I am Fouzan Wahab
As the Director of Military Design Organization (MDO) Projects in Bankstown, Australia, Fouzan manages a team that provides engineering services to keep our customers’ aircraft operational, airworthy and most importantly, safe. Sharing his perspective with the business, dedicating time to his team, and focusing on their development keep Fouzan motivated each day.
Watch his video and read the interview below to find out more about Fouzan.
Fouzan, please introduce yourself and your role at Jet Aviation.
My name is Fouzan Wahab, and I am the Director for the 21J Military Design Organization (MDO) providing design engineering services to sustain the B300 King Airs operated by the Royal Australian Air Force. Prior to taking on this role, I held the position of Senior Design Engineer and Operational Support Lead within Jet Aviation.
Can you briefly describe your job?
My role involves managing a team of design engineers within the MDO responsible for providing through life support (TLS) engineering services to our customers (both internal and external) in order to keep the aircraft operational, airworthy and, most importantly, safe.
What key projects are you currently working on?
Over the last few years, a lot of emphasis had been placed by the customer and the Australian Defence Force airworthiness authority to improve our Aircraft Structural Integrity (ASI) program, which is critical to flight safety. I’m proud to say that the team has been working tirelessly to bring this program to a mature state, and where we are now making further improvements and adjustments as the B300 fleet enters as new stage of its service life. The customer and authority have both acknowledged the work we put in and are now confident of our ASI program.
In addition to this, the team has been busy supporting the B300 Pt145 located in East Sale. Given that this has significant operational implications for the customer, it is vital that we provide our support in a timely manner when it comes to MDO engineering approvals and technical advice.
We have been told that you have been a significant driver in these projects. Can you explain to the rest of our global team how your role is impacting this/these projects?
The CAF11 B300 Contract is and continues to be a stepping stone for Jet Aviation to win more sustainment programs on other platforms. Therefore, it is imperative that we provide the best service so that our customer gets good value for money. For this to happen, you need a really good team – which I have!
What is it like to work in your team?
I have an excellent team of design engineers who are always wanting to push the boundaries and trying to be innovative when there are challenges in getting the job done. Most importantly, we uphold the Jet Aviation’s values, which I think is very important to any team or organization. Communication, helping and learning from each other are key parts of my team.
What do you really like about working in your role?
It is a challenging role which involves interacting and building relationships with multiple stakeholders, which I enjoy. The opportunity to focus on team development and growth, to provide my perspective on various aspects of the business, make decisions and take ownership are some things I greatly value in my role. There is also so much to learn about the commercial and technical side of the business from your peers.
What is a typical day like for you?
Typical day for me would be busy with management meetings, responding to emails, addressing any urgent issues and catching up with the team. I also set aside some time every morning to list down the tasks which I aim to close or action that day – I try and get through most of it!
What are the main challenges you face in your role?
A key challenge I find in this role is managing time – but being organized, planning the day in advance, and having a “to do” list seem to help.
Maintaining constant communication with key stakeholders both internally and externally is important to building a good relationship. This can be challenging when the team is based in multiple locations. Having regular meetings and site visits help me overcome this challenge.
What are some things you enjoy doing outside of work and Why?
I enjoy playing cricket over the weekend, and this helps me stay fit and competitive. More importantly I make it a point to spend quality time with my family over the weekend given we are all busy over the week.