Dear Sisters and Brothers:
District 142 Flight Safety Committee members were honored to once again accompany a special team of students from Aviation High School (AVHS) in Long Island, NY, to the 2025 Aerospace Maintenance Council Competition in Atlanta, GA.
Aviation High School instructors and chaperones Elizabeth Parks and Peter Ng joined District 142 Flight Safety Director Bud Brown, committee members Mitch Worthington and Jeff Lazar, and District 142 Communicator Robert Rodriguez to accompany the students. The entire team collaborated to make this a successful endeavor.
Although our team of students did not place in the top three positions, it was clear that there were no losers in this competition. These young adults gave their best effort, competing against seasoned professional Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMTs), military professionals, and college students.
Experts state that it takes an average of seven years for an AMT to become proficient in their job. We hope that some of these students return as competitors years from now so we can see how far they have progressed. We have no doubt that the seven-year average will continue to decrease if AVHS keeps graduating these outstanding students who then become professional technicians.
I would be remiss if I didn’t tell this story. An AVHS alumnus donated $100 to each student for the week. When the competition ended, we took these competitors to a local Kart-Racing Arcade to let them relax and be kids again. At the conclusion of dinner, we paid the tab but noticed, much to our dismay, that there was no place on the check to add a tip. One of the students saw how hard our server was working and donated their $100 to the young lady. The student’s generosity absolutely made her day, and mine.
I know I dote on these students every time I’m around them, but how can you not? I can’t wait to see these students one day working in a hangar for a carrier we represent or walking up to an aircraft to perform a maintenance repair before departure. I will have no doubt in my mind that they possess the knowledge, skills, and core values to do it safely and proficiently.
I would like to thank our Canadian brothers Keith Aiken and Lou Pagrach for manning the booth while we doted on the competitors. I would also like to thank District 142 President/Directing General Chair John Coveny and the entire Executive Board for believing in and supporting our mission and these special students.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Bud Brown
Flight Safety Director
