Inside Skylink with Bashaar Zainal

Where are you from?

I was born in Miami and raised in Tampa my entire childhood. My mother comes from a spanish background from Ecuador and my father is from Kuwait City, Kuwait. I currently reside in Orlando, FL. Can’t seem to leave the state. I think the sunny weather is addicting.

What brought you to Skylink?

Skylink was an easy choice for me because they deal with the aviation business, something that I am incredibly fond of. They also have worked with my previous institution, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical. It was a great fit for me as I naturally gravitated towards this company and I couldn’t be happier. They have welcomed me with open arms in their family owned business that has been running strong for the past twenty five years.

What do you love about aviation?

I love aviation as a whole because I grew up with it. I use to travel as a child back and forth across the world to see family in South America and the Middle East. I have been through more terminals than I can count. It has a nostalgic grasp on me that I can’t shake. I use to press my face and hands on the terminal windows to get a closer look as planes took off in the night sky. Some kids grow up with dinosaurs, cars or legos. I grew up with Aviation.

Who is your hero? Why?

This might sound a bit geeky, but my hero is The Incredible Hulk. He does things that I wish I could do sometimes. Smash things when he's angry, be a green monster (green is my favorite color by the way), and jump 3 metric miles with a single leap. There is no such thing as gas expenses for The Hulk, but I’m sure he makes up for it buying multiple pairs of purple shorts.

What is your favorite book?

Not too sure if this would really count, but I am more into comics. I am still a kid at heart so I love the action and illustrations that a comic book can depict. Don’t get me wrong, I still love a good book. The most recent book I read through was Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park. With the new Jurassic World adaptation coming out in the next couple weeks, I want to make sure I get the full story of why dinosaurs think humans are a good meal.

What inspires you?

Inspiration is more of a when than a what. I believe that certain events in my life inspire me to do things and come up with great ideas. But what really inspires me is the stars and our universe in the sky. Billions of stars with another billion of galaxies to show for it. It really makes me think of what possibilities there are in the sky as well as for me.

3 Random Factoids

What’s your favorite drink currently in your fridge?

Lindemans Raspberry Framboise

What’s a tool or trick you use to make life easier?

One of the best tricks I have learned is how to prevent tearing up when cutting up an onion. If you lay a piece of bread next to the onion while slicing and dicing, the bread will absorb the aroma and take the hit so you are free of waterworks.

If you were a superhero, what would be your name and superpower?

Being a superhero comes with some major responsibilities. But if I had a shot of being a superhero, I would like to be named Super Dj. Dj has been my nickname since a kid. It was the easiest solution since not everyone had the gift of saying my name right. And being in the aviation business, my super power would be flight. Who would't like to fly?

In The News: Additive Plane Parts Study, New Carbon Aircraft Brakes, And Retailers In The Air

Additive Manufacturing of Parts Makes Planes Lighter and Cheaper

A case study by Northwestern University has confirmed 3-D printing can save the airline industry and the environment by saving on fuel and materials while cutting down on manufacturing wastes. Click here to find out more.

-Original article by Brian Wang

Carbon Brakes Replacing Steel Brakes on Aircraft

It takes some major friction to stop a 75 ton aircraft. Steel brakes are the universal choice in aircraft stopping power. But that is changing with new and more efficient Carbon Brakes. Find out more here.

-Original article by The Washington Post

Retailers In The Air

Ever wish you could order your in-flight lunch in the air? Or order a specific movie you wanted to watch in the back headrest on your mobile device? The idea isn’t too far fetched. Click here to learn more.

-Original article by Clint Boulton

Skylink Teams Up With Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

This week we invited the prestigious Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to come in and take some retired spare parts off our hands for their classrooms. We were delighted to donate these parts as it provides a great hands on learning experience for the prospecting students attending the University. Moreover, it was great to team up with a well known university that has grown its roots from the first flight of the Wright Brothers back in 1903.

In The News: Air Force Rebuilds C130 Wings, The Rebirth Of The Middle Seat, And The Reason Behind The Window Hole

Air Force Rebuilds The Wings Of A C130

Watch this video of the United States Air Force completely rebuilding the wings on a C130 Hercules. Click here for the original video.

Original video by The United States Air force

The Rebirth Of Sitting In The Middle seat

Thompson Aero Seating has re-invented the middle seat. No longer will passengers have to fight over who gets the window or isle seat. This is truly an amazing design. Check it out here!

Original article by Erika Owen

The Reason Behind The Small Hole In Airplane Windows Revealed

I know every time I have sat in a window seat, at some point during the flight that tiny hole comes into my view. I always wondered what it was there for, but never took the time to read about it. Click here to find out what it does!

Original article by Robbie Gonzalez

27 Reasons Why We Love Aviation

The lives we live are vastly different than what most people are use to. We live and breathe aviation. We love the products, we love the people, and we love the challenges. Here is a very short list of why we love this industry:

1. Aviation never sleeps. Which in a weird way is...awesome?
2. We have our own language, like AOG. If someone doesn't know what it means they belong on another planet.
3. We have our own Aviation Alphabet:

4. If you don't know Alpha, Bravo, Charlie please don't talk to us. 5. You critique every airline's operational efficiency. 6. We get to meet so many great people from various cultures and backgrounds. 7. We oddly love the smell of aircraft tires. 8. Jet fuel smells like roses. 9. Some of us have experienced bouts of Skydrol on the wrong parts of our body. Burn! Wash your hands people. 10. Most take flying for granted, we don't. 11. Serenity is achieved 30,000ft above. 12. 

13. We can touch any continent in a days time. 14. We work with the smartest people and products outside of Silicone Valley. 15. The supply chain is complicated. 16. The challenge is fun. 17. Aviation brings people from varying backgrounds to work together. 18. 

19. Overcoming an AOG can save thousands of dollars for our partners. 20. Watching planes takeoff and land is therapeutic. 21. The sky is no longer the limit. 22. We wake up early to work on these:

23. The toys are awesome. 24. The tools we use beat the cheap car junk. 25. You can hold a $150,000 component in your hand and it's not a diamond. 26. The scenery always changes.

27. Lives are at stake and quality is paramount.

In The News: New B/E Aerospace Seats, Bird Damaging An Airplane, And Electronics During Flight

A New Seat Made By B/E Aerospace

Southwest is going to introduce a brand new seat designed by B/E Aerospace. These will be the widest economy seats on a 737. Click here to read more.

 Original article by The Cranky Flier

See What A Bird Can Do To An Airplane

A bird flew into the nose of a Turkish Airlines flight, and completely caved in the front. Luckily planes are built to take hits like this and be just fine. No one was injured and the plane landed safely. Click here to see the full article.

 Original article by Stan Schroeder

You Can Leave Your Electronics On During Flights!

A recent ruling states that passengers can keep their electronics on during takeoff and landing. Even though the FAA approved electronics, not all airlines are allowing this just yet. Click here to read more.

 Original article by Fiona Mcdonald

Skylink's Journey To India

Recently a couple of our Skylink team members were invited to travel to India to meet with some of our clients and close friends to celebrate their wedding. They started off flying from Newark to Mumbai where they spent a few nights sightseeing. This is a picture in Mumbai of the central laundry facility. For hotels that do not have in house laundry, they send their linens here. They arrived too late in the day to see the washing process, but this is how they dry all the linens. It’s interesting how each area is color coded.

A couple days later they took a three hour car ride to Nashik for the wedding. Below is Nate at the ring ceremony standing with the Groom.

Here is Nate and Nicky celebrating with the Bride and Groom during the ring ceremony.

The next day they attended the wedding ceremony in the their traditional Indian attire. Look how incredible the flower arrangements are!

Here is Nicky posing with another wedding guest during the wedding reception.

After the wedding, Nate and Nicky did some more sightseeing around India. First stop was riding an elephant in Jaipur, towards the Amber Fort!

They were also able to spend some time in Agra were the Taj Mahal is located. Isn’t this picture Nicky took amazing?!

Nicky and Nate were honored to be a part of all the wedding festivities, and getting to see such a beautiful country.

In The News: Airbus And Boeing Have New Patents, Electric Airplane, And Top Airline Amenities

  Airbus And Boeing’s New Patents That Will Change The Way We Fly

Airbus and Boeing have filed for multiple patents recently. I don't want to spoil them, but one involves a touch screen window. Check the original article here.

Original article by Daisy Carrington

An Electric Airplane Exists?

Airbus will begin producing the first electric airplane. There are two models coming out and they will be available in late 2017 or 2018! See the original article here.

Original article by AirInsight

Top 10 Airline Amenities You Didn't Know About

Have you ever wanted to see your favorite band, or sip on Turkish coffee while flying? Find out the top 10 things airlines have to offer. Click here to see the original article.

Original article by Huffington Post

In The News: Flying More Economical Than Driving, BER Parts To Art, And A Personal 747 Manson

 Flying Is More Economical Than Driving

It is official that flying is more efficient than driving a car. Moving one person 1 mile consumes 2,465 BTU's in a plane, VS. 4,211 BTU's in a car. Click here to read more.

Original article by Shane Ferro

Turn Your BER Parts Into Art

You probably have a warehouse full of BER aircraft parts that are useless.  Well why not dress up your office with some of those old parts. Click here to get some ideas. I like number 9 the best!

Original article by Julian on Business Pundit

Boeing 747 Refit To Be Personal Plane

We all wonder what it would be like to be wealthy and buy anything we wanted. Well check out what this mystery man did to a 747 he turned into a flying 400 million dollar home! Check it out here.

Original article by Hugo Gye

The Poor Communication Epidemic

As the world shrinks through our ability to connect with one another via the vast webs of the internet, our communication skills begin to suffer.

It's a poor communication epidemic. It’s a virus that's plaguing every industry and felt in our hyper connected yet incredibly misunderstood aviation world.

The people affected most are the heart of the industry, airlines, yet they too are guilty of such an epidemic.

Our VP Nate Anglin, attended the MRO Americas conference and during one of the sessions, Alex Gorinsky from Southwest Airlines mentioned that we’d be surprised that poor communication exists even with their supply chain partners.

From big airlines to small, poor communication bleeds through the pores of every supply chain.

Most supply chain complexities are hard to fix yet communication is the easiest to overcome. It requires a little human focus.

It’s all about the win / win

In every relationship creating win / win relationships has positive long term effects. Ken Newton from Alaska Airlines puts it well when he says he doesn’t want to put all the burden on the supplier. It’s creating a winning relationship, and if the supplier makes money then Alaska Airlines makes money by being able to keep it’s fleet in the air. It’s not a complicated thought but it’s so important and yet still misunderstood.

Many times the supplier cares more about the financial gain than the long term relationship. This has detrimental effects both on trust and on an airline's operating objectives. The same is true for airlines and MROs putting burden onto their suppliers, stripping margins, and focusing on the “Everyday Low Cost” Wal-Mart special pricing, yet they still demand high quality and short TATs. Cheap does not create value. With cheap prices comes cheap service and solutions. This reduces the long term value being created and in the end more time and money is being spent.

The most effective collaboration is one with efficient communication that is focused on a win / win relationship, both for the airline and supply chain partners.

Listen then talk

When you talk with your aircraft component supplier, who does most of the talking? It shocks me that most of the time, suppliers would rather talk than listen. They talk about their services, the part numbers, the prices, and don’t forget to come back to them if you find anything better.

I’ll now be blunt…it’s stupid.

Rarely is someone in purchasing asked, you seem to have problem x? I can imagine this affects your operation in x ways. How does this affect you personally? You would then explain to them your deepest darkest concerns while they listen. They would absorb, translate, and comprehend your situation. They would then suggest possible ways to resolve your issues. Not once was selling a part mentioned. It’s about the resolution of problems and inefficiencies were the greatest value is created.

Listening is the start of effective communication. If someone doesn't listen, you might as well talk to the wall, your dog, or possibly your spouse? Kidding of course.

Hire partners slow, fire partners fast

Most of our supply chain partners love working with our team. MROs have said “everyone I talk to at Skylink from purchasing to A/P is an absolute pleasure to work with” and “The owners of Skylink must have an amazing HR department, everyone I speak to is top notch and respectful.”

Isn’t this the point?

Our HR policy is rather simple and so is working with suppliers. We hire slow and fire fast. If we have a toxic team member who doesn’t embody our core values, they won’t be on our team for long. We don’t care about the temporary disruption, toxic personalities bleed through our organization. We have the same principles with suppliers which is why we follow a preferred vendor system. We’ll hire slow and fire fast. If it creates a tempororay supply chain issue, we’ll figure something out so we can continue to create “WOW” experiences for our customers.

If you have a toxic supply chain partner who doesn’t listen, fire them. I assure you there’s someone who can replace them.

In a world that’s hyper connected, in an industry that never sleeps, poor communication continues to plague the industry.

Remember, in order to overcome the epidemic, create win / win relationships and your partners must listen more than they talk. Fire fast and hire slow.

P.S. Are you looking to replace your supply chain partners who care more about themselves than they do for you? We listen and we listen a lot. Fill out the form below and get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.