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.
FAA issued emergency airworthiness directives (ADs) ordering inspections of CFM56-5C engines for worn or improperly installed harness clamps after OEM CFM International learned that two operators had major fuel leaks because of the problem. The agency issued a telegraphic AD (2001-08-51) April 10 mandating checks of bracket/clamp assemblies holding a certain harness within 10 days. That AD was triggered after Aerolineas Argentinas and Air France found significant fuel leaks coming from beneath A340 thrust reverser cowls.
FAA recently mandated three Boeing service advisories that played prominent roles in the grounding of Australian carrier Ansett's 767 fleet in April after the airline discovered it didn't do the suggested checks within the manufacturer's recommended timeframes.
FAA issued its massive fuel tank system review rule May 4, doubling the originally proposed compliance time that operators will have to re-work their maintenance programs and do initial inspections.
