2022 AMT 40 Under 40 Maintenance Professionals: Bradley Krahn, Mechanic, Piedmont Airlines

Bradley Krahn bounced around a number of industries during the beginnings of his career. Then 10 years ago, Krahn found himself hooked by aviation.

“About 10 years ago, my brother and I took a flight together. He's an airline pilot now. So ever since that first flight that we took together, I was hooked,” Krahn recounts. “That's when I knew I wanted to pursue a career in aviation.”

Krahn eventually found a job at his local flight school, Cargill Aeronautical Academy, which he described as a “dream come true.”

He began the aviation leg of his career as an office manager, but a lifelong interest in the mechanical and “wrenching on things,” drove him towards aircraft maintenance.

“One day I went up to the director of maintenance at the flight school and expressed interest in the maintenance department. So that's how the whole aviation maintenance thing started for me and it just kind of grew from there,” Krahn said.

During this time, he also obtained his IFR rating. Krahn was promoted to operations director, with administrative oversight of the service center. To learn the processes, he began participating in the A&P Apprentice Program. In December 2021, he passed his A&P Knowledge Tests and Practical Test. During his apprenticeship, he improved inventory management and the service order process and obtained his commercial pilot certificate.

“Aviation’s an extremely rewarding career. At least it has been for me so far and just my five short years in it,” Krahn said. “Besides physically working on aircraft, which I absolutely love, I would say being a part of a team that does great things is what I find a lot of enjoyment in."

“The people that I've met and the friendships that I've made is honestly one of my favorite things,” he continued. “The friendships are so valuable to me and I’ve met so many great people in the industry.”

And now Krahn is taking is skills to the airline side of the industry.

“Currently, I’m in the process of making a move over to the airline operation side of things, which has been amazing so far. I’m looking forward to learning the 121 world and bigger aircraft,” he said.