Leadership by Accident: Tech Ops’Hidden Problem

Leadership by Accident: Tech Ops’Hidden Problem

Airlines spend millions fighting downtime, but what if the real bottleneck isn’t technical—it’s leadership? In this episode of The Death to Downtime Podcast, Andy sits down with Oscar Roman, VP of Maintenance Operations at Saudia, to explore aviation’s hidden crisis: “leadership by accident.” Together they dive into: ✈️ How COVID permanently reshaped aviation strategy  ⚙️ The dangerous gap between technical and commercial teams  👨‍🔧 Why great engineers often fail as leaders  💡 The case for two career paths: technical mastery vs. leadership  🚨 The true cost of bad leadership on culture, safety, and revenue  🤖 Can regulators and AI help close the leadership gap? If you’re an aviation professional—whether on the line, in maintenance control, or in leadership—this episode will make you rethink how the industry develops its people.

Bridging IT & Maintenance, Build vs Buy, and more with Mo Bouzoubaa

In this episode of Death to Downtime, Kamal and Mike sit down with Mohamed Bouzoubaa, Managing Associate at ACF Associates, to uncover the real challenges of aligning IT and maintenance in the airline industry. From unexpected technical roadblocks (like database limits!) to the ongoing build vs buy debate, Mo shares insider stories, practical solutions, and change management strategies that actually work. If you’ve ever wondered why aviation IT projects always run late, or how airlines decide which systems to integrate, this conversation will give you an inside look at the decisions that keep aircraft flying — and the mistakes that can ground them.

Lessons from an Aviation Maintenance Legend

How do you keep a global airline running when every second of downtime costs thousands—and the weather, the systems, and even language barriers are stacked against you? In this episode of Death to Downtime, we go deep with aviation veteran Duane Cornella, who shares stories from his 41-year career that will change how you see the skies. From signing off on jetliners at sunrise to navigating crises on foreign runways, Duane offers unforgettable insights into the heart of aviation—and the power of communication. This isn’t just about fixing planes. It’s about people, leadership, and doing the job right when it matters most.

Introducing the Death to Downtime Podcast

This is just an intro—a takeoff if you will. In the inaugural episode of the Death to Downtime Podcast Andy dives into the gritty, behind-the-scenes world of keeping planes in the air—whether it's commercial jets, cargo haulers, or choppers. Host Andy pulls back the curtain on the real challenges tech ops teams face when things go sideways, spotlighting the unsung heroes who fight to keep downtime to a minimum. From surprise maintenance nightmares to sky-high costs, there's nothing aviation tech ops you won't hear about.