Agenda

A4A Nondestructive Testing Forum
September 21 - 23, 2026

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Panel Highlights

Aerospace NDT at an Inflection Point — Workforce, Standards, Demand and Automation

Aerospace NDT is at a critical inflection point as demand grows, technician capacity tightens, standards evolve and automation reshapes inspection and training. Moderated by Justin Madden, A4A Vice President, Safety and Operations, this cross-industry panel will discuss how aerospace NDT must evolve to address workforce constraints, changing standards, growing inspection demand and emerging automation—while preserving safety, compliance and technical excellence.

Agenda

Our engaging lineup of speakers will discuss current trends, issues and successes in NDT methodologies.

SAE AMS K Meeting - Nondestructive Methods and Processes Committee

9:00 am - 1:00 pm | Executive Room (2nd Floor)

Registration

10:00 am - 5:30 pm | 2nd Floor

Nordam Facility Kick-Off Tour

12:00 pm - 3:00 pm | Meet on 1st Floor

NDT Network Meeting

4:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Diplomat Room (2nd Floor)

Exhibit Hall Setup

11:00 am - 5:00 pm | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Reception

6:00 pm - 9:00 pm | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Registration

8:00 am - 5:00 pm | 2nd Floor

Welcome Breakfast

8:00 am - 9:00 am | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Introductions / Opening Remarks

9:00 am - 9:10 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)

Keynote Speaker: Jackie Black, Division Manager, Aircraft Maintenance Division, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

9:10 am - 9:40 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)

With more than two decades of aviation safety and aircraft maintenance leadership, keynote speaker Jackie Black brings a rare combination of regulatory insight, operational perspectiv, and executive-level experience to the A4A Nondestructive Testing Forum. His career spans frontline aviation safety oversight, field office leadership, regional technical support, aircraft maintenance policy, international programs and senior roles within FAA Flight Standards Safety Standards. This breadth of experience positions him to connect the strategic importance of nondestructive testing with the practical realities of airline maintenance, safety assurance, workforce development and evolving inspection technology.

Speaker Info
Jackie Black View Bio >>

Expedited RTS from Hailstorms Using Digital Damage-Mapping and Reporting Workflows

9:40 am - 10:10 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Rusty Shinpaugh View Bio >>

Refreshment Break

10:10 am - 11:00 am | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

PANEL: Aerospace NDT at an Inflection Point — Workforce, Standards, Demand and Automation

11:00 am - 11:45 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)

Aerospace NDT is at a critical inflection point as demand grows, technician capacity tightens, standards evolve and automation reshapes inspection and training. Moderated by Justin Madden, A4A Vice President, Safety and Operations, this cross-industry panel will discuss how aerospace NDT must evolve to address workforce constraints, changing standards, growing inspection demand and emerging automation—while preserving safety, compliance and technical excellence. Gain practical insight from standards, operator, training and technology leaders on how aerospace NDT can build workforce capacity, adapt certification and training models and responsibly integrate automation.

Speaker Info
Garra Liming View Bio >>
Jim MacMillan View Bio >>
Karl Ries View Bio >>
Sheldon McCrackin View Bio >>

Lunch / Exhibitor Showcase

11:45 am - 1:15 pm | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Artificial Intelligence Solutions for Radiographic Testing: Applying Medical Imaging Technology to NDT Workflows

1:15 pm - 1:45 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
John Flaherty View Bio >>

Automated Data Processing and Report Generation for NDT on the Digital Thread

1:45 pm - 2:15 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Jasper Merek View Bio >>

Beyond the Inspection: Building NDT Capability for U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Readiness

2:15 pm - 2:45 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Larry Culbertson Jr. View Bio >>

Refreshment Break

2:45 pm - 3:30 pm | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Measurement of Remaining Thickness on CFRP

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Alfredo Rodríguez View Bio >>

Nondestructive Testing Reference Standards, Airline/MRO Challenges

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Alex Melton View Bio >>

A Comparative Assessment of NDT Inspection Techniques for the 737 S-14 Lap Joint

4:30 am - 5:00 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Walt Jarecki View Bio >>

Multi-Layer Bonded Composite Inspection Using UltraSpec

5:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Janelle Chambers View Bio >>

Hospitality Suites Open

6:00 pm

Registration

8:00 am - 5:00 pm | 2nd Floor

Exhibit Hall Opens

8:00 am - 3:30 pm

Welcome Breakfast

8:00 am - 9:00 am | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Resonance Inspection of Aircraft Wheels: Success, Lessons Learned and Expansion

9:00 am - 9:30 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Julieanne Heffernan View Bio >>

Enhancements in 3D Scanning for Aircraft Inspection

9:30 am - 10:00 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Gary Mathias View Bio >>

Refreshment Break

10:00 am - 10:45 am | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Enhanced Bolt-Hole Eddy Current (BHEC) Inspection

10:45 am - 11:15 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
James Bittner View Bio >>

From Percent Screen Height to Signal-to-Noise Ratio: Towards Unambiguous Measurement Definitions in Eddy Current Inspection

11:15 am - 11:45 am | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Dr. Aschwin Michael Gopalan View Bio >>

Lunch

11:45 am - 12:45 pm | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Modernizing Barkhausen Reference Standards: A Path to Sustained Inspection Reliability

12:45 am - 1:15 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Daniel Fredin View Bio >>

Validated Remote Robotic NDT for Aerospace Maintenance: Eddy Current and Ultrasonic Inspection Results

1:15 pm - 1:45 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Dr. Christian Dürager View Bio >>

Reducing the Time Required to Qualify and Certify New Graduate Level III NDT Engineers

1:45 pm - 2:15 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Tim Kinsella View Bio >>

Committee K Report

2:15 pm - 2:30 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Alex Melton View Bio >>

Refreshment Break

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm | Tulsa Ballroom (1st Floor)

Inspections After Blending-Out Scratches on Aircraft Fuselage Made of Aluminium Alloy

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Steven Crummack View Bio >>

Data Challenges in Modern Borescope Inspection

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Sheldon McCrackin View Bio >>

Customization and Automation Updates in MPI and FPI in the Aerospace and MRO Industries

4:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Gregory Monks View Bio >>

From Micro to Massive: Expanding the Practical Limits of Digital UT Grid Mapping with NDT Tracker

4:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Speaker Info
Kevin Tang View Bio >>

Grand Prize Drawing

5:00 pm - 5:05 pm | Promenade Ballroom (2nd Floor)
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