Aviation Technician (Mechanic)

[Checking it Out]

Just A Aviation Technician (Mechanic)
by

Allen D. Booher
Have you ever said the words: I am just a Mechanic. I have. In the past I have used it as an apology for dirty hands, or an excuse for not taking charge and solving a difficult non-technical problem, or to justify being lazy, when the boss wanted something out of the ordinary done.
As I have grown older, and hopefully wiser over the years that I have spent in this profession, I have discovered, to my dismay, that every day, more and more Technicians are repeating those same words over and over again: I am just a Technician. I am just a Technician. This negative mantra reinforces a belief in a flawed, fatalistic, and unproductive attitude that says, to be a Technician is somehow, in some undetermined way, to be something less.
This unspoken and undefined belief has cursed our profession for the last 68 years. As a result of this belief, we continue to remain stalled at the semiskilled level when compared to other occupations. This belief is growing. It has become a self-fulfilling prophecy, a mindset malaise that is slowly attacking our professions very soul by infecting our self-confidence with tiny cankerworms of dispair.
The belief is becoming more than noticeable in our younger Aviation Technicians (mechanics). They are becoming more cynical about their profession. In their eyes, I see a loss of confidence and pride in what we do. When we Aviation Technicians (mechanics), especially the younger ones, lose our self-respect, we open our profession to outside ridicule, especially from the media.
Don''t believe it? Turn on your television set. An actor playing an FAA-certificate Aviation Technician (Mechanic) working for a part 135 operator is presently portraying one of us, on nationwide TV, as having a room temperature IQ, a village idiot. The Aviation Technician (mechanic) is the outsider, the butt of jokes, and so completely lacking in social skills, that his idea of having a good time is to take a six pack to the town dump on Friday and shoot rats.
So conditioned are we to this attitude, this belief, this self-fulfilling prophecy of ours, that we sit in our comfortable chairs on a given night and with our families and we laugh on cue at the TV Mechanic. We laugh at the aviation throwback; we laugh at the fool with the dirty hands.
Shame on us, we deserve better. Thousands of lives, millions of dollars worth of aircraft are entrusted to us every day. With that kind of responsibility we should be recognized as professionals.
But we are not recognized as professionals, and why not? Because not enough of us have a professional attitude! And just what is a professional attitude? While a professional attitude is difficult to identify and in words to explain, it can be recognized by the following characteristics and traits.
A true Aviation professional loves his work. This is his or her chosen profession. He or she wants to be the best that they can be. Aviation professionals are always seeking to learn and grow in their chosen profession. They have an insatiable curiosity about everything relating to their chosen field of endeavor.
An aviation professional takes the same amount of pride in a tire change as a turbine engine overhaul. To an aviation professional there are no minor jobs. Each task deserves and gets the same effort and attention to detail. An aviation professional seeks, performs and maintains a high-quality standard in everything they do.
An aviation professional dresses the part. He or she is clean in appearance, exudes confidence, and speaks from knowledge. An aviation professional would never use language which is offensive, regardless of the place or situation. For these reasons, professionals are sought out by their customers, colleagues, and associates.
So, how do we turn ourselves into professionals? How do we turn around a 68-year-old attitude? The solution is to be found in the root cause of the problem. We must change our attitude! We must change our daily mantra from I am a professional.
Once we convince ourselves that we can be, and are professionals, then act and perform as professionals, we will convince others in our trade that they too can be professionals. Then and only then will we shed the term semi-skilled like an old worn coat.
All it takes is a change in our attitude. Yours and mine, a belief, that one individual can and does make a difference. A belief in the power of one. Let''s start changing our attitudes today! Let''s get rid of that old coat, just a mechanic. You an I are the very best in the aviation industry today. Without us this industry would grind to a halt. So why settle for anything less than the recognition and pride that a professional excepts and deserves? Let us be aviation professionals.
Repeat after me: I am a Aviation Technician Professional. I am a Aviation Technician Professional. I am a Aviation Technician Professional.
NOTE: Allen D. Booher is an FAA airworthiness inspector at the Baton Rouge, LA, Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), 1-504-357-1790. This article appeared in the November/December, 1995 issue of Aircraft Maintenance Technology.

This is a reprint! The Mechanic has been substituted for Avation Technician in some spots.

Their is a few who Increasingly enjoy being Negative! It is everyone elses problem! Or it is the Unions or Companies problem! Just think what could be accomplished if these same Individuals would put their efforts in something useful!

Have a Nice Day!

 

[RV4]

Checking It Out,

Nice post!

However, what are YOUR THOUGHTS and OPINIONS? You have spent nearly a month now posting everyone else's opinions and thoughts on usaviation bulletin boards, but never your own. And speaking of being negative, you have 5 times as many posting negative towards AMFA, and very few positive postings about the TWU.

Answer a simple Question: Why would an Aviation Maintenance Technician be better off in a room full of negotiators that have other than mechanics interest to serve? Why wouldn't that professional, proud, mechanic with a new attitude want to be in a mechanics union?

 

[Checking it Out]

Rv4 wrote;
Why would an Aviation Maintenance Technician be better off in a room full of negotiators that have other than mechanics interest to serve? Why wouldn''t that professional, proud, mechanic with a new attitude want to be in a mechanics union?
I enjoy working in the Aviation field as an Aviation Maintenance Technician,

The TWU has separate Negotiations; the only thing in common is the ratification time and flow thru items. Even the Majority of the Mechanic and Related voted to bring back the last amended Contract.
Qoute;

The TWUATD was established in 1945.
In the early days of aviation, people were attracted to the industry more for the romance of participating in a field that bespoke of daring and thrills than for the need of a livelihood. No doubt some, particularly those who spent large sums of money for schooling and acquisition of "Airman" certificates, or spent years developing skills in airline clerical or operating jobs, hoped that some day the job would present many opportunities and good wages. But for the most part, they thrilled to the pioneering in a completely unknown field.
When I applied to AA for employment I also Investigated the TWU. I took an oath when I joined and unlike some I made a commitment to respect the oath! All we have is a commitment we made to ourselves. And someone who makes another afterwards has lost this!
Oath, sworn statement, affirmation, or pledge, usually based upon religious principles and often used in legal matters.

TWU SOLIDARITY!

 

[WXGuesser]

----------------
On 6/8/2003 10:46:59 PM mga707 wrote:

----------------
On 6/8/2003 1:00:19 PM Checking it Out wrote:
Don''t believe it? Turn on your television set. An actor playing an FAA-certificate Aviation Technician (Mechanic) working for a part 135 operator is presently portraying one of us, on nationwide TV, as having a room temperature IQ, a village idiot. The Aviation Technician (mechanic) is the outsider, the butt of jokes, and so completely lacking in social skills, that his idea of having a good time is to take a six pack to the town dump on Friday and shoot rats.
----------------​

Just wondering what TV show this bit refers to. Haven''t seen it.
Anyone?


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I think this may be referring to a character from the early 90''s TV show "Wings".

TANSTAAFL

 

[mga707]

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On 6/8/2003 1:00:19 PM Checking it Out wrote:
Don''t believe it? Turn on your television set. An actor playing an FAA-certificate Aviation Technician (Mechanic) working for a part 135 operator is presently portraying one of us, on nationwide TV, as having a room temperature IQ, a village idiot. The Aviation Technician (mechanic) is the outsider, the butt of jokes, and so completely lacking in social skills, that his idea of having a good time is to take a six pack to the town dump on Friday and shoot rats.
----------------​

Just wondering what TV show this bit refers to. Haven''t seen it.
Anyone?

 

[RUM@AA]

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On 6/8/2003 5:48:13 PM Checking it Out wrote:


 
Rv4 wrote;

The TWU has separate Negotiations; the only thing in common is the ratification time and flow thru items. Even the Majority of the Mechanic and Related voted to bring back the last amended Contract.
 Qoute;

Nice try but we know for a fact that the company''s first offer to the TWU was to cut fleet service in half and spare the M&R but Jim Little said "no way, they''re our majority" and we must have "shared pain" or some crap like that. The hell with what the rest of the industry is doing. WE ARE CONTROLLED BY THE MAJORITY! AND THAT MAJORITY IS FLEET SERVICE! Don''t give us that "separate negotiations" bullshit. Just because you''re stupid enough to believe it doesn''t mean the rest of us are.
The TWUATD was established in 1945.
And they "RAIDED" the Airline Mechanics Union that was on the property at AA in 1945 too.
In the early days of aviation, people were attracted to the industry more for the romance of participating in a field that bespoke of daring and thrills than for the need of a livelihood. No doubt some, particularly those who spent large sums of money for schooling and acquisition of "Airman" certificates, or spent years developing skills in airline clerical or operating jobs, hoped that some day the job would present many opportunities and good wages. But for the most part, they thrilled to the pioneering in a completely unknown field.
 When I applied to AA for employment I also Investigated the TWU. I took an oath when I joined and unlike some I made a commitment to respect the oath! All we have is a commitment we made to ourselves. And someone who makes another afterwards has lost this!
Oath, sworn statement, affirmation, or pledge, usually based upon religious principles and often used in legal matters.
I took a pledge too. It goes like this: I Pledge Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One Nation, under God, Indivisible with LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
3200 members were unable to vote in the last consessionary contract. It was accepted "without further ratification" NO JUSTICE UNDER THE TWU.
You support a union that PUNISHES AMERICANS FOR EXERSIZING THEIR RIGHT TO OBJECT to the political activism of the TWU which unconditionally supports A LIBERAL SOCIALIST AGENDA. NO LIBERTY FOR OBJECTORS UNDER THE TWU
Try standing up for what''s right instead of what convieniently suits your agenda.


 
TWU SOLIDARITY!

I told you before NO SUCH THING
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[Bob Owens]

CIO;
Would a "Professional" allow someone else, not in the profession to set his/her compensation?

The sad truth is that some of those representing us do look like that character on Wings. A little cleaned up perhaps but with the same IQ. Some spitting into cups, using the same expressions etc.

 

[j7915]

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On 6/9/2003 844 AM Bob Owens wrote:

CIO;

Would a "Professional" allow someone else, not in the profession to set his/her compensation?


The sad truth is that some of those representing us do look like that character on Wings. A little cleaned up perhaps but with the same IQ. Some spitting into cups, using the same expressions etc.

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Happens every day with HMOs. So the doctors either live with it or quit. Or get involved in the political arena, AS AN ORGANIZED GROUP.

 

[Bob Owens]

blockquote>----------------
On 6/9/2003 1000 AM j7915 wrote:

----------------
On 6/9/2003 844 AM Bob Owens wrote:​

CIO;
Would a "Professional" allow someone else, not in the profession to set his/her compensation?
----------------

Happens every day with HMOs. So the doctors either live with it or quit. Or get involved in the political arena, AS AN ORGANIZED GROUP.

----------------
​

Yes thats why the doctors are forming a union. I'll bet they dont decide to join with the orderlys and let them decide what a doctor should make.


Our problem is that we(licensed A&P mechanics) do not determine what we make. An ex baggage handler/dispatcher does. And we pay for this (dis)service!


"Just meet the number guys, you have to meet the number"
"Not on My watch"


It might not be as bad if at least we got to pick which ex-baggage handler or dispatcher or whatever made such determinations but we cant, instead he is appointed by a bus driver who never worked in this industry.


Get involved in the political arena? OK, but for what ends? I agree that we should be politically active but are you saying that the reason why this union chose not to fight and to give AA more than any other union was so that you could try and twist the members into blaming the government for the Unions lack of action? That the solution to our dilemma lies in Washington instead of actions on the shop floor?

The unions lack of action probably has more to do with the flawed structure that the unions, through their own decisions, perpetuate than the political situation. Bush said he would not allow any strikes and the Unions dont have the balls to challenge him. Who deserves the blame? Bush or the Unions that use him as an excuse to fail their members? The answer is both! Bush must go but so must the inept Union leaders. We pay the Unions to defend our interests, they have not done so. I knew that Bush would be hostile to my intersts, thats why I did not vote for him, but I should have been able to count on my union, that takes my money, to be willing to lead a fight against Bush. Instead what the Union has done is lay down, surrender without a fight. Why? Because these leaders are making a lot more by doing nothing than they would by taking action. Lets say that they chose to fight. Lets say that they announced now that there was going to be a strike. That the agreements were gained under duress and with deceptive information and unless our contracts were restored we all were going to strike, the TWU, IAM and IBT. Well they would more than likely face jail, deep investigations by the government, fines ect. However by doing nothing, they get to sit back and collect their six figure salaries and remain untouchable by the members that they are supposed to represent. So the choice is a moral one verses a personal monetatary one. You guess the one they would, and apparently have, chosen.

The sad fact is that since there is little to no accountability Unions have become businesses. In the airline industry, thanks to the RLA, they have a captive membership. They really do not have to deliver. The members still have to pay. The fix is not to make it so that members dont have to pay, the fix is to make it so that unions are accountable.Periodic elections even for representation should be mandatory, under the same conditioons as regular elections in that only cast votes are counted. Who ever gets the most wins. If we ran our government like unionism is run then the only way that we could get a new President or other elected official is if more than half of the eligible voters voted against them, either that or we would never have a President (under union representation elections if more than half the people do not vote then there is no union).

This lack of accountability has serious consequences for all airline workers that are represented by such unions.Unions would rather see their host carrier survive than see overall industrial wages go up.(After all these unions are led by very well paid people who do not have to work under the conditions they "sell" to the members)So the unions end up competeing with each other over who can give their host carrier the lowest labor rates instead of trying to maximize member income. Looks like the TWU won, and all the workers in the industry lost. Unions end up using corporate tactics, strategies and arguements to get workers to accept lower wages and less benifits. "the company will go bankrupt", "we are saving jobs", "lower pay creates more jobs". They say this to the members and then collect six figure salaries for themselves while complaining to the members of the Unions limited resources. Well if we paid most of these guys half of what they were making we could have twice as many people working in our interests. They would still be making more than their members, Hall would still be getting $100,000/yr and Little would still be making $10,000 more than a mechanic, plus expenses, cars etc.

It seems that the unions strategy is to sit back and let their members take a beating and then fix the blame on the government. It will more than likely backfire on them. Yea the members might blame Bush but they will also blame the Union, and they should. What the unions may not have put enough consideration into when going this route is the emergence of a new union, the AGW, which is looking to organize all the ground workers into one union. They will not sit back an give the members the gentlemanly screwing that the TWU/IAM/IBT have been doing through their "no raid" agreement where they use their members to strategize a way a gaining market share under competative rules that benifit the airlines instead of the workers. Under these rules, since the members cant choose the union, the union seeks to give its host airline a competative edge, in the hopes of preserving or gaining membership. Membership is determined by the carrier and not the choice of the workers. Since they dont have a choice, the unions do not have to deliver. The AGW apparently seeks to do something that should have been done years ago but was not because of the greed of the TWU,IAM and IBT, put airline workers into one union so that union would focus more on the overall welfare of the workers than the fortunes of any particular company.
I hope that they are successful. Wouldnt it be ironic if the baggage handlers went to that union while the mechanics stayed in the TWU? I would not dismiss it. There are more baggage handlers in places like NY, MIA,ORD LAX and SFO than Tulsa.