Master Mechanic Patrick Delahoussaye: A Career Built on Service and Mentorship

Patrick Delahoussaye’s aviation career began with service in the U.S. Navy, including an assignment aboard the USS Intrepid with an antisubmarine helicopter squadron. Following active duty, he attended Spartan in Tulsa, Oklahoma, graduating in 1966 with his Airframe and Powerplant certificate. He later earned Inspection Authorization and completed a degree in aviation science.

Returning to Louisiana, Delahoussaye spent 23 years at Paul Fournet Air Service. His responsibilities grew from mechanic to shop foreman and chief inspector, and included managing a paint facility and helping establish a turbine shop. He later moved into engine support, technical sales, and aviation business leadership.

In 2010, Delahoussaye received the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award. His service to the profession also included visiting maintenance schools as an ambassador for NBAA’s TRACS scholarship program and mentoring young A&Ps. His advice emphasized checking work, accepting another person’s review, and being honest about mistakes. Source: D.O.M. Magazine
​
PAMA honors Delahoussaye’s contributions to aviation maintenance and the professionals who follow in his footsteps. His story illustrates how a mechanic’s influence can grow throughout a career—from work performed on an aircraft to guidance that helps another technician develop sound judgment and professional integrity.