PROSE PROSE
PAMA PAMA
PAMA PROSE
BY DALE FORTON BY DALE FORTON
BY DALE FORTON
TECHNICIANS, OR ENGINEERS
MECHANICS, TECHNICIANS,
DALE FORTON has worked in DALE FORTON has worked in as a licensed A&P Technician has been an active PAMA member for more than 26 of those years. For the past seven years he has served on the PAMA Board of Directors as vice chairman of the Board of Directors, Great Lakes Regional ector, Membership Committee Chairman, Governance Committee Chairman, and Strategic Planning Committee Chairman. Formerly a director of maintenance for 135,145, and 147 operations, he has also held positions as service manager, parts manager, technician, and director of product support. Dale has owned his own businesses as well.
aviation for more than 32 years and aviation for more than 32 years and as a licensed A&P Technician has been an active PAMA member for more than 26 of those years. For the past seven years he has served on the PAMA Board of Directors as vice chairman of the Board of Directors, Great Lakes Regional Director, Membership Committee Chairman, Governance Committee Chairman, and Strategic Planning Committee Chairman. Formerly a director of maintenance for 135,145, and 147 operations, he has also held positions as service manager, parts manager, technician, and director of product support. Dale has owned his own businesses as well.
DALE FORTON has worked in aviation for more than 32 years and as a licensed A&P Technician has been an active PAMA member for more than 26 of those years. For the past seven years he has served on the PAMA Board of Directors as vice chairman of the Board of Directors, Great Lakes Regional Director, Membership Committee Chairman, Governance Committee Chairman, and Strategic Planning Committee Chairman. Formerly a director of maintenance for 135,145, and 147 operations, he has also held positions as service manager, parts manager, technician, and director of product support. Dale has owned his own businesses as well.
OR ENGINEERS II
n a previous article I wrote about professionalism and what makes us professionals. Two key points were that we are paid to perform our work and we conform to technical and ethical standards of our profession. Recently a new twist on a continued debate was presented to me. Are we as A&Ps; mechanics, technicians, or engineers?
Are we as A&Ps; mechanics, technicians, or engineers? When I first joined the ranks of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) When I first joined the ranks of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) and received my A&P in the mid 80s, I was a believer that we were technicians. PAMA was a proponent of this at the time as well. In fact around the same time, another media company and PAMA came up with the name of a new publication aimed at reaching our industry. PAMA even supplied our membership database to allow them to get initial subscribers. PAMA was at the forefront of promoting us as technicians. Some 30 years later we still have not agreed on what we would like to be titled.
and received my A&P in the mid 80s, I was a believer that we were technicians. PAMA was a proponent of this at the time as well. In fact around the same time, another media company and PAMA came up with the name of a new publication aimed at reaching our industry. PAMA even supplied our membership database to allow them to get initial subscribers. PAMA was at the forefront of promoting us as technicians. Some 30 years later we still have not agreed on what we would like to be titled. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents us as mechanics in the regulations and on our printed certificate itself. Webster’s provides an interesting perspective from definitions rather than personal opinions.
n a previous article I wrote about professionalism and what makes us professionals. Two key points were that we are paid to perform our work and we conform to technical and ethical standards of our profession. Recently a new twist on a continued debate was presented to me. Are we as A&Ps; mechanics, technicians, or engineers?
When I first joined the ranks of the
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) documents us as mechanics in the regulations and on our printed certificate itself. Webster’s provides an interesting perspective from definitions rather than personal opinions.
ƒ Mechanic: 1: of or relating to manual work or skill ƒ Technician: 1: a specialist in the technical details of a subject or occupation <a computer technician>
ƒ Mechanic: 1: of or relating to manual work or skill
ƒ Technician: 1: a specialist in the technical details of a subject or occupation <a computer technician> ƒ Engineer: 3a : a designer or builder of engines b : a person who is trained in or follows as a
ƒ Engineer: 3a : a designer or builder of engines b : a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering c : a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance
profession a branch of engineering c : a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance 4: a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus ƒ 4: a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus ƒ 4: a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus
Where does this discussion come from? Our value of course! You are a part of the only maintenance profession certified by the federal government. You have the responsibility from one, up to a few hundred, lives on a single flight. An automotive mechanic does not carry this responsibility, as they do not have the third dimension of altitude to cause a catastrophe. So mechanic does not cover your responsibility or liability. Does technician? By definition it is better. But the title technician causes the Saturday Night Live skit of the copier technician “Makin’ Copies” to flash in some people’s mind. Many of us have a two-year degree, close to a copier technician. Some have bachelors and even masters degrees. So we know a copier technician is in no way equivalent! Does engineer fit? Aircraft maintenance engineer is used by most of the aviation regulatory bodies in the world except the United States. Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are among those to name the majority. All consider our FAA issued A&P equivalent to their aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) rating. The Webster’s definition isn’t quite as fitting but our education and responsibility makes for the strongest point of the debate. Do the engineers that design the aircraft have any more or less responsibility when designing the aircraft than an A&P returning it to service? I do not believe so. I am very interested in your opinions on this. Please take a look at PAMA on Facebook, LinkedIn, or
PAMA.org where we will ask this question! I look forward to our lively discussions. to our lively discussions.
Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) and received my A&P in the mid 80s, I was a believer that we were technicians. PAMA was a proponent of this at the time as well. In fact around the same time, another media company and PAMA came up with the name of a new publication aimed at reaching our industry. PAMA even supplied our membership database to allow them to get initial subscribers. PAMA was at the forefront of promoting us as technicians. Some 30 years later we still have not agreed on what we would like to be titled.
By definition it is better. But the title technician causes the Saturday Night Live skit of the copier technician “Makin’ Copies” to flash in some people’s mind. Many of us have a two-year degree, close to a copier technician. Some have bachelors and even masters degrees. So we know a copier technician is in no way equivalent! Does engineer fit?
(FAA) documents us as mechanics in the regulations and on our printed certificate itself. Webster’s provides an interesting perspective from definitions rather than personal opinions. § Mechanic: 1: of or relating to manual work or skill
Aircraft maintenance engineer is used by most of the aviation regulatory bodies in the world except the United States. Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are among those to name the majority. All consider our FAA issued A&P equivalent to their aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) rating. The Webster’s definition isn’t quite as fitting but our education and responsibility makes for the strongest point of the debate. Do the engineers that design the aircraft have any more or less responsibility when designing the aircraft than an A&P returning it to service? I do not believe so.
maintenance profession certified by the federal government. You have the responsibility from one, up to a few hundred, lives on a single flight. An automotive mechanic does not carry this responsibility, as they do not have the third dimension of altitude to cause a catastrophe. So mechanic does not cover your responsibility or liability. Does technician?
Where does this discussion come from? Our value of course! You are a part of the only The Federal Aviation Administration
§ Technician: 1: a specialist in the technical details of a subject or occupation <a computer technician>
I am very interested in your opinions on this. Please take a look at PAMA on Facebook, LinkedIn, or
PAMA.org where we will ask this question! I look forwardwhichever you prefer—you are a professional! And as PAMA, we will at
§ Engineer: 3a : a designer or builder of engines b : a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering c : a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance
PAMA, we will continue to represent you the aviation maintenance professional. AM P Where does this discussion come
§ 4: a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus
56 Aviation Maintenance |
avmain-mag.com | December 2011/January 2012 56 Aviation Maintenance |
avmain-mag.com | December 2011/January 2012
avm-mag.com | December 2011/January 2012
AMA, we will continue to represent you the aviation maintenance professional. from? Our value of course! You are a
AM Mechanic, technician, or engineer—
Mechanic, technician, or engineer—whichever you prefer—you are a professional! And as continue to represent you the aviation
Mechanic, technician, or engineer—whichever you prefer—you are a professional! And as maintenance professional. AM
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www.avm-mag.com/iPad
By definition it is better. But the title technician causes the Saturday Night Live skit of the copier technician “Makin’ Copies” to flash in some people’s mind. Many of us have a two-year degree, close to a copier technician. Some have bachelors and even masters degrees. So we know a copier technician is in no way equivalent! Does engineer fit? Aircraft maintenance engineer is used by most of the aviation regulatory bodies in the world except the United States. Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) are among those to name the majority. All consider our FAA issued A&P equivalent to their aircraft maintenance engineer (AME) rating. The Webster’s definition isn’t quite as fitting but our education and responsibility makes for the strongest point of the debate. Do the engineers that design the aircraft have any more or less responsibility when designing the aircraft than an A&P returning it to service? I do not believe so. I am very interested in your opinions on this. Please take a look at PAMA on Facebook, LinkedIn, or
PAMA.org where we will ask this question! I look forward to our lively discussions.
part of the only maintenance profession certified by the federal government. You have the responsibility from one, up to a few hundred, lives on a single flight. An automotive mechanic does not carry this responsibility, as they do not have the third dimension of altitude to cause a catastrophe. So mechanic does not cover your responsibility or liability. Does technician?
n a previous article I wrote about professionalism and what makes us professionals. Two key points were that we are paid to perform our work and we conform to technical and ethical standards of our profession. Recently a new twist on a continued debate was presented to me.
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