The XXXIII Annual International Congress of Aircraft Engineer International was held in Bled (Slovenia) from 4-9. October, 2005. The main topics of the Congress were:

• Air Accident Investigation Today - by Mr Paul-Louis Arslanian, Director of of Air Accident Investigation of France (Bureau d'Enquetes et d'Analyses pour la Securite de l'Aviation Civile)
  
• A380 New Technology - by Mr Jean-Marie Lamendour from Airbus Industries.
  
• Aviation Maintenance in USA – A view from a major association of aircraft mechanics - by National Maintenance Standards Coordinator from AMFA; Mr John Glynn. (Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association).
  
• Sustaining and Improving a Safety Culture within an Aviation Maintenance Organization- by Vangelis Demosthenous, AEI Human factors Coordinator.
  

The Congress paid special attention to AEI Confidential Incident Reporting Program and also to the Merging of Aviation Companies - Sharing of experiences, lessons learned and best practices that can be considered by AEI and its Affiliated Organisations for handling such events.

Other important subjects were discussed and consequently certain conclusions and decisions were made, including the approval of a new affiliate from Morocco by a unanimous vote.

The following facts were also established:

• Spreading the news that AEI exists. (of which this brief is one example).
  
• The new membership of our colleagues from S.T.A.M. in Morocco.
  
• Active participation in the working bodies of European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), such as Safety Standards Consultative Committee (SSCC), where we have our representatives. We believe that our activities in that direction can contribute to on the positive changes of EASA rules and we exert our influence in that particular field
  
• One of the most important conclusions of the Congress relates to the recession in the airline industry which leads to obvious costs and job-cuts within operators. The entire situation causes labour conflicts. We currently have four worrying union conflicts, and one of the decisions taken at the Congress was to establish a fund so that financial aid could be utilised in cases when these unions have labour discords.

© AIRCRAFT ENGINEERS INTERNATIONAL