Podcast: Live From Amsterdam—Sovereignty, Components & Concerns

Fueled by stroopwafels, Lee Ann Shay, Lindsay Bjerregaard, James Pozzi and Dan Williams talk about the hot topics of European MRO, including the implications of geopolitics, sovereignty and rising fuel prices—and one topic that keeps coming up (other than stroopwafels). 

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AI-Generated Summary

Recorded live at MRO Europe 2026 in Amsterdam, this podcast gathers reflections from the first days of the conference and exhibition. The conversation returns often to sovereignty, as European maintenance providers weigh building more repair capability and engineering talent within the region. Workforce shortages, supply chain delays, tariffs and rising fuel costs add to a cautious mood about 2027. Participants also compare the mood with last month's Singapore event. 

Sustainability regulation is described as creating bureaucracy and an uneven field against carriers elsewhere. Ideas for a unifying trade body and shared safety management systems appear alongside worries about restricted access to American intellectual property and export-controlled parts. A military engine bearing illustrates how one small component can stall a whole machine. 

The episode closes on artificial intelligence, covering a recent acquisition, regulatory roadmaps, human decision-making, and its potential to ease skills gaps and speed training while hands-on technicians remain essential.

Key Topics:

• Sovereignty and Regional Repair Capability
• Workforce and the Talent Pipeline
• Supply Chain Strain and Tariffs
• Fuel Prices and Geopolitical Uncertainty
• Sustainability Rules and Bureaucracy
• A Unified Voice for European MROs
• Trusted Parts and Export Controls
• Artificial Intelligence in Maintenance