May is a wonderful month for celebrating many important dates, the most notable of which is Mother’s Day. I hope you take time to honor your Mom and those women who were special enough to play the role of Mom in your life.
We talk an awful lot about work and careers here at Metropolitan Airport News, but being a mother is absolutely the best part of my life. Yes, it’s work, for sure, but the payment is the gift of love. What could be better?
May is a month filled with significant dates that hold a special place in the aviation community. We observe Armed Forces Day, National Maritime Day, and Memorial Day, all of which are deeply intertwined with the history and progress of aviation. However, one date that truly stands out is May 24th, celebrated as National Aviation Maintenance Technician Day. This day, dedicated to honoring the birth of aviation maintenance, is a testament to the pivotal role individuals like Charles Taylor, the mechanic for the Wright Brothers, played in the aviation industry. His contribution underscores the importance of every individual in our community.
My father, a mechanic for TWA at JFK Airport, graduated from Aviation High School in Manhattan. His service in the United States Air Force, his career at TWA, and his passion for aviation maintenance inspired me to support the future of AMTs. Through the multiple platforms I have access to, I am committed to highlighting these unique programs that train students in this essential role in the aviation industry.
If you have an opportunity, I strongly encourage you to meet with and support the local organizations and schools that promote AMTs, such as CALMM (Council of Airline Maintenance Managers), Aviation High School, York College, and Vaughn College. These institutions are doing incredible work in training the next generation of aviation maintenance technicians. Meeting these impressive young people and teachers will undoubtedly leave you inspired and impressed.
I hope you enjoy this issue, which features local recipients of the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. Our Non-Rev Travelers, Jonathan & Maureen Katz, are back from a quick one-day trip to Limerick, Ireland, and JFKIAT Vice President Steve Tukavkin gives us a peek behind the technology curtains at JFK’s T4. Jerry Spampanato takes us back to 1973 for a look back on the “State-of-the-Art” Pan Am Worldport baggage handling system.
Was the Avro Canada C-102 the world’s second jetliner? Robert Waldvogel details the history of what went wrong and why it wasn’t the first.
Enjoy this beautiful month of May, and I’ll see you around the airports!
