Words of Career Wisdom from GAMA’s Expert Engineers
Recognizing young people for their accomplishments always gives me encouragement as I think about the future of our industry. The 2016 AMT Next Gen Award Winners featured in this issue are no exception.
The young men and women profiled here are already impacting our industry today and are poised to be the leaders of tomorrow. I’m delighted that many of them come from GAMA member companies, including Bombardier Business Aircraft’s Marcelina Plesiak; Pratt & Whitney Engine Service’s Hilary Kerkstra; StandardAero’s Tony Oggs; Jet Aviation’s Michael Steinbaugh; and Duncan Aviation’s Chuck Zahnow. Several other winners received their education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and FlightSafety International, both GAMA members.
Two of GAMA’s engineers also got their start working in the field. Their careers show the value of perseverance, hard work, and a passion for aviation that makes our industry truly unique.
Like many young people, Walter Desrosier, GAMA’s vice president of engineering and maintenance, was fascinated by seeing airplanes overhead. In high school, he wanted a job — any job — where he could be near airplanes, and began sweeping the warehouse docks for a cargo company at night at Bradley International Airport. By age 15 (although the company thought he was 17), he was promoted to loadmaster. Since he couldn’t leave until the airplanes cleared the airport, he started assisting the mechanics, thinking that would be his career path. He earned his Airframe and Powerplant license while in college.
After receiving his bachelor and master’s degrees from Embry-Riddle, Walter assumed he’d work for a major airline. But as he interviewed for jobs, he realized he wouldn’t be spending time at the airport but instead be doing tasks such as conducting revenue analyses of routes. Edward Stimpson, who was GAMA’s president at the time, was also chairman of the board at Embry-Riddle, where he had helped select Walter for a prestigious fellowship at the university. Walter came to GAMA, and was soon hooked.
Instead of focusing on a single company, Walter found himself working closely with executives from numerous general aviation manufacturers, industry technical experts, and FAA officials to improve the process of certifying new aircraft and technologies, always with safety in mind. His boss and mentor, Bill Schultz, took him to airports to show him how the policy and regulatory work they were doing in Washington, D.C., affected actual airplane designs. “I feel like I’m making a difference here,” says Walter, now in his 19th year at GAMA.
Joe Sambiase, GAMA’s director of maintenance and airworthiness, began his career at US Airways doing utility and ramp work on the midnight shift. A few months into the job, he began taking classes for his Airframe and Powerplant license at the Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics. For the next 21 months, he worked from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., then took classes from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Joe’s hard work paid off. After US Airways went through layoffs, he found work as a mechanic for Independence Air at Dulles International Airport. He performed inspections, changed engines or landing gears, and did other jobs that couldn’t be solved on the flight line. “As a mechanic, don’t assume you know a certain process, and always reference the latest instructional manuals,” Joe advises. “At the same time, don’t be afraid to ask questions or point out discrepancies. And always be willing to help those who are learning the ropes; put yourself in their shoes.”
A few years later, Joe landed at Compass Airlines, where he helped the new airline get its air carrier certificate, helped write the air carrier’s manuals, and traveled to Brazil to inspect the company’s new aircraft. From there, he came to GAMA, where he leads its maintenance and airworthiness efforts and recently earned his bachelor’s degree from Embry-Riddle.
Walter advises young people to find work that allows them to follow their passion, as he did, so “you’ll enjoy going to work every day.” Joe adds, “Don’t be afraid to pursue new opportunities. Aviation is a constantly evolving industry that offers plenty of avenues for a satisfying and rewarding career.”
Sound advice from two of GAMA’s engineering experts today for AMT’s leaders of tomorrow.
Pete Bunce is President and CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
