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.

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.

A Celebration of Life is being organized. Information will be made available through Concorde Battery as details are finalized.

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.

Dell Presidents Day is back! Members save up to 48% off select Dell Branded products.

Presidents Day Campaign Special Offer (Offer Valid Feb 11th-Feb 20th)
•             Save an Additional 5% on XPS/Inspiron
•             Save an Additional 8% on Vostro/Latitude/Optiplex/Precision/PowerEdge
•             Save an Additional 8% on Dell Networking/Storage/Thin Client

To access your savings, visit dell.com/pama or call (800) 757-8442 to speak with a tech advisor.

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.

PAMA, in coordination with generous industry partners, has made available three new opportunities for current and future aviation maintenance professionals.

Award winners will be announced at the Aerospace Maintenance Competition awards ceremony, taking place in conjunction with MRO Americas in Atlanta on April 11, 2019.

Future AMT Professional Award, provided by PistonPower™ by AEPC™ (AeroEngine Protection Corp.) 

This $1,000 award is provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses.

Aviation Mechanic Student Award, provided by JSfirm.com

This $1,500 award is provided to current or recent aviation maintenance students. Monetary Awards may be used towards the purchase of tools, tuition or other education-related expenses.

Recreational Pilot Certification, provided by Sporty’s Foundation
 
One award in the amount of $5,000 may be used to obtain a recreational or sport pilot certificate. Funds will be disbursed directly to the flight school.

For more information on supporting the maintenance professional awards and scholarships, email info@pama.org or contact PAMA scholarship chair Ron Zilberbrand.

The SoCal chapter provides scholarships to southern California residents currently enrolled in an A&P program, or seeking inspection authorization. 

Applications are due April 1, awards will be announced in June.

For more information and to apply, visit www.socalpama.org/scholarships/.

PAMA has joined industry allies urging the president and congressional leaders to end the U.S. government shutdown.

In its plea, the coalition highlighted the negative impacts created by personnel furloughs, including the degradation of moral for FAA personnel, the halting of certification and regulatory reform activities, hinderance and delays for mechanic testing, and stalls in workforce personnel training.

"This partial shutdown has already inflicted real damage to our nation’s aviation system and the impacts will only worsen over time,'' the letter says. "We urge you to act quickly to resolve these issues.''

Of the nearly 45,000 FAA personnel, roughly two thirds are currently working without pay, nearly all of those in air traffic control.

It is with sadness that PAMA shares the passing of Richard ("Mac") McVicar. Mac passed away on Saturday, December 15, 2018.  He was 91.

"Aviation was his life, Mac was talking about retirement but just couldn't do it," said John Stover, Mac's close friend and associate.

Mac grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey and went into the Navy right after high school.  He held a commercial pilot single and multi-engine land, instrument, ground instructor and A&P certificate, and inspection authorization. He soloed in 1945 and got his A&P in 1947. He worked in the Teterboro area until 1964 when he moved to Randall Airport (06N) and opened up his own maintenance facility (MacVicar Aircraft Service). He was still working the week before his passing.

Mac was a member of PAMA, WAMA and the QB's. He was honored with the FAA Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award and the Teterboro PAMA Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award.
 
"Mac was a down to earth, straight forward, well-respected gentleman," says Clark Gordon, PAMA Secretary/Treasurer. "Humor and wit resonated from Mac. Always with a smile, he would look you in the eye while talking and listening to what you had to say."
 
Mac had deep knowledge of aviation in and around NJ and NY.  "It was always enjoyable to hear the history of airports long closed," said Gordon.

Mac co-wrote “The History of Aviation in Rockland County” published in 2015, and contributed to a website on Rockland airport history. More on Mac's life and contributions are highlighted in a July 2017 write up in AOPA magazine, and a YouTube video of Mac flying over his airport at age 86.
 
The aviation community lost a great man. The PAMA community will miss him.