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Last month the AMT staff was in Dallas attending AMTSociety's first Aircraft Maintenance Summit at Aviation Industry Expo, March 18-20 in Dallas, TX.
AMTSociety members did an amazing job putting together an exciting event for aircraft maintenance professionals that included numerous activities including IA renewal seminars, a Maintenance Skills Competition, and a golf outing and Texas Hold 'Em poker tournament that raised funds for AMTScholarships. Everyone that participated in these programs was enthusiastic and excited.
What I would like to know is, if the average aircraft maintenance professional is enthusiastic and excited about the industry. If you are, how do you show it? How do you support the industry and make it better? This question goes out to everyone — from wrench turners to VPs and everyone else that ever thought of working in the aircraft maintenance industry.
I wonder how many aircraft maintenance folks may have the following symptoms:
- Loss of interest in normal daily activities
- Feeling sad or down
- Feeling hopeless
- Problems sleeping
- Trouble focusing or concentrating
- Difficulty making decisions
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Being easily annoyed
- Feeling fatigued or weak
- Feeling worthless
- Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
I say this in all seriousness — I think that some aircraft maintenance professionals are suffering from depression and not the economic kind — a kind of mass depression from the pressures of responsibility, regulations, cutbacks, and lack of respect.
So what is the answer?
Take control of your destiny, renew your passion of the coolest thing on earth and join your fellow mechanics in an organization that feels the same way about all this. The best way out of a depression is to get involved with positive people moving forward, kind of a group therapy.
You deserve a great amount of respect and appreciation and as a group you can focus a light on your accomplishments and let the world know how important your work is in keeping the airplanes, the coolest things on earth, in the air.
Take control of your career — do something today that supports you and the industry you love.
You can email me at dfaupel@amtonline.com or send a letter to
Danny Faupel, AMT, 1233 Janesville Ave., Fort Atkinson, WI 53538
Proud to know A&Ps,
Danny Faupel
author: By Danny Faupel