Aviation leaders sent a letter to the president earlier this week, seeking formal recognition of May 24 as Aviation Maintenance Technician Day. The day is already officially recognized by nearly all 50 United States, Commonwealths and Territories, United States Congress, and United States Senate.
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The letter, initiated by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association and the Aerospace Maintenance Council, requests that "the White House honor a true American hero that was almost forgotten by history, and recognize the importance of the contributions made by Charles E. Taylor and the men and women who have followed in his footsteps by celebrating Aviation Maintenance Technician Day on May 24 of this year and each year following."

In addition to PAMA, AMFA and AMC, the letter was signed by--

​Aeronautical Repair Station Association
Aircraft Electronics Association
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
Airlines for America
Aviation Mechanics Coalition
Aviation Technician Education Council
Helicopter Association International
National Air Carrier Association
National Air Transportation Association
Regional Airline Association

The Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) is exploring opportunities for new member benefits, including professional liability insurance for maintenance professionals. Members and non-members alike are encouraged to take a quick survey to help guide PAMA leadership as it prioritizes future offerings.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 28, 2019 
CONTACT: Philip Barbour, 205-939-1700, 205-617-9007 

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2019 Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award, honoring a leader in global aviation safety. The Award will be presented during the 72nd Annual International Air Safety Summit, taking place Nov 4-6 in Taipei, Taiwan. 

Presented since 1956, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award recognizes notable achievement in the field of civil or military aviation safety in method, design, invention, study or other improvement. The Award's recipient is selected for a "significant individual or group effort contributing to improving aviation safety, with emphasis on original contributions," and a "significant individual or group effort performed above and beyond normal responsibilities." 

Mechanics, engineers and others outside of top administrative or research positions should be especially considered. The contribution need not be recent, especially if the nominee has not received adequate recognition. Nominations that were not selected as past winners of the Award can be submitted one additional time for consideration. Please note that self-nominations will not be considered. 

The Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award's story dates back 74 years. On April 14, 1945, after visiting family in Pittsburgh, Laura Taber Barbour was aboard a Pennsylvania Central Airlines DC-3 when it crashed into the rugged terrain of Cheat Mountain near Morgantown, West Virginia. All passengers and crew were killed. In the years following, her husband, Dr. Clifford E. Barbour and son, Clifford E. Barbour, Jr., established the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award in her honor. 
The Award Board, composed of leaders in the field of aviation, meets each year to conduct a final review of nominees and selection of the current year's recipient.
 
Please help us honor this year's most deserving recipient. Nominations, including a 1-2-page narrative, can be submitted via the Laura Taber Barbour Foundation website at http://ltbaward.org/the-award/nomination-form/.
 
Nominations will be accepted until May 10, 2019. 
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For more information, including a complete history of Award recipients, see www.ltbaward.org.
 
ABOUT THE LAURA TABER BARBOUR AIR SAFETY AWARD: The Award was established in 1956 through early association with the Flight Safety Foundation and from its founding has enjoyed a rich history of Award Board members, nominees and Award recipients. In 2013, the non-profit Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Foundation was formed from members of the Award Board, the aviation community and the Barbour family. As the foundation plans to broaden the scope of its intent, with great purpose, the Laura Taber Barbour Air Safety Award will continue to spotlight those champions who pioneer breakthroughs in flight safety. ​

The General Aviation Awards Program is a cooperative effort between more than a dozen sponsoring organizations from the aviation industry and the Federal Aviation Administration. PAMA is proud to support the program, which recognizes aviation professionals including aviation mechanics that have made important contributions to the general aviation community.

Jon David Monti of Gardnerville, Nevada has been named the 2019 Aviation Technician of the Year. From an early age, Dave showed a propensity for all things mechanical with an interest in disassembling and improving everything he touched. Understandably, he would choose to major in Mechanical Engineering for his collegiate studies. He was also infatuated with airplanes as a youngster, soloing on his 16th birthday and earning his private pilot certificate on his 17th. He went on to earn his instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, aircraft and powerplant mechanic certificate, and inspection authorization.

To read more, and to join PAMA in supporting the annual awards, visit http://www.generalaviationawards.com/.

Aviation luminary and long-time PAMA member Skip Koss passed away on March 19, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. Skip was 83 years young.
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Skip started his aviation career at Detroit City Airport in the summer of 1949 where he enthusiastically washed and polished airplanes and swept hangar floors. He went on to attend Aero Mechanics High School and worked at the City Airport with every free moment because nothing could keep him away from airplanes. At 17, Skip passed his written exams for his FAA mechanic certificate but he had to wait until 18 to take his practical’s.

Skip went on to work for General Motors Air Transport section for 13 years as a Licensed A&P before becoming the DOM for Midwestern Airlines, Omni Aircraft Sales and Sunstream Jet Center. It was upon joining Aero Quality as the Sales Manager in 1973 where Skip began to foster his legendary knowledge of batteries, and worked closely with engineering expert Joe Mibelli of JFM Engineering, to develop the “Superseder”, the first charger analyzer that could charge and discharge high currents at low voltage.

After some time as Manager of OEM Sales at Teledyne Battery Products and later Marathon Power Technology, Skip joined Concorde Battery Corporation where he embraced the concept of lead acid batteries and took on the difficult task of convincing operators of the safety and merits of the new technology. His longstanding relationship with Lockheed’s Burbank Skunk Works facility allowed him the opportunity to introduce lead acid batteries which, unbeknownst to Skip until much later, were soon replacing the older technology batteries on the then classified F-117A Stealth being deployed in the Persian Gulf War.

This success opened the door to many more military applications and ultimately the commercial aviation markets, all of which Skip cultivated over his 30 years with Concorde.

Skip’s business prowess, eagerness to share his boundless knowledge and genuine caring spirit earned him celebrity status amongst his colleagues, customers, fellow PAMA members and all aviation
enthusiasts. Skip’s passion for aviation was second to none and he contributed much to the industry.

Skip was an active member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the FAA Aerospace
Committee for the development of US aircraft battery specifications, the EAA, and SoCal and National PAMA, donating endless hours to the education of mechanics and pilots.

Skip received the highest honor from the FAA in 2009 when he was awarded the prestigious Charles E. Taylor “Master Mechanic” Award by in recognition of his contributions to building and maintaining the safest aviation system in the world through practicing and promoting safe aircraft maintenance for 50 consecutive years. Skip was a visionary, a great industry leader and a friend to all he met. He will be dearly missed.

One of Skip’s favorite places was the Planes of Fame Air Museum and his family has decided to have his “Celebration of Life Ceremony” there on May 11, 2019 from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the Maloney Hangar.  The service will begin at 1:30 PM.
 
Planes of Fame Air Museum
14998 Cal Aero Drive
Chino, CA 91710
 
Register to attend by clicking on "Event Registration" at www.concordebattery.com.  Please register at your earliest convenience as the Maloney Hangar has a maximum occupancy of 240 people.
  
Guests are welcome to arrive a few hours early and tour the entire Museum, at no charge.

On April 11, PAMA announced the winners of three new scholarship opportunities at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition awards ceremony in Atlanta.​ All students were awarded scholarships to further their respective aviation education.

Ben Thompson maintains a GPA of 3.94 at Tulsa Technology Center and is set to graduate in January of 2020.  He is described by his professors as an exceptional student academically and one who eagerly assists other students.  Ben has a demonstrated interest in avionics and plans to pursue a career in commercial aviation. Ben received a $1,500 scholarship, courtesy of JSfirm.com.

Immanuel Bankole maintains a GPA of 4.0 at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning him four straight semesters on the Dean's List.  He already holds a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria in South Africa, as well as his A&P certificates and is working towards his avionics rating.  His future goals include obtaining a private pilot's license and owning aviation servicing companies in developing countries.  His professors describe him as consistently outperforming expectations regardless of the task put before him. Immanuel received a $1,000 scholarship courtesy of  PistonPower™ by AEPC™.

Jennifer Moua's passion for aviation began in the military performing maintenance on F-18 Super Hornets.  Since leaving the military, she graduated from Joaquin Valley College this February with a GPA of 3.90 and has earned her A&P Certificates.  Her next goal is to get her pilot's license with both fixed wing and helicopter ratings.  Her professors describe her as academically exceptional but also kind and caring towards others.  According to them, she has demonstrated strong leadership qualities. Jennifer received a $5,000 award to be used towards her pilot certification, courtesy of Sporty’s Foundation.

Congratulations to all our award recipients. Visit the scholarship page for more information on the application deadline for 2020, and to contribute to the PAMA scholarship fund.

PAMA has joined forces with JSfirm.com. The partnership provides members discounted rates on JSfirm.com, and creates a dedicated job opportunity feed, specific to careers in aviation maintenance.
 
“PAMA’s intention is to better connect maintenance professionals with would-be employers, and to provide our corporate members with another avenue to get the word out about good job opportunities,” said PAMA President John Goglia. “JSfirm.com is a natural partner for us since so many of our members already use their service.”

JSfirm.com is the fastest growing aviation job website with resume database access and has exclusively served the aviation industry for over 20 years. It is a free service for job seekers and the go-to place for aviation companies to post jobs and search resumes.
  
"PAMA's purpose—to promote and recognize aviation maintenance technicians—is very important to our industry," said JSfirm.com Manager of Marketing & Partnerships Abbey Hutter. "Through its network, we will enhance our ability to make aviation jobs readily accessible to current and future aviators. We believe partnerships like this one are very important in our resolve to address the imminent maintenance shortage.”
 
PAMA corporate member job postings on JSfirm.com will be highlighted on the PAMA website and newsletter distributions. To take advantage of the 30% member discount on postings on JSfirm, contact Jeff Richards at jeff@jsfirm.com.

To view PAMA's new Aviation Jobs page, visit www.pama.org/job-board.

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A coalition of 40 stakeholders representing all segments of the aviation and travel industries sent a letter to congressional leaders in support of the Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 (H.R. 1108).

The legislation would provide FAA funding in the event of a government shutdown, enabling the agency to draw from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF) in the event of a lapse. 

"Jobs and economic growth in the industry were threatened as manufacturers, airlines and other operators, and small businesses faced disruption. The effect on the nation’s air transportation system and the workers charged with keeping the system safe was dramatic," the letter reads.
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"We find this situation to be unacceptable and we want to work with Congress and the Administration to prevent this from ever happening again," the letter continues. "The legislation is designed to provide a limited, targeted way of ensuring stability for the aviation system and it does not change congressional direction or oversight in any way."

According to the coalition, the AATF currently has a balance of more than $6 billion.