Michael Lineaweaver obtained his A&P at age 18 and was selected as director of maintenance for a Part 135 helicopter operator at age 26.
“Becoming DOM of KIT HeliOps has been one of my proudest achievements,” said Lineaweaver.
From routine maintenance to large inspection projects, he said, “Every success for the department feels like an accomplishment. Not so much as to toot my own horn – but because of the team of top-notch mechanics I have the opportunity to lead.”
One of those mechanics is his former boss and mentor: Jeff Zimmerman, who Lineaweaver said taught him about integrity as a mechanic and taking pride in quality workmanship.
Continuous improvement is a goal that Lineaweaver has for both himself and his team. He’s implemented new policies, training curriculums and standard operating procedures.
Early on in his career, he thought about getting out of the industry.
“I didn’t initially realize how stressful it was,” he said. “The work mechanics do carries a lot of weight and is often out of sight, out of mind for many pilots/passengers. I also found that, especially on the helicopter side of the industry, it often takes long hours and a lot of days away from home to keep an operation running smoothly and safely.”
But he stuck with it, and after showing hard work, attention to detail and integrity, he moved his way up the career ladder.
“I’m glad I stuck with it. It’s rewarding and well worth it,” he said.
To those just starting out, he says mop up the shop floor – don’t be afraid of grunt work, learn practical fundamentals, gather as much knowledge from the senior mechanics [as you can], learn your limits and know when to reach out to someone more experienced.
