June 11, 2000 - Seattle, WA
Aviation Consultants Adds Maintenance Experts

Safety Services International (SSI), an aviation safety consulting firm, continues its expansion with the addition of two noted experts specializing in airline management, maintenance and flight operations.

The new consultants are Robert L. Ditchey and Jack Hessburg. "We are pleased to be welcome two more of the world's top aviation people to our team," said John Purvis, former head of Boeing's accident investigation group and co-founder of SSI.

Ditchey, a former transport-category pilot and aeronautical engineer, was a co-founder of America West Airlines and MGM Grand Air. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Ditchey has a masters degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a post-master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering from California Institute of Technology.

Ditchey worked for National Airlines and later for Pan Am, as a senior member of its Maintenance and Engineering team. He supervised Pan Am's JFK Jet Center, which at the time was the largest Pratt & Whitney engine repair facility in the world. He left Pan Am to co-found America West, and was its first senior vice president of Operations. He later joined the team that launched MGM Grand Air in Los Angeles, where he was vice president of Operations and Maintenance.

Jack Hessburg has been recognized internationally for his contributions to the field of safety and aviation maintenance in his distinguished 40-year career. An engineer and licensed A & P mechanic, he spent the last 26 years at The Boeing Company, where he was chief mechanic for the company's 777 program. The first person in aviation history to hold this unique post for a major airplane manufacturer, Hessburg brought the mechanic's and maintenance engineer's perspective to the design table for the first time.

In addition to an intimate knowledge of maintenance programs for a wide range of transport airplanes, he is recognized as a stimulating speaker and maintenance training instructor. His most recent awards include the Lifetime Achievement Award from Overhaul & Maintenance Magazine and an honorary doctor of Science degree from New York College of Aviation.

Safety Services International was formed in 1999 to provide all segments of the industry, legal community and government with expertise in aviation safety, accident investigation and operation of large and small airplanes.

More information on Safety Services International can be found on its web site: www.safeserv.com

For additional information, contact SSI at ssi@safeserv.com or call 1.425.898.0448

When experience counts, count on SSI.
Safety Services International is a Washington State Limited Liability Company