What is my job anyways?
My son asked me what exactly I do at work. It's a natural question, and I tried to give
it some thought before I answered.
My own father's
answers to that same question had always sounded so cryptic to me. Now that I'm grown up, his old position of
"Systems Analyst" down in the basement of the Admin building at Michigan State University,
isn't so arcane. It's similar to some of
the things I do as hobby, and many of
you if you happen to be reading this.
Basically adapting software to work with your hardware, and keeping it
running throughout the year, until the next update comes, which creates even
more headaches.
I told my son that I make sure that other people do their
jobs correctly, and I look at the airplanes and their parts to find things
wrong.
That's it, in a nutshell.
I watch people work, and look at their results. I wander around airplanes, peering into
various nooks and crannys, to try to find things that are broken, or corroded,
or whatever. It's an odd job in many
ways.
I don't have to spend lots of money on tools anymore, like I
used to when I was floor mechanic. I
compensate somewhat by buying fancy flashlights, and mirrors. I want to spend some money on a new pocket
multi-tool as well, they are invaluable for opening things, or poking and
pulling at stuff. But my old one just
hasn't worn out yet. How disappointing!
When I look at what some of my classmates from high school
are doing now, I'm a little disappointed sometimes. But that's just from the tempest in a teacup
world of Facebook, so it's just a small small percentage of my classmates. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with what I chose
for a career. One thing bothers me
sometimes though: I really don't
remember why I chose to do it.
Some people have wonderful stories to wax on about when they
talk of why they chose their career path.
Me? I like to joke that I chose
to be an aircraft mechanic when I was high.
And while that isn't true, I say it for two reasons: I can't remember the exact reason, and with
all the ups and downs of the aircraft technician's life you would have to be
high to choose it!
It's kind of tongue in cheek of course. This career path isn't any worse than
most. The ups and downs I've experienced
have to do with my own choices as much as things out of my control.
As far as choosing this path though, I really wish I
remembered it specifically. I remember
the girl I wished I was going out with/best friend at the time (long story
there) and I talked jokingly of flying and/or working on helicopters for some
reason.
Now, that was because we were high. The indiscretions of youth were sometimes
fun.
I had been going to Lansing Community College (LCC), for the
better part of a year. First as an
English (!?) major, then trying accounting (fell asleep in the first class and
never went back), before withdrawing and dropping out for a term. This didn't sit well with my father. I was working at Meijer, a pre-WalMart era,
but similar large store. He didn't want
me to make that a career. I don't
remember exactly, but I am pretty sure he counseled me to get off my ass and
think of something better to do. So I
guess I did.
I distinctly recall going down to the registrar's, or
something, office at LCC and asking about the aviation maintenance course. We went through some papers where I was told
of the requirements, and arranged an interview with the head of the aviation
school at the airport. That was a little
surprising, the fact that I had to 'interview' with the head of the
school. Turns out, it was just a meet
and greet, where he asked me why I wanted to do this (and I wish I could
remember!!), what my mechanical background was (cars, trucks, motorcycles), and him telling me that I was too fat.
After starting aviation school out at the airport, it was
actually much like going to a job. Due
to FAA student time tracking requirements, the LCC aviation school had us punch
a time clock to document our time at school.
The school started groups of students on the 2 year program, and for the
most part, the class groups stuck together.
Most went nonstop until graduation.
We didn't get summers off though, which contributed to the job feel of
the school.
In the morning I worked at a law firm in downtown Lansing, in the
afternoon, I worked as a student at the school.
Such was my life for two years.
As an aside, my twenty twenty vision hindsight tells me I
should have taken the interest I found at my morning job at the law firm, and
combined it with what I was learning at the aircraft school, and become a
lawyer specializing in aviation related litigation and defense. That specialty is not that common, and there
is some demand. But, I've never been
keen on what was best for me. Some of the parts of my job now that I am
best at; researching an issue, sometimes far far past what most would consider
adequately; arguing a point, sometimes to the point that the point has been
forgotten; and being very cognizant of the big picture ramifications of a
decision. Those actually sound rather
lawyer-like.
Why I got into the aviation maintenance game remains a
mystery. I had been developing what I
thought of at the time, as a mechanical proficiency. Doing so by working on my motorcycles, cars,
and trucks. From where I'm sitting now,
I was a hopeless hack of a mechanic back then.
The only times I did anything remotely correct, is when I was working
under the direct tutelage of my father.
When I went off on my own, things tended to get butchered together, or
broken. I can safely say that I actually
generally know what I am doing around mechanical things now.
Of course, in twenty more years, perhaps I'll look back and
say the same thing about myself now.
"Hack", "butcher"...... who knows?
My uncle was in aviation early in his career. He was in Vietnam, and worked on C-130 cargo
planes, if the stories I was told are correct.
After the war, he went to the same aviation school that I ended up going
to. He even got his Airframe &
Powerplant licenses. However, he chose
to go to work for General Motors as an electrician. Something not out of the realm of possibility
for graduates of the aviation maintenance school. We were always told while we were there that
our career scope didn't just include airplanes.
The training we were being given would serve us in many technical
fields. My uncle is case in point I
suppose.
He ended up dying doing his job at General Motors
though. I hope my job doesn't end up
killing me too. But that's a discussion
for another day, on both points.
I think I've actually covered the varied things that
influenced my career choice. Mechanical
tendencies, herbally fueled discussions with a loved one, parental
dissatisfaction, uncle did it, and something else.... oh yea. I do like airplanes. A lot.
I never specifically wanted to be a pilot, or a mechanic on
them. I just had a healthy interest of them. Built lots of model airplanes when I was a
kid, went to air shows, went to see "FiFi", the world's only flying
B-29 bomber when she came to Capital City Airport in the early eighties (the
group operating her was still called the 'Confederate Air Force' back then).
I'm not 100% happy with my career choice, call it 80%
maybe. Which is actually pretty good
when you think about it. But since I put
myself on this career path, I don't think I'd change much. Everything I've done has been mostly positive.
After almost 20 years of doing this, I can tell my kids what
I do for a living.
That I make sure people do what they should do, and I look
for that which is wrong
Cheers, to at least 80% satisfaction.
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