and have led extensive refurbish and modernizations of older and military surplus test stands.
In one facility I suggested improvements to the Pneumatic Starter testing infrastructure that improved availability from two tests per 8 hour shift to 3 tests per hour, with purchase of one additional compressor and one booster. This purchase was fully paid for in less than a year due to the improved throughput for Pneumatic starter testing.
In that same facility, I suggested and implemented improvements to the configuration of the cooling water system that made it possible to operate all 6 fuel stands, the two Hydraulic Test Stands, and two CSD/IDG stands simultaneously without overloading the cooling system. I implemented the replacement of seven individual chillers, each operating a single test stand, with a central chiller and a fluid management system that allowed efficient operation with a single pair of chillers and a distribution system. Previous to the improvements, the test stands had to be used in rotation, with operators standing by waiting for other test stands to finish testing in order to manage cooling system temperatures. After the improvement, System Up time approached 100% as the test stands could all be operated concurrently without heating up the working area or failing due to overheating. The changes also improved shop working environmental conditions by reducing heat and noise, and freeing up floor space for additional test stands. The excess chillers were sold for a return of capital and the overall results were improved availability and reliability for all the equipment.
I have also successfully developed repairs for failed or malfunctioning devices, and can evaluate older equipment to assist in making rational repair vs replace decisions. I executed board-level repairs on a CSD IDG test stand that suffered (presumed) lightning damage. This repair was particularly important, as the boards were custom proprietary boards which were not stocked at the OEM. The quoted lead time to fabricate new boards and ship them out was 6 months to a year, if they could get the parts. I was able to diagnose the damaged parts, source and replace all the affected chips on all ten boards, and restore the test stand to fully operational in approximately 2 weeks. This was a very significant and successful "save".
I also buy unwanted equipment, so if you are disposing of old, unneeded or unwanted test equipment, computers, or other IT department equipment, please contact me and we can talk about it.
I am committed to reducing destruction, ugliness and waste.
I can design and fabricate supporting tooling, and mechanical fixtures, custom electronics and adapter harnesses as required. Advanced skills in Reverse Engineering, Data Acquisition and Automation, Calibration and Metrology. Proficient in Troubleshooting and Root Cause Analysis. I have advanced soldering and desoldering skills, and can repair damaged multi-layer circuit boards.
I'm known to be adaptable, disciplined, reliable and trustworthy. I've been described as personable, friendly, and polite, with excellent communication skills. I'm always sharing my knowledge, and helping to improve the performance of those around me.
To read more specific work-related accomplishments and get a better idea of who I am and what I can do, have a look at my resume, or review the information on my Linked-In page.
Little by Little - One Day at a Time