Rafael Perez found his way into the aviation industry by chance. After graduating high school, he was unsure of what career path to take and stumbled upon aviation maintenance when considering joining the military.
Perez attended the Lorenzo Walker Institute of Technology (LWIT). There, he was able to attain the required hours for his Airframe and Powerplant Licenses. In the evenings, he attended an FCC course at LWIT as well. “The electronics course guided me to prepare and test for the FCC General Radio Operators License, enhancing my electrical background,” Perez stated.
After attending LWIT, Perez began working for a Part 135 charter operator attending multiple corporate aircraft. Since then, he has had the opportunity to work with numerous part 91 operators and part 145 repair stations. Currently, he is one of Gulfstream’s FAST team senior technicians based out of West Palm Beach, FL. “In this role, I am responsible for being ready and available to dispatch to a customer’s aircraft in an AOG situation,” Perez said. The regions he supports are Florida, the Caribbean, Central and South America, but as needed, he will support other areas depending on customer requirements. Perez said he enjoys traveling for his job as well as being able to “... work the entire aircraft from avionics to sheet-metal and everything in between.”
In addition to his education at LWIT, Perez has had the opportunity to complete advanced training. “Working for Gulfstream, I have been privileged to attend Flight Safety Training course on the aircraft we service and build. I have attended the G650 Maintenance Initial, GV Maintenance Initial, G550 to GV Maintenance differences course, as well as obtaining the G550/GV/G450 Engine run and Taxi enrichment courses,” Perez said.
Perez noted he has had two mentors to whom he credits his success. At his first aviation job working for Continental Aviation LLC, Al Schantzen taught Perez the skills of the trade and the finesse needed when working with such complex machines. “I will never forget the time and effort he invested in me,” Perez said. He would meet his second mentor, Ken Hobbs, at ST Aviation, LLC. “I am so grateful to Ken; he really went out of his way to teach me everything he knew about corporate aviation.”
Perez is elated he has already achieved his biggest career goal. “Throughout my career, my closest friends and family would tell you all I wanted to do was to work on Gulfstream’s FAST Team. I have dedicated myself in many ways to achieve this goal and it’s [a] privilege to say that I have acquired this goal... Looking to the future, I have always been intrigued with aircraft management and would like to continue sharpening my skills for those opportunities,” Perez said.
