Wrench in the Wings: Life Lessons from an Aircraft Mechanic

A Wrench in the Wings is a compilation of columns written for Air Maintenance Update magazine. Spending all my adult life either fixing aircraft or teaching others to carry on in that profession has been an enlightening journey. Based on stories that I related to my aircraft maintenance students, the benefits were three-fold. First, it tended to keep their attention with real insight into daily life as an aircraft mechanic. Second, it gave me a chance to show the more human side of myself while hopefully injecting some humor into the classroom. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the stories often ended with lessons learned. These lessons were about the realities and responsibilities of our chosen profession, but also about life in general. Many topics are touched upon, from rapid decompression to rock stars and everything in between. I hope that you find them interesting, whether you are an aviation enthusiast or perhaps someone considering a career as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. Like most careers, it has its ups and downs. Here is hoping that you enjoy the ride.