T
itle: Aircraft Mechanic
How long have you worked for PSA? 3 years
How long have you been in the airline industry? 50 years, all as a mechanic
Give us a brief overview of what you do: Line maintenance at the gate. I work the pilot write-ups at the gate between flights.
What do you love about working for PSA? The people and company.
Why would you recommend PSA? The company has fine people and good working relations.
Tell us something about your role that most people don’t know: I spent 25 years as a flying mechanic in the USA, Europe, and Africa.
What is a “flying mechanic” and how did you end up working in Europe and Africa? A flying mechanic flies with the aircraft on all flights and fixes any problems by themself when and where they happen. I went to Madrid, Spain with Kalitta Flying Service for six months on a 727. When the contract ended, Race Aviation offered me a job on a Boeing 707 in Barcelona, Spain. I took a leave of absence from Kalitta and worked for Race. One weekend, we went to Ostend, Belguim to change an engine on a 707. Liberia World Airways operated out of Ostend and they offered me a job flying with their DC-8 from Paris to Africa. I could not refuse what they offered! I moved from Barcelona to Ostend and went to work. We would leave Paris with the plane loaded and head to Africa. We flew all over Africa for 10 to 12 days then back to Paris for a night and go back to Africa the next day to do it all over again.
What has been the most rewarding part of your job? All the different people I’ve met and places I’ve been.
Where’s your favorite place you have traveled? Belgium. When I lived in Ostende for a year while working for LWS, I made a lot of friends. The people there are fantastic.
What are some of your hobbies? Older cars and fishing.
Tell us something no one know about you: I love to water ski. It relaxes me. My favorite place to ski is Lake Coeur d’Alene in northern Idaho.
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