Alison McHugh, Vice President of Safety & Quality, FEAM AERO. Photo courtesy FEAM AERO.

On April 20, the ARSA board of directors elected Alison McHugh to fill the vacant seat previously held by Jet Center MFR General Manager Gary Hudnall.

McHugh is vice president of safety and quality at FEAM AERO. She holds two degrees from Embry Riddle, has both a mechanic’s certificate with airframe and powerplant ratings and a commercial pilot’s license, is on the adjunct faculty at Miami Dade College and was a member of the staff at the National Air Transportation Association.

The board embodies a broad range of international maintenance interests, with directors elected to represent specific industry segments. ARSA’s team had been considering options for new directors since Hudnall’s unexpected passing in October 2021. Since the general aviation market is protected by other members, the association selected McHugh to give line maintenance providers direct representation on the board.

FEAM is a leading provider of aircraft line maintenance services with 42 maintenance bases worldwide, including two hangar facilities, and more than 1,400 technicians and engineers. The company’s business includes line and base maintenance, technical training, global aircraft-on-ground support, and other technical services. FEAM holds approvals from multiple civil aviation authorities and proudly includes its ARSA membership on the “Approvals and Accreditations” section of its website.

“After months of searching, Alison presented herself as the perfect board candidate,” said ARSA Executive Vice President Christian A. Klein. “She was an outspoken participant in our Annual Conference in March, actively questioning panelists and speaking up for the industry’s future during a breakout session on technical career development. She wasn’t auditioning for board service, just leading on behalf of her company and industry. Regardless, after the event was over the choice [of her as a director nominee] was clear.”

The board agreed and voted unanimously to elect McHugh at the beginning of its April meeting. She participated in the remainder of the session, hearing reports on the health of the ARSA’s finances, membership development and its work on the industry’s behalf between January and March

“It was a busy week,” McHugh said after her election. “I’ve caught up on the nuances of ARSA’s work and helped more closely connect FEAM with the association. There’s a lot we can do to fully represent maintenance providers, especially those in the line maintenance category that may at times be overlooked. I’m looking forward to it.”

“Alison is so very much the right choice,” said ARSA Executive Director Sarah MacLeod. “She’s qualified, talented and will help the association be the voice of an industry that needs to improve its diversity and inclusion.”

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