About me
About Me
I'm Almir Saliji — a Swiss-born aviation and aerospace quality professional with over 25 years of experience across airlines, MROs, and aerospace manufacturing on three continents.
I entered the aviation industry at 16, beginning a four-year apprenticeship as a Polymechanic at Swissair — one of the most prestigious airlines and maintenance organizations in the world. I learned to manufacture aerospace components on CNC machines, create technical drawings on CAD, and work in a highly regulated environment from day one. As Swissair's technical division evolved into SR Technics, I gained hands-on experience as an engine and component technician before moving into commercial roles — managing aircraft component maintenance contracts and key accounts for international airline clients from the MRO side, navigating different cultures, expectations, and business realities across the globe.
My transition into quality management came at Helvetic Airways, a Swiss international airline operating under EASA Part 145. As Deputy Compliance Monitoring Manager, I owned the full scope of quality — audit programs, supplier evaluations, compliance processes, and staff training. I sat on both sides of the audit table, regularly receiving and supporting audits from customers, national authorities, EASA, and IOSA. That experience built a level of regulatory depth and professional composure that became the foundation of my career.
At Swiss International Air Lines and the Lufthansa Group, I operated at an entirely different scale — conducting audits worldwide across maintenance stations, suppliers, and subcontractors against EASA Part 145 and Part M/CAMO, ORO/ORA, and IOSA requirements. As a trained MEDA investigator, I led human factors investigations into maintenance-related events, translating findings into systemic improvements that delivered sustained results. My professional development was continuously reinforced through internationally recognized training — from the Baines Simmons Aviation Safety Academy to the JAA Training Organisation and comprehensive SMS, compliance monitoring, and just culture training within the SWISS/Lufthansa framework.
After relocating to the United States, I directed the internal audit program at Universal Avionics (Elbit Systems) in Tucson, Arizona — leading a team of auditors across all AS9100 functions under both FAA and EASA requirements. I also implemented a comprehensive FAA-aligned Safety Management System, one of the first in Arizona, from gap analysis through documentation, reporting tools, company-wide training, and authority acceptance.
Today, I operate independently through Saliji Consulting LLC, serving aviation and aerospace organizations across Arizona, California, and internationally. My work spans independent AS9100 and ISO 9001 auditing, FAA and EASA compliance assessments, supplier qualification audits, MEDA investigations, and consulting in quality and safety management — advising organizations on building, strengthening, and maturing their QMS and SMS to meet regulatory expectations and drive real operational improvement. My engagements range from AS9100-certified aerospace manufacturers and FAA Part 145 repair stations in the American Southwest to European aviation consultancies engaging me as an assessor for EASA SMS maturity assessments and CAMO/MRO interface reviews.
What sets me apart:
Swiss precision shaped by the most demanding regulatory environment in aviation. I've worked under EASA since the start of my career, been in international business since I was 20, and have operated across dozens of countries and cultures. I'm fluent in English, German, and Serbian, and I bring to every engagement the same combination: thoroughness, directness, and the understanding that strong safety culture is built through trust, not just compliance.
Whether your organization operates under EASA, FAA, AS9100, or all three — I speak your language.