If you operate an airplane, you know that Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs) are vital to keeping thousands of aircraft flying in and out of airports 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From Airframe and Powerplant Mechanics to Avionics Technicians to Inspectors and others, these world-class professionals are the key to Textron Aviation delivering reliable, consistent service to its customers. In fact, Textron Aviation service centers consistently earn the top-level Diamond Award from the FAA.
Textron Aviation values and supports our aircraft maintenance professionals every day, but one special day is set aside to recognize their contributions: May 24 is National AMT Day. This day coincides with the birthday of Charles Taylor, who was a close friend of the Wright Brothers and is considered the world’s first powered aircraft mechanic.
Besides publicly showing support of our AMTs, we also use this day to spread awareness and recruit the next generation of expert aviation technicians. We believe creating a winning team starts with having employees with diverse backgrounds, then giving them the resources to succeed – from excellent facilities to continuous learning opportunities.
Throughout our network of company-owned service centers, there are more than 1,500 maintenance professionals. While it is impossible to introduce every one of them, we welcome you to get to know a few of our legendary AMT professionals.
Learn more about the vast Textron Aviation Customer Service Center network. Textron Aviation is currently hiring A&P professionals worldwide and is always looking for talented professionals in every job field. See all job openings and find your career fit at Textron Aviation Careers.
I’ve been working as a Crew Chief specializing in aircraft on ground (AOG). Many years of experience, opportunities and my interest in AOG allowed me to apply for this job. Today, I’m happy to perform my job and travel all around the world.
At the end of my apprenticeship, I started my first job in the Paris Service Center. After leaving the company for seven years, I decided to come back because I knew that there were a lot of opportunities to grow. Now, I’ve been with the company for 12 years!
The international experience: working with people from different cultures and countries. Also, our reactivity, anticipation and adaptability to whatever situations come our way.
This August, I will have been with the company here in Düsseldorf for 20 years. I took the typical career path as an aircraft mechanic. In 2002, I started my apprenticeship and completed various milestones over the last 20 years to become Certifying Staff in 2009. My first type rating was for a Cessna 560XL; it’s one I have the most experience with and also is one of my favorite aircraft on which to work.
The first day we had a walk through the hangar, and that was the moment I knew I was at the right place. I had no prior experience with aviation in general, but one of my close friends went to the German Air Force, which inspired me to apply for an apprenticeship as an aircraft technician.
The best day at work, or more accurate best week, was an AOG in Rimini. We traveled to Rimini with our Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspector to evaluate the damage that was done to a Citation CJ4. After contact with engineering, we were able to repair the aircraft on-site with the support of our Düsseldorf Sheet Metal Team. After a full week of work, we got the aircraft back flying.
I appreciate our open communication on the shop floor. We can talk to each other in a very direct and honest way. And for our company values, I think “Be collaborative” is the most accurate to describe us here in Düsseldorf. Even if the situation is difficult, we can find a solution. The flexibility is also a big plus.
Hobbies: mountain biking, camping, road trips and traveling with my wife and boys. My ongoing hobby is working on my ’74 Celica that has been restored from living out in the elements to now working as a daily driver.
I've had a humble beginning, gaining my training and knowledge of aircraft maintenance while serving in the U.S. Air Force. The military gave me purpose and an opportunity that would not have been possible had I remained in Hawaii, where I grew up. I was based in Wichita, Kansas, and served as a Crew Chief for the Boeing KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft for four years until being honorably discharged. I immediately continued my civilian career and applied to work on Cessna Citations as an aircraft mechanic back in early 2001. Textron Aviation gave me the opportunity to move to California in 2003, and I continued to hone my tools and skills to become successful in this career.
I immediately knew that I had made the right decision, as the work entailed all the technical skills and training that the military provided me. Foremost, the company provided essential specialized training in various jet engines and supported my FAA licensing throughout my profession.
Every day I aim to make it a good day at work. I approach every day at work with optimism and positive beginnings. I realize I am only one person in the grand scheme of day-to-day service center operations. However, if I can improve our team effort by providing a solid commitment to being a dependable and reliable inspector that others can look to, then I have reached my goal. Realistically, every day brings new challenges. To overcome those challenges, I continue to learn and grow from each new experience. A great day is when I see a satisfied customer leaving the service center and knowing that I contributed to the team effort.
I am proud to work for the Textron Aviation Sacramento Service Center. There's a strong sense of teamwork; we trust one another and have the integrity to produce quality work. The morale and positive mindset deliver positive results and outcomes. Our crew's diversity in skills and beliefs makes this a great place to work because every teammate is important, and everyone gives and earns respect. This is the core of the Sacramento Service Center's culture.
I worked in commercial aviation for over ten years, and I was always intrigued by how things are done in business aviation. With Textron Aviation being the world leader, I knew it was the right place for me to go. I seized the opportunity when I saw an opening, and I’m finally here, like a young Padawan.
Coming from working 24/7 shift patterns and missing important milestones in the family, I finally can appreciate what I have been missing. Textron Aviation encourages a strong work-life balance. This makes me highly motivated at work, knowing I can unwind at home and spend quality time with the family.
We tend to work with our customers on a very close level, and there was an instance where a customer chose our facility for the first time to fix a challenging defect on one of the Hawker engine controls. Our team managed to rectify the defect, and the flight crew and customer thanked us personally. I think things like this make every other day an exciting day!
I personally feel that we have an excellent and very experienced team here. They never fail to share valuable information they have gained over many years with newcomers. Everyone puts safety as their top priority.
My grandmother used to run a small airport in Vichy, Missouri. When I was a kid, I used to ride around with her on a fuel truck and help fuel airplanes. Doing that with her helped me realize my love for aviation.
A couple of years after starting here, my crew chief Fred Royce and another mechanic, Gary Love, told me that I was part of the team and that I could come work with them. These were the days when newer mechanics had to prove themselves to be accepted by the more seasoned mechanics. When I knew that they had accepted me, I knew I had made the right decision.
The Demo group is well-rounded with very experienced people. There is nothing the team cannot do or figure out when they work collectively. They can work through any challenge presented to them to find a resolution. They help each other when things need to get done, and they share their experience, so they all gain that knowledge when something new comes along.
A few years ago, I flipped a coin for my job in the Air Force and I ended up in aircraft maintenance. It took about a month of on-the-job work to realize this is what I wanted to do, and not long after, one of my coworkers told me about how he learned more about avionics here at Textron Aviation than anywhere else. So while I was still young, I decided to dive in headfirst and learn as much as I could about the career field I’m now most interested in.
From the beginning, I knew it was the right place for me to work. Every day I get to come in and learn about multiple aircraft instead of just focusing on one in particular. Being passionate about aviation makes every day feel like an opportunity instead of work.
The best days are when I am able to get out of my normal day-to-day work and learn something new about other systems or parts of the aircraft that I usually wouldn’t work on.
Contact details
-
Download vCard
- Kate Flavin
-
Textron Aviation -
Integrated Supply Chain - kflavin@txtav.com
- +1.316.517.1419
Related Topics
Related Stories
Community: Investing in our people and the places we live
A sense of community is at the core of everything we do at Textron Aviation. Community is people – our co-workers, our neighbors and our friends. Our company is committed to fostering a culture of ...
Product pride and customer satisfaction – a perfect combination for CJ3-series aircraft
Ryan Boyce's experience with the Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 assembly line goes back more than 20 years. In fact, he has been an integral part of the CJ3 team since the aircraft’s inception.
Textron Aviation Flight Adventure: Igniting dreams, inspiring futures
In the fall of 2025, Textron Aviation will bring this enchanting world to life for others with the Textron Aviation Flight Adventure, a captivating attraction nestled within Exploration Place's vis...
Textron Aviation celebrates 10 years as one team, winning together
Today, our company is celebrating an important milestone – the 10th anniversary as Textron Aviation. On March 14, 2014, Beechcraft and Cessna joined forces and became a united team.
Women Who Inspire the Journey of Flight
Throughout Women’s History Month during March, Textron Aviation proudly celebrates the remarkable achievements and contributions of women across our company and the aviation industry. From pioneeri...