According to one Leonard (Lenny) Olson, the key to this process, as stated in the article’s lead is getting the “aboard a fully certified, flight-ready aircraft” part right. Because without it, the most appealing designs on the planet will never get off the ground.

 

As a full-service engineering and FAA certification group”, we realized long ago that all the separate aspects of the VVIP process need to function as one. When the designer works with the engineers and they both work together with the certification SME’s from the very start, potential road blocks and development snags are minimized.

 

We coined the phrase, “E-First” to explain that the entities can no longer operate in a vacuum and expect the other members of the team to just “figure it out!” That kind of attitude or process model will inevitably result in negative costs time and impacts, neither of which any project can afford – and certainly not what any owner is expecting for the money he or she is laying out.

 

On the other hand, to demonstrate the successes of the E-First model, I cite the following example. The designer has an idea of what he wishes to present to the client and it involves the use a new form of material that he’s come across. Before presenting this to the client, he (or she) meets with the E-First Team of engineers and the FAA DERs to discuss. It becomes apparent that the design will need a certain form of secondary structures in order to pass the minimum loads requirement. In addition, flammability may be an issue, so it is agreed upon that special sub-materials must be added. In addition to these items, the electrical DER may weigh in, in possible bonding and grounding to minimize the static discharge of an item so as to ensure cabin safety.

 

Had the designer presented this on his own, without the ‘all parties’ E-First meeting, the client would have been sold a design, and a situation, that would have resulted in a costly change and likely a significant impact to schedule. And remember, the completion center is under serious contractual obligations to deliver the aircraft on the date specified – regardless of what they encounter along the way. So, imagine how you feel when you’ve jumped the gun and dove into proposing something before you’ve done your homework and consulted the right resources – and all of the sudden, the project is beyond budget and off its timeline – even before you’ve started good.

 

Functioning as a single team (engineers, designers, DERs and the center) way up on the front-end has immeasurable benefits. In the end, if practiced correctly, the process will always prevail.

 

Leonard G. Olson / CEO – Future Jet Group

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