Technician - Spring 2013

Spring Technician 2013 - 2

Page 3PIA Branches Out

Lost a Friend

Page 4Youngstown–Warren Campus Continues to Grow

PIA Youngstown Gets a Facelift

Page 5Hagerstown Holds First Graduation CeremoniesNew Hagerstown Facility Under Construction

Page 6AMT Day

Bowling Team Wins 2012 Championship

Page 7Rotorcraft Systems Gaining PopularityAllegheny County Airport Photo-Shoot

Editorial Staff:

Editor: Benjamin O’KeefeCopy Editor: Todd KruszkaLayout: Steven Sabold & Benjamin O’Keefe

Contributors:

Kylee Bennett, John Graham III, Jacob Holt, David Koehler, Suzanne Markle, Jason Mongan, Gregory Null, Roxanne Ober, Megan Olney, Lola Suvak

Check out PIA’s renovated website! Keep up to date with aviation news, events, and more.Visit us at: www.pia.edu

Page 8-10First Impressions: Your Guide to Interviewing

Spotlight on Aviation HistoryPage 11

Manufacturer Creates Positions for GradsEmployers who have hired from PIA in 2012

Page 12Graduates Receive National ScholarshipHagerstown Board Member Passes Away

Page 14Students Memorialize Graham Family

Alumnus Honored for 50 Years of Service

Page 16-182012 Scholarship WinnersEmployee AnniversariesAnnual PIA Crossword

Contents


PIA Branches OutB. O’Keefe

While the aviation industry advances and expands, so does the need for employee training for companies within the field. PIA has identified a need within the industry that takes PIA’s training services out of the classroom and right to the companies.

Saint Gobain Performance Plastics, a manufacturing company that makes the radomes for various aircraft, including the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, is the most recent company to show interest in the new service that PIA offers. As all radomes created by SGPP are crafted completely by hand, it is imperative that they maintain the

best techniques in such things like drilling, fabricating, and use of special fasteners. This is where PIA comes in.

“We have been able to identify their need,” said Steven Sabold, Director of Admissions at PIA, “and are able to provide a short curriculum specially designed to fit the needs of the company. This way they can save money, and we can provide them with the high standard training they are looking for.”

Saint Gobain is not the only company looking into contracting with PIA for specialized on-site training. Other companies such as Air Wisconsin and Degol Jet Center have also inquired about courses to give employees further training in sheet metal fabrication and NiCad

In MemoriamJ. Graham III

PIA lost a good friend. Hugh Coughanour, board member since 2007, passed away on January 14, 2013. Hugh helped PIA rewrite our bylaws and most significantly oversaw the additions of our Hagerstown and Myrtle Beach campuses. He brought financial experience from forty years in the banking industry to help PIA through many tough financial decisions. Coughanour also served in the Air Force during the Korean War. Hugh always offered great insight and was one of the friendliest people I know. He will be missed by the school.

saft battery practices.These specialized on-site

courses are not limited to just one subject. Classes can be created to fit the needs of companies to teach any of the diverse of skills acquired at PIA. PIA already offers Pitot certification and re-certification in addition to its normal full time aviation programs, as well as courses on composite materials and rotorcraft system maintenance.

Hugh Coughanour, (1929 - 2013)


The Youngstown Campus Continues to GrowM. Olney

Since the implementation of PIA’s Youngstown–Warren branch campus in 2006, the school has seen tremendous growth and has served as the functioning model for the additional branch campuses that have opened in Hagerstown, Maryland and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The Youngstown-Warren campus initially started with a director, two instructors, and one class of 14 students. Average class sizes ranged from 10-15 students for the classes starting in January and 15-20 for classes starting in August. As of August 2012, the campus started its fall semester with the largest class yet, totaling 33.

This growth prompted an addition to the campus which houses a large classroom and two new offices. The number of faculty and staff at PIA’s Youngstown-Warren campus has also increased. Since 2010, the YW campus has added a full time administrative assistant, an admissions representative on site, and has hired three more instructors.

The growth of the Youngstown branch not only demands more space, but also provides more opportunities for new students to start. There will now be a third annual start date at PIA’s Youngstown and Hagerstown branch campuses, which will take place in late April. Looking towards the future, the campus has expectations to continue growing, and both PIA employees and students alike are eager to see what the future holds.

PIA Youngstown Gets a Facelift:

The Youngstown-Warren Airport has been working to reestablish regularly scheduled commercial air service at the local Airport. This initiative has inspired many improvements to the facility, such as the new paint job on PIA’s Youngstown branch! The Travel Bank – Air Service Initiative set a goal to raise between $3 - $5 million dollars in “non-binding” pledges for their efforts, and were able to exceed that goal, raising over $6 million.

Visit www.yngwrnair.com for more information.

Here is a glimpse inside the new classroom at the Youngstown Branch Campus, as well as the largest class in the branch’s history!


Hagerstown Campus Holds First Graduation CeremoniesB. O’Keefe

On August 17th, 2012, PIA’s Hagerstown, MD branch was proud to hold its first ever graduation ceremony. After 16 months of learning, testing, and training, 17 individuals are now able to enter the workforce as Airframe and Powerplant certified mechanics. “As the first class to graduate from the Hagerstown campus, you have paved the way for future technicians,” said Greg Null, PIA’s Director of Education.

The ceremony was held near the campus at the Hagerstown Regional Airport. The feeling of pride and camaraderie was in the air when co-valedictorian Eric Andrews took the stage. “The guys in the class, the 17 that made

it, have been like a foundation for the school,” he said. “This school is built on these students here, and I’m sure that many of them will go and be foundations at other jobs, careers, and corporations.”

PIA Hagerstown held its second graduation ceremony on December 22, 2012 (above). Eight more graduates came from that class, ready to receive their A&P certification.

Though the campus is still in its youth, it has developed many relationships through the community. One such relationship is with Fed Ed Ground and

Manpower. These companies offer opportunities and assistance in finding part time jobs, so students attending PIA have the ability to earn some money to put toward their education or other necessities.

The students that comprised the first class at Hagerstown came from all over the area, including Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, and ranged from age 18 to 53. The reach of PIA Hagerstown spreads wider with the second graduating class, including students from New Jersey, Delaware, and Texas.

New Facility Under Construction

PIA is proud to announce that due to the Hagerstown Campus’s growth, we are building a new facility! The 18,000 square foot building is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, next to Nick’s Airport Inn. The building is designed specifically for PIA’s needs, and will have many beneficial features, such as ramp access.

Due to our partnership with Dave Rider and the support of the County Commissioners, the construction is moving quickly, and is expected to be complete and ready for the next class starting in August of 2013! For more details and continuous updates, check out www.pia.edu/facebook/.

The first graduating class of PIA’s Hagerstown Branch Campus.


AMT DayK. Bennett

On May 24, 2012, PIA Myrtle Beach Campus hosted the 3rd Annual Aviation Maintenance Technician Day, a celebration to recognize the efforts of the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians of South Carolina. The free event, which was open to all the AMTs and future AMTs in the state of South Carolina, drew in over 100 attendees.

After being served up a buffet style lunch, the attendees were greeted by Peg Jackson, Campus Director. Jackson then introduced Neil Baker of the South Carolina Aeronautics Commission. Following Baker were Mike Marlowe, General Aviation Manager for Horry County Department of Airports, Mike Hill, President of Avcraft, and finally Scott Camp of the FAA Safety Team. Each speaker took the time to thank the individuals present for their hard work and dedication in making the aviation industry what it is today.

Aviation Maintenance Techni-cian Day was created in honor of Charles E. Taylor, who is credited for being the world’s first aircraft mechanic. This occasion made the AMT luncheon a perfect opportuni-ty to recognize a man who has given 50 years of dedicated service to the Aviation Maintenance Industry.

Carl Knuth, pictured above, was recognized and presented with the “Charles Taylor Master Me-chanic Award”. Knuth was present-ed with the honorary certificate and lapel pin by the FAA, as well as a PIA watch by Peg Jackson.

This luncheon was the first of what we hope to be a long-standing tradition to honor those people who serve as “the backbone of aviation.”

PIA’s Bowling Team Wins 2012 ChampionshipT. Kruszka

A few years ago, Pittsburgh

Institute of Aeronautics began to offer two sports teams. They joined the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference and the Pennsylvania Athletic Association. PIA has done well, but the 2012 Bowling season was exceptional. Seven bowlers, Andrew Whaley, Travis Carson, Ryan Graham, Nick Myers, Nick Withrow, Kevin Kerr, and Bruce Thompson, have accomplished something that no other PIA team had: they won the 2012 WPCC Men’s Team Championship.

Nick Withrow, Travis Carson, Kevin Kerr, Andrew Whaley, Nick Myers, and Ryan

Graham. Not Pictured: Bruce Thompson.

Attendees enjoy lunch at annual Aviation Maintenance Technician Day celebration.

The team cruised to a 995 pin win for first place in the Men’s Team Championship on February 10, 2012. Andrew Whaley collected second place in the Men’s singles with a three game score of 634. Andrew Whaley and Travis Carson then teamed up for Men’s doubles and took second place in the event with a combined score of 1178 for three games. The hardware kept rolling for Whaley; he collected the WPCC Men’s Bowling 2012 Overall Champion as well. Whaley said “We knew we had a chance this year. The guys were doing well in practice and it really looked good.”


Rotorcraft Systems Maintenance Elective Gaining PopularityJ. Holt

Twice a year PIA offers an elective course in Rotorcraft Systems and Maintenance at the Pittsburgh campus. The course, taught by Alex Ladzinski, Quality Assurance Inspector for Air Methods

Corporation, is available to students that have completed their first three quarters of study as well as current industry A&P Technicians. Students who have graduated from PIA’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program and completed the Rotorcraft Systems and Maintenance course have gone on to work for companies such as L3 Communications and Sikorsky.

The course starts with the history of helicopters and also covers flight controls and basic engine installations. During the course, Ladzinski also teaches students about the specific physics of rotorcraft as well as the intricacies of the technical vocabulary used by rotorcraft technicians. According to Ladzinski this language is

Allegheny County Airport Photo-Shoot:On January 25, PIA held a photo-shoot around the Allegheny County Airport. Air Methods and Corporate

Air, both located on the airport, opened their doors for the event. Photographer Jeff Kowal captured photos of PIA students hard at work, as well as various aircraft throughout the airport. PIA would like to thank Air Methods and Corporate Air for their support!

something attained through hands-on experience and field work, not something that can be learned in a book. Students enrolled in the course also have the opportunity to go to Air Methods Corporation’s repair facility at the Allegheny County Airport and be introduced to live, state-of-the-art rotorcraft at the facility.

Dave Starzynski, a recent PIA graduate who is now working for Air Methods Corporation, took the Rotorcraft Systems and Maintenance course. Starzynski commented that he liked the hands-on work with helicopters the course provided and said that it was well worth the cost. He also recommends the course to students who are interested in working with rotorcraft.


The resume has been sent, emails have been traded; now it’s time for the big day - interview day. While interviews are difficult for many, there are things to keep in mind that can make the process quite a bit easier. View interviews as an opportunity, not as a stress.

When does an interview actually begin?

The second you are in contact with an employer, whether it is through email, phone conversation, or through an online database, the interview has already begun.

First Impressions: Your Guide to InterviewingJ. Mongan

Interviews have two phases: formal and informal. The informal process is typically overlooked. Leading up to the formal interview, an individual’s responses to any communication is considered the informal phase. Small questions are asked, and responses are typically provided via email or a brief phone call. It’s very easy to forget that these answers are the most important ones. The answers quite literally get your foot in the door for a formal interview.

The formal interview phase typically receives the most attention. The interviewee has his or her foot in the door, and now wants to open it. Here are some helpful tips:

Before Arrival:Make sure to research as much as possible about the company. Know about recent mergers, expansions, aircraft serviced, and exactly what the employer does. Having no knowledge of the company is the easiest way to be turned down by a company.

Arrival:When arriving to an interview, always arrive early. There is no excuse to arrive late. Map the interview site ahead of time and prepare for traffic. If you see you will be late due to an extreme circumstance, make sure to call well ahead of time and warn the employer.

Always make sure to park in a designated visitor parking spot or in an assigned area. If you are unsure where to park, never be shy to ask a security personnel or an employee. Show maturity through proper driving skills and proper music volume levels.

Follow all security protocols upon check in. Treat all employees with respect and never dismiss anyone as being unimportant in this process. Many times, hiring staff members asks any employees who have encountered the candidate their opinion. A rude remark or condescending attitude could easily change an interview into a sticky situation.

Remain patient while waiting. This provides an opportunity to prepare for the actual formal interview. Keep a smile and relax.


Formal Interview:Always shake the hand of the interviewer(s) immediately upon introduction. The handshake should be confident and give the impression that you are happy, stress free, and ready to work for this company. Using too much strength or having a “dead fish” handshake can start the interview on a downhill path that is hard to correct.

Answer all questions clearly and concisely. While the answer should never be limited to one word, a speech is not required for every answer. If they ask about a specific time period, answer about that time period only. Giving more information that was asked can make an employer view you as unable to follow instructions or give the employer the impression that you are stretching the truth.

Know yourself. Understand your strengths and weaknesses and be able to describe them. What do you like to do for fun? How do you react in high pressure situations? If you do not know yourself, how can you expect an employer to understand you?

Give all interviewers attention during the interview. Make sure to make eye contact with everyone and speak to individuals as they ask questions. Staring at the floor and ceiling will create an uncomfortable and impersonal interview.

Keep your nerves in check. Keep fidgeting, rocking, ums and ahhs, and other nervous tendencies at home. Understand how you react under stress and take precautions to prevent it from happening during the interview. Participating in mock interviews can help identify these small distractions and allows ample time to prepare.

Ending:Thank the hiring staff for their time and make sure to obtain a business card, or at the very least the name, of all interviewers. Give a proper handshake and leave. This part sounds very easy but the last impression is easily as important as the first.

Follow-up:A great way to follow-up an interview is with a simple thank you card. Any blank stock card will do. Thank the employer for their time and the opportunity, sign a name, and mail it off. This should be done within 24 hours after the interview.

In most cases employers will tell you when to expect a phone call or follow-up. If the time period comes and goes, feel free to make a polite phone call or send an email to politely ask about the status of the position. In many cases this is a great way to keep your name fresh in their minds. Make an attempt to not call more than once a month unless instructed otherwise. There is a fine line between needing a job and appearing desperate. Summary:Interviewing is the best way to tell an employer about yourself and why the position fits you, using your own words. Make sure to market yourself the best you can and keep your hopes high at all times. If you find that you have not obtained the position, keep trying. Take the advice you may have received from the previous interview experience and apply it to the next. Obtaining the position will be your goal; keep your eye on the prize and good luck!

Attention Prospects, Students, and Alumni: As a reminder, upon successful completion or your education at PIA,

you receive ongoing placement services including:- Resume Building Assistance -

- Resume Submissions -- On-Campus Interviews and Presentations -

- Career Fairs -If interested in placement opportunities, please contact Jason Mongan,

Placement Coordinator, at 412-346-2175 or [email protected].


SPOTLIGHT ON AVIATION HISTORYReal Women Carry DopeG. Null

She would become the first female to fly in the left seat, or any seat for the matter, of a transport aircraft. Helen Richey, a famous aviatrix from McKeesport, PA, started her aviation career by tinkering with aircraft at Bettis Field, a most unusual exercise in those days. Taking flying lessons from the Curtiss-Wright Flight Service, a precursor to PIA, added her to a small, vocal, and brave cadre of female flyers that took huge risks to push aviation to new heights.

In 1932, Ms. Richey was asked to join Frances Marsalis in Miami, FL to set the airborne world endurance record for women that stood at eight days in the air. Both accomplished pilots, there was reason to believe that Helen was chosen due to her mechanical abilities as much as her flying skills. Ever since she was a teenager, Helen could be found in the hangars at Bettis Field tinkering and learning the trade with the mechanics. These two young women, with financial backing from Outdoor Girl cosmetics, took off on December 21st in a Curtiss Thrush to crush the standing record of 196 hours. A support crew would keep them nourished and fueled; back then packages and a fuel line (not unlike a gas station pump line) were lowered, trailed behind the supply aircraft, and wrangled in by a crewmember. Eighty-three of these dangerous encounters occurred.

The monotony of such a journey, endless circles around

Miami, was mind-numbing. There were moments of terror, particularly during refueling. Five days in, Helen was receiving the 55-lb box of food and supplies when a gust of wind sent the package careening into the cloth fuselage. With such a gaping hole, their flight would end four days early. Upon inspection, Helen notified Frances at the controls. After a brief discussion, Helen decided to fix the hole herself. She pulled out her fabric and dope, the lacquer used to tauten and secure the fabric over the ribs. She began to repair the hole, after climbing out of the fuselage and sitting on the wing. Soon the hole was patched and Helen was back inside the fuselage. At other times during the flight, her keen ear was used to observe and troubleshoot the hum of the engine.

December 28 marked the day in which they met the record. In a blink of an eye, they broke it at 5:08PM. At times, both women wished to stay up in the air until J-6 series engine burned out or Helen’s handiwork fatigued. Neither happened. Instead, on December 30, The Thrush queued up on the centerline and landed. Both women were in the air for 237 hours, 42 minutes, logging 23,700 miles circling Miami over 10 days.

Is it a stretch to say that Helen Richey learned basic mechanics from PIA? While she never earned a credential to work on aircraft, Helen Richey, like most pioneering aviators, was forced to learn the upkeep of their aircraft in the early days when airports were fields and hangars were auto shops. In this instance, the record-breaking flight would have ended early if the holes were not fixed aloft. While both

women flew the Thrush during this time in shifts, it appears that Helen was the one who looked after the plane, creating a safe and sturdy platform to break the record. Helen died in 1947. Unable to find work in the post-war, male-dominated aviation industry, she took her own life. What she left was a remarkable run that began in McKeesport and took her around the world and into the record books. While not a household name like Amelia Earhart, perhaps due to her untimely death, Helen Richey deserves to be counted as one of the trailblazers who pushed women’s rights skyward.

Additional information:

Kerfoot, G. (1988). Propeller An-nie. Lexington, KY: Powell.

Helen Richey, accomplished pilot, aviation maintenance technician, and

pioneer for women in the aviation industry.


Manufacturer Creates Positions for PIA GradsB. O’Keefe

In conjunction with the Pitts-burgh Institute of Aeronautics’ placement department, Triumph Aerostructures has created the first position reserved strictly for PIA graduates.

The position with Triumph Aerostructures’ Vought Aircraft Di-vision was first posted on February 3, 2012. Upon observation of PIA’s aviation maintenance program, the Vought Aircraft Division deter-mined that the education applicants received from PIA would count as two years’ work experience when determining salary.

“This is the first time students and alumni have been able to ap-ply to a position that was created

just for them. The ability to have a direct link to an employer of such high regard as Triumph Aerostruc-tures is what makes this experience so unique,” said Jason Mongan, PIA placement coordinator, “I hope to see more opportunities like this for students in the future. In a period of high unemployment in the United States, it is comforting to know that there are industries still thriving with no foreseen drop in demand for our students.”

Triumph Aerostructures’ Vought Aircraft Division is a lead-

Acutronic - Pittsburgh, PAAdvanced Aircraft Maintenance - West Mifflin, PAAirborne Maintenance and Engineering

Services - Wilmington, OHAvCraft Aviation - Myrtle Beach, SCBechtel/Bettis - West Mifflin, PACommutAir - Cleveland, OHConstant Aviation - Cleveland, OHCorporate Air - West Mifflin, PADassault Falcon - Wilmington, DEDynamic Aviation - Bridgewater, VAEra Alaska - Anchorage, AKEverts Air Cargo - Fairbanks, AK

Flight Options - Cleveland, OHGE Aviation - Durham, NCMicron - Manassas, VA Nextant Aerospace - Cleveland, OHPiedmont Airlines - Salisbury, MDPrime Turbines - Butler, PAQuality Avionics - Mercer, PASierra Nevada Corporation - Hagerstown, MDSilver Airways - DuBois, PASkytech, Inc. - Westminster, MDTriumph Aerostructures - Stuart, FLWinner Aviation - Vienna, OH

Employers who have hired from PIA in 2012:

ing global manufacturer of aero-structures for commercial, military and business jet aircraft, and offers a full range of design, testing, man-ufacturing and support capabilities. The position is located at Triumph’s facility in Stuart, FL, and applica-tions are also considered for their other locations in Texas and Geor-gia.

Graduates from any of PIA’s four campuses are eligible to apply for the positions.


PIA Graduates Receive National ScholarshipR. Ober

Adam Keuler, an August 2012 Hagerstown graduate, and Matthew Cavanaugh, a January 2013 Pittsburgh graduate, received the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) Maintenance Technical Reward and Career Scholarship (TRACS). Keuler and Cavanaugh were among 35 total recipients chosen from around the nation for the scholarship.

The winners of the scholarship have the privilege of taking a class of their choice offered by the scholarship program. Keuler decided to take the Citation II Maintenance Initial Course in September of 2012, provided at the

CAE Simuflite Training Center in Dallas, Texas. Cavanaugh selected the Advanced Composite Structures: Fabrication and Damage Repair Phase 1 course this past January at Abaris Training Resources Inc. in Griffin, Georgia.

The applicants were required to complete a 250 word essay about what the aviation industry means to them. Once they were awarded the scholarship, they were given one year to attend the class they chose. Both of PIA’s TRACS scholarship winners chose to take the course shortly after graduation.

“It was a very beneficial course. I learned something new every day,” said Cavanaugh. “What I liked most about the class was that Abaris did not only teach us what to do, but they taught us why we were doing it. I would highly recommend the course.”

Keuler attended an 8 hour class every day for 10 days where the instructor was a true professional who had worked on Citations for much of his career. Most importantly, the instructor loved to share his knowledge, leaving Keuler excited for the next day of instruction. One of the highlights was the opportunity to spend an hour in the simulator; Keuler experienced the feeling of being in a real aircraft landing at JFK. During the 10 days, he met and talked to mechanics who love their jobs and shared stories and experiences in aviation. Keuler said he owes most of his experience to PIA for encouraging him to go through with the application process and he would recommend this opportunity to any PIA student. Keuler is now employed with Cape Air in New England and Cavanaugh with Air Methods in West Mifflin, PA.

Hagerstown Advisory Board Member Passes AwayS. Markle

PIA’s Hagerstown campus mourns the loss of program advisory member Mr. Tracey L. Potter (1964 - 2013). Tracey was the owner and president of Hagerstown Aircraft Services Inc., and was an active member of the aviation community in Hagerstown, MD. Tracey was a great supporter of PIA’s Hagerstown branch since its opening in April of 2011. Tracey always brought a fresh industry perspective along with his personal insight and experience to PIA’s staff and students, and he will be greatly missed.

Adam Keuler, NBAA scholarship winner and PIA Hagerstown alumnus.

Matthew Cavanaugh, NBAA scholarship winner with his son, Gavin, at his PIA

Pittsburgh graduation


I haven’t always loved aviation....and I haven’t always dreamed of being an aircraft technician; in fact, my first passion was baseball. From the time I was young, I found myself wanting to understand the game and all of its functional intricacies. I was a catcher, and in order to perfect my game, I had to understand my pitcher. It was a relationship that had to be nurtured and examined continuously; it had to be fueled by the desire to have a fluid, working body, between two separate parts that when put into action, achieved the desired result.

As I grew older, and my interests expanded, I realized that my understanding of the catcher/pitcher rela-tionship, and how functional parts work together, was an application that could be injected into all facets of life. I ripped apart bikes, coffee makers, skateboards, and anything else that could be dismantled just to see how they were made. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciated the “whole”, but my desire to comprehend how-it-worked, and ‘can I make this better’, drove my curiosity.

For me, aviation A & P’s are unsung heroes; the skills that it takes to maintain, revive, refurbish, and care for an aircraft are not skills that can be appreciated by the general public. The pride I feel as I prepare to enter into this is incomparable to any other experience thus far. I have spent years rotating through a career field which has left me unsatisfied and unfulfilled; I’ve always believed that I had more to offer but wasn’t sure exactly what it was. At 34, after delving into other opportunities, my love for aviation and aircraft mainte-nance has come full-circle; this is my future....it is my passion.

My career ambitions can be stated as simply as this: I am prepared to commit the rest of my life to aircraft maintenance and engineering. I want to be a part of aviation’s future; I want to contribute to a business, and a field, that is moving forward with 21st century innovation. I am ready to understand aviation as a whole, by respecting its parts: where it has been, its peaks and struggles, what we’ve learned from those experi-ences, and how we plan to move forward.

If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it well....and that is what I see within this scholarship opportunity--the chance to become a worthy applicant of such a stellar industry.

250 word, typed, double space essay describing your interest in and goals for a career in the business aviation main-tenance field.

Adam Keuler’s Winning Essay


PIA Alumnus Honored for 50 Years of ServiceL. Suvak

Sometime during his senior year at Bridgeville High, a school just outside nearby Pittsburgh, William “Bill” Earnest made a visit to his guidance counselor that would launch him on a fifty plus year journey. While many of his classmates would choose careers in the steel industry or head off to college, Bill decided to attend the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics to become an Airframe and Powerplant mechanic (at this time they were called A&E Mechanics). In today’s world it is hard to find an American who has not flown in an aircraft at one time or another; however, in 1960, when most still traveled by car, bus, or train, Bill headed off to learn how to repair and maintain machines that he wouldn’t have a chance to fly in himself for another two years. On May 3rd and 4th, 2012, Bill was recognized by his employer, US Airways, and the FAA for his fifty year career in Aviation.

US Airways feted Bill at a dinner in Tampa hosted by David Seymour, the senior vice president of Technical Operations. Bill was presented with a pin commemorating his 50 years with the airline. He began his career in 1962 with US Airways predecessor Mohawk Airlines and worked through four mergers, four company name changes, and many corporate identity changes.

The FAA awarded Bill the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic

Students Memorialize Graham FamilyT. Kruszka

Two days prior to graduation, Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics’ president John Graham was given a surprise by four PIA students: his face, along with the faces of his father and grandfather, decaled on the nose of a Cessna 310. It was a generous and well received gift that was originally conceived of by Pittsburgh campus student Steven Meyers.

“We played a game of one upsmanship,” he explained, “we fixed the Cessna [172], then Mr. Graham took us for a ride in it, so we did this right before graduation to get the last word.” It began with a simple maintenance project. The Cessna 172 had been sitting for 17 years without flying. Meyers and his coworkers Brandon Arnold, Austin Adams, and Thomas West repaired the tires, then moved on to the brakes, and eventually the entire aircraft was back to working order. “It took three or four months,” Meyers said.

After the repairs, the plane went on its first test flight but suffered complications. The group put another full week of work into the plane, after which president

Graham gave the men a ride to thank them for their hard work. During the flight, they noticed the smell of gas. “That was another week of work,” recalled Meyers, smiling.

Graham eventually flew the plane down to Myrtle Beach campus. “[It was] just amazing that he had that kind of confidence in us, flying the plane himself,” Meyers said. They watched Graham take off on the runway, and Meyers’ phone rang five hours later, indicating that Graham had landed safely. “That was a long five hours,” says Meyers, “It had only been flown in good weather and had just spent 17 years without getting touched.”

As a way to say thank you, Meyers coordinated with several PIA staff members to place a commemorative decal on the Cessna 310 in the hangar. The project started in late February; first they used a graphic artist to design what they wanted, a decal company then put it on vinyl.

“I knew he would never do something like this [for himself] so we did it,” Meyers explains, “we still weren’t sure how he was going to react.” The surprise element was nearly lost on more than one occasion. “When we were three quarters of the way done, we saw Mr. Graham walking towards the paint shop,” said Meyers. He barely missed the decal. Meyers also recounts the planning being very difficult.

“I used to stop by Mrs. Suvak’s office to [discuss the project], and her office is right next to his.”

In the end, the presentation went off without a hitch. “He was speechless,” said Brandon Arnold.

John Graham III, Brandon Arnold, Austin Adams Steven Meyers, and Thomas West

stand in front of the custom decal.


Award. This award is named in honor of Mr. Charles Taylor, the first aviation mechanic in powered flight. The Charles Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award recognizes the lifetime accomplishments of senior mechanics. Mr. Taylor served as the Wright brothers’ mechanic

We recently had a chance to sit down with Bill and ask him some questions about his time in aviation.

Q: When did you start training at PIA?Bill: I started two weeks before my High School graduation. I missed all of the graduation practices and had to closely watch the guys around me to know what to do!Q: In a fifty year career you must have had a job you liked the best. What was it?Bill: I love line maintenance. There is always something new. Once you fix the plane you are working on you can be sure that eventually a new and different problem will show up at the gate. Q: How many different transport aircraft types have you worked on during your fifty year career?Bill: I don’t know! We’ll have to count them up. (After a few minutes of calculating the answer is 24 with a mix of piston, turbo-prop and jet aircraft.)Q: What is your favorite Airline memory?Bill: My twenty fifth year anniversary party in Pittsburgh. It was hosted by then airline chairman Mr. Edwin Colodny. Q: Well, if that was your favorite what was your least favorite memory?Bill: I once pulled a hydraulic line apart at its quick disconnect. Someone had removed the insides of the connector and not replaced them. Instead of stopping the fluid from coming out of the line it shot out all over me. If you have never bathed in Skydrol I can tell you it’s not any fun!Q: After fifty years you must have a funny story or two. Can we finish up with one?Bill: Well, years ago I was assigned to dead head from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg on an aircraft that needed a generator CSD changed. The aircraft that we were riding on was the aircraft that needed the work done and was being operated under MEL. We were going to do the maintenance while it sat in Harrisburg overnight. I knew that we would be working all night so I had planned on trying to take a nap on the way over. I was seated next to a little old lady and noticing my uniform she ask what I was doing on the flight and I told her that I was riding over to work on an aircraft. That seemed to satisfy her until we were on final approach to land. I was awoken by that same lady elbowing me in the ribs and pointing down at the airport. She said to me “there is no airplane down there for you to work on.” I replied, “It will be there shortly”. After she thought about that for a little while it dawned on her what that meant and said, “You tricked me”, I found that amusing as I was asleep most of the flight.Bill would like to thank his wife, Mary, for all of her support through the years. As she said at lunch the other day, “We work at US Airways.” While many people have had long and successful careers at airlines not many can say that they have been safely moving aircraft for fifty years and counting. Thanks for the memories, Bill.

and is credited with designing and building the engine for their first successful powered aircraft. This award was presented to Bill by Mr. Charles Taylor, the great grandson of the original Wright mechanic.

When selected, recipients are

awarded a certificate and a lapel pin. Their spouse also receives a smaller version of the lapel pin for her contribution. Recipients are recognized in the Charles Taylor- Master Mechanic Award - Roll of Honor located online at:FAASafety.gov.

Mr. Earnest receiving his award


PIA Matching Scholarships Travis CarsonTaylor DunmireMitchell HarshbergerThomas HillwigGarth OttMichael RuppNathaniel SchultheisAdam StultzBruce ThompsonEric TomchekChristopher TothJacob Williams

PIA Memorial Scholarship 2012Donovan BrickerMichael RuppWilliam SollenbergerBruce Thompson

AEA, Johnny Davis Memorial ScholarshipAdam Stultz

AWAM ScholarshipNatasha JacksonRachel KielerChristina Parden

Brandon J. Boyd Memorial ScholarshipRyan Knupp

Chestnut Ridge Christian FundAdam Stultz

Croatian Fraternal Union of AmericaDouglas Barr

David G. Marshall Memorial ScholarshipNolan Scheider

G.S. Klingensmith & Dolan ScholarshipSamuel Chesbro

Harrison Memorial ScholarshipErik Tomchek

Huber Memorial ScholarshipThomas Hillwig

Imagine America ScholarshipChristopher Housman

James Miller ScholarshipAdam Stultz

McClellan Memorial ScholarshipDavid Ritter

Mercer Mustang Touchdown ClubJacob Dominguez

Newman ScholarshipMitchell Harshberger

Pittsburgh PromiseFabio Bonaventura

Sons of Italy Vincent Vitolo

Trax-Shoemaker Scholarship Jacob Williams

Walmart ScholarshipBrenden Hafler

William Penn Fraternal AssociationChristopher Toth

Congratulations to All 2012 Scholarship Winners!

“Many organizations, like Boeing and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have projected that we will need more aviation maintenance technicians in the

near future. These projections vary in number and in scope, but the message itself is clear, there is a future in aviation for a skilled airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic.

For that reason, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Flight Standards Service, Air-craft Maintenance Division is developing initiatives with Aviation and Space Education (AVSED) to showcase the profession to younger students, those in middle and high school.”

- Steven W. Douglas, Manager, Aircraft Maintenance Division (FAA)


Brianne Goodwin, Assistant to the Director of Campus Operations, was born and raised in the City of Pittsburgh and currently still lives there.

She received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Clarion University. She started off her career at PIA as a physics, electron-ics, drafting, and safety instructor. She is also a lifeguard for the City of Pittsburgh. Her hobbies include adventure races, such as Warrior Dash and run for your lives (zombie run). She also enjoys other outdoor activi-ties including sprint triathlons, open water mile swim, marathon relay, and polar plunge.

William Ogle, the lead instructor at PIA’s Youngstown-Warren branch, tells people he was born a mechanic because he would rather take his

toys apart than play with them. He started out as an auto technician before graduating from PIA. He then worked at a small flight school and a Bell helicopter completions center before becoming an Instructor at PIA. His hobbies and passions include belonging to the Experimental Aircraft As-sociation, private pilot, riding motorcycles, boating, hunting, traveling, and playing the guitar. He also wrote a song that was recorded in Nashville and is playing in regular rotation on Christian country radio.

Frank Saye, electronics instructor at PIA, joined PIA in February of 1987 after retiring from the United States Army as a Master Sergeant. He

started teaching CB radios and working in the 6th AET shop, and then became a repairman in 1988. In 1990, he became the Chief Inspector of the school’s Live Radio Repair Station. In March 2001 He received his As-sociate in Specialized Technology degree from PIA. Upon the retirement of Frank Klatte, he became the General Manager of the Repair Station. He has been married to a wonderful woman named Marilyn for the last forty-four years and has two sons who went through PIA’s truck driving program. He also has two grandchildren; his grandson, Cody, went through the Heavy Equipment course at PIA, and his granddaughter will graduate High School this year.

James Zack, electronics instructor at PIA, attended Washington Trade school in Pittsburgh, PA for Electrical Technology, Commercial, Indus-

trial, and Residential Wiring Design and Installation. With the completion of that two year program, he went on to the University of Pittsburgh for seven more years to study electrical engineering and worked in the physics laboratory as a student assistant. There he constructed electronic equip-ment for the study of magnetic resonance nuclear spins experiments, which over time became the nucleus of the MRI equipment used in hospitals to-day. He is also a veteran of the United States Air Force where he achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant Air Cadet. In his career, he has also worked for Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) and International Business Machines (IBM). His hobbies include Clarinet, Saxophone, Flying, and fishing.

William Ogle, 15 Years of Service

Frank Saye, 25 Years of Service

James Zack, 15 Years of Service

Brianne Goodwin, 5 Years of Service

Employee Anniversaries!


Across

2. Nacelles/Pylons3. Starting6. Lifting and Shoring9. Fire Protection12. Exhaust14. Oxygen16. Fuel18. Indicating/Recording Systems19. Pneumatic21. Air22. Leveling and Weighing23. Ice and Rain Protection25. Engine (Internal)26. Central Maintenance System29. Auto Flight32. Time Limits/Maintenance Checks34. Windows35. Engine Fuel and Control37. Standard Practices (ENGINES)39. Doors40. Auxilliary Power Unit (APU)41. Engine Indicating42. Oil44. Flight Controls

Down

1. Engine Controls2. Stabilizers3. Placards and Markings4. Fuselage5. Lights7. Towing and Taxiing8. Structures and Standard Practices10. Dimensions and Areas11. Standard Practices (Airframe)13. Water Injection15. Parking, Mooring and Storage16. Landing Gear17. Water and Waste18. Navigation20. Servicing24. Hydraulic Power27. Vacuum28. Wings30. Air Conditioning31. Electrical Power33. Ignition36. Equipment and Furnishings38. Communications43. Power Plant (Package)

You have to SPELL the ATA Chapter Numbers to complete the puzzle from the clues given. No hyphens or spaces ex: FORTYFOUR

Annual PIA Crossword

Attention PIA Puzzlers: Thought this puzzle was easy? Send it back to us at PIA-Technician, PO Box 10897, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, and the first three entries with all the correct answers will receive PIA apparel form the bookstore.

Puzzle Created by Dave Koehler


ATA Chapters

Puzzle Created by Dave Koehler

TechnicianPittsburgh Institute of AeronauticsP.O. Box 10897Pittsburgh PA 15236

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Technician - Spring 2013

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Transcript of Technician - Spring 2013