Maintenance Training Conference

WATS is entirely dedicated to airline simulation and training, allowing you to discover the latest innovative training solutions for maintenance teams. Supported by the training industry and subject matter experts, the WATS 2023 Maintenance Training Conference will provide practical solutions for those day to day challenges and offer key insights into the future of the industry.

The conference theme for WATS 2023 is Training Solutions for Aviation Training Professionals.

Moderator

Dr. Bill Johnson

“Dr. Bill” Johnson is a familiar name and face to many industry and government human factors audiences.

Johnson has been an aviator for over 50 years. He is a pilot, mechanic, Ph.D., training designer, scientist/engineer, college professor, senior executive, and respected public speaker during his career. That includes 16+ years as the FAA Chief Scientific and Technical Advisor for Human Factors.

Dr. Bill has delivered more than 300 Human Factors speeches and classes in over 50 countries. He has 500+ publications that serve as the basis for human factors training throughout the world.

Starting in 2021 Johnson formed Drbillj.com LLC. In this new venture he continues to bring decades of human factors experience to aviators, worldwide.

Day 1 – Tuesday 18th April 2023

0930-1030 Session 1 – Airline Training Leader Roundtable (all conference streams)
Airline Flight Training Leaders Panel. Leaders from major and regional carriers discuss future challenges and solutions.

Moderator: Capt. Paul Preidecker

Panelists:
• Captain Kirk Limacher, Vice President Flight Operations, United Airlines
• Captain Jeffrey Winter, Vice President Flight Operations, JetBlue
• Captain Brad Lambert, Vice President Flight Operations, Frontier Airlines
• Chris Broom, Vice President, Commercial Training Solutions, Boeing Global Services

1030-1115 Coffee Break

1115-1245 Session 2 – Staying the Course: Regulatory Roundup (all conference streams)
1) TBD, FAA Air Transportation Division, Training & Simulation Group
FAA Update
2) Michael Tarsa, Senior Learning Engineer, Touch & Go Solutions
FAA AC 120-23, Flight Path Management
3) Peter Cerda, Regional VP for the Americas, IATA
Global and Regional Outlook for Airline Operations

1245-1415 Lunch

1415-1545 Session 3 – Evolution of Airworthiness Human Factors: Panel Discussion
1) Maggie Ma, Technical Fellow, Boeing Commercial Airplane Division
The World View of HF
2) Bill Johnson, President, Drbillj.com
The Inspectors View of Evolving HF Challenges
3) TBD
A View from Europe

1545-1630 Coffee

1630-1800 Session 4 – Competency-Based Training Assessment: Panel Discussion
1) Lydia Kes, Head of Research & Development Aviation Education, MBO College Airport
2) Jason Stanelle, Maintenance Training Chief of Design and Associate Technical Fellow, Boeing Global Services
3) Christian Popp, Chief Customer Officer, MINT Americas

1800-1900 Networking Reception in Exhibition Hall

Day 2 – Wednesday 19th April 2023

0900-1030 Session 5 – Development Tools for Virtual Reality Training
1) Cengiz Turkoglu & Ehigie Kenneth Ogbeifun, Cranfield University
Potential Use of 360 Videos and Virtual Reality Tools for Frontline Operations in Aviation
2) Eric Liga, Chief Scientist, NetEdge VR
Revolutionizing Ground Crew Training
3) Anca Gosling, Director of Aviation Training Content & Development, Aeroclass
Training the Next Generation: Innovative Way to Learn Aviation English via 3D Images
4) Joe Merry, President, Jet Maintenance Consulting Corporation
Do It Yourself VR Training Development

1030-1115 Coffee

1115-1245 Session 6 – Next Gen Trainees & Training Methods
1) Panagiotis Poligenis, Head of Strategy, Business Development & Innovation, Lufthansa Technical Training GmbH
Aircraft Maintenance Training for the Next Generation
2) Dragos Budeanu, Senior Manager, Engineering and Maintenance, International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Aviation Maintenance Training Crossroads
3) Michael Rocky, Head of Resourcing Services, CAE Parc Aviation
Resourcing Constraints in an Ever Changing Aviation Market

1245-1415 Lunch

1415-1545 Session 7 – Factors and Attitudes that Supersede Technical Knowledge and Skill
1) Dawn Whyte, President, DW Aviation Career Coaching
How to Build Resilience
2) Steve Harnden, GP Strategies
I Did Not See That Coming – More Than Technical Skills
3) Michelle Arredondo, Maintenance Instructor, Ascent Aviation Services
Development and Training for Technical Publications

1545-1630 Coffee Break

1630-1800 Session 8 – Exhibition Time

Day 3 – Thursday 20th April 2023

0900-1030 Session 9 – Conflict, Startle, Fatigue and Resilience(all conference streams)
1) Captain Ping Lee, Chief Pilot, EVA Air
Startle and Resilience
2) Jordan Wareham, Senior Director of Regulatory Compliance, Spirit Airlines & Dr. Eric A. Olson, CEO, EMO Advisors
Generating Essential Conflict: How Creating Resilience Strategies Against Destructive Conflict Increases Operational Safety
3) Norman Macleod, Organisational Human Factors, Davidson:McKay
What FRMS Cannot Tell You – Pilot Fatigue and Mental Health